What is the legacy that I want to leave behind? To be honest, this is not a question that I think about. So, this a good prompting question. Thanks whomever or whatever (AI) came up with this daily prompt!
I started by making sure that I understood the definition of the word legacy. According to the Oxford Dictionary the word legacy is defined as; the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.
For most of us, and yes I am including myself in this statement, our children are our legacy. For good or bad we are remembered at least for their lifetime the way we raise our children and the way they act is part of our legacy.
As Graham Nash of Crosby Stills and Nash wrote in the classic song “Teach Your Children”
“… You, who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so, become yourself
Because the past is just a goodbye
… Teach your children well
Their father’s hell did slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick’s the one you’ll know by
… Don’t you ever ask them, “Why?”
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you”
Sure we want to be eternally remembered for doing something awesome or leaving a huge endowment in our name somewhere, but that will not be in the cards for most people. R Dub is not ruling either of these things out, but at my age…the odds are against me.
Beth and I do have some legacy outside of our children, our names are etched in stone at the Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre’s Fine Arts Center for charitable contributions to help build the facility. For as long as this building is used by BDACT we do have that legacy.
So…to answer the question; “What is the legacy you want to leave behind?” I want the next generation or two to remember me as a good person who made a positive impact on my family, friends and the community at large. Anything above that will be a bonus.
Ron's Ramblings 