Contemplate Your Legacy

The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day. ~ Billy Graham

Have you ever thought about your legacy? What does legacy mean to you? Do you associate legacy with money or personal property?

What Do You Live For?

Where do you live and what do you live for? Recently, I found I had some spare time to read a few books for pleasure and Thoreau’s book Walden was one of them. There is a chapter named, Where I Lived, and What I Lived For that resonated with me. The following words sprung from the page: "At a certain season of our life we are accustomed to consider every spot as the possible site of a house. . ."

This sentiment of Thoreau’s illustrates the essence of a legacy. Just as every spot should be considered for a house, each day should be considered as building block towards your legacy.

Typically we think of a legacy in terms of tangibles from the past. For example, this may be monetary gifts, real-estate, films, Marvel Comic books, music collections by the Temptations or Mozart, or even a novel. Even leaders, countries, and civilizations can leave a legacy. As we all know from a historical perspective, this can be good or bad.

We normally do not think in terms of leaving behind intangibles like acts of kindness and commitment to sound principles that may uplift and benefit others. Whether you consider a legacy in terms of tangibles or intangibles, during this holiday season take time out to contemplate your legacy. Consider this: the path to your future will not only be paved with footprints of what you leave behind, but more so for how you will be remembered. What do you intend for your legacy to be? Where will you live and what will you live for?

Enduring and Timeless Legacy

In the Dalai Lama’s (1998), book The Art of Happiness he states: "We are all seeking something better in life. So, the very motion of our life is towards happiness." Add to that, towards a meaningful, enduring and timeless legacy. Often times the media broadcasts, web casts, and newspapers seem rather apocalyptic. You can choose to favorably shape the future of a nation, your schools, your field of study, your community, and yourself. Here’s how:

1. Show grace and compassion.
2. Breathe each step, each smile.
3. Be a person of civility and integrity.
4. Exhibit genuine kindness and concern for others.
5. Lend your voice to advance the noblest traditions of humanity.

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