Matt Paxton gives lessons on legacy in Litchfield Park

The one thing we’re all running out of, it’s not stuff, it’s time.”

Matt Paxton

For Matt Paxton, sorting through a lifetime of personal belongings starts with something that won’t fit in a box: the stories.

The “Hoarders” personality brought humor and downsizing advice to Litchfield Park Oct. 21 during Sun Health’s “Treasures & Tales” at the Hilltop Theatre and Concert Hall. His message centered on what families pass down, from treasured possessions to the memories that give them meaning.

“Sometimes legacies are big, sometimes they are small,” Paxton said.

Paxton encouraged attendees to create a “legacy list” and think about what they want to leave behind. For older adults preparing to downsize, he urged families to talk about their belongings and share their stories while they still have the chance.

“Give it away now, don’t wait until it’s too late. Define your legacy now,” he said.

Nora Hannah, Sun Health’s chief engagement officer, opened the evening with the history of Paul W. Litchfield and the family’s ties to the area. She described the family’s gift of 300 acres to Sun Health and the responsibility of carrying that history forward.

“It’s our turn. We are the stewards of the story, and of the many people who are in those stories,” Hannah said.

Ticket sales benefited the Sun Health Foundation, supporting free or low-cost health and wellness resources. Megan Word of Sun Health said social connection is part of the organization’s legacy.

Word said she wants Sun Health to help people reach old age and say, “I feel good and I’m proud of what I’ve done in my life.”

Paxton connected the evening’s message to Litchfield Park’s growth and development. He said families sorting through a relative’s home and communities weighing change can face similar tensions.

“I say to both sides of that argument, stop complaining, start communicating, tell the stories,” Paxton said.

He encouraged younger people to listen to the history behind familiar places and older generations to hear what younger people want for the future.

Whether the legacy is land, a keepsake or time spent together, Paxton urged people to act while they can.

“The one thing we’re all running out of, it’s not stuff, it’s time,” he said.

Noah Flug
Reporter | Litchfield Park and Goodyear

nflug@iniusa.org

Community: Litchfield Park and Goodyear

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Digital Audiences from Arizona State University

Random Fact: I only have one biological cousin.

Hobbies: Watching movies and TV, spending time with my friends, aspiring stoic.