When I have asked people about the legacy they want to leave, many reveal it to be money, material possessions and items related to status. Having none of these things, my take has always been different.
I have never had an abundance of money. I don’t own a fancy house or car. When I worked most of my life, I always chose positions that I enjoyed and could help people. The money was mostly irrelevant. I made enough to pay my bills, but I have never had a savings of any significance.
The only thing I have of great value is my children, grandchildren and my character. I have never been to a funeral or memorial service where people honored the soul that passed by said things like “He had a lot of money.”, “She lived in an expensive house.” I have not heard anyone speak of all the expensive “toys” the person had or how many people they managed or supervised.
Many people work relentlessly to acquire possessions, some just for the status and to demonstrate their worth to the world. I do not point this out to shame these people. It is their choice and their priority. On some level I feel sorry for them. All those things are predicated on what others think of them and a fear of being judged.
In my case, the important thing is how I live my life, or try to, and how I interact with people. The only way I want to be judged is by how I treat the souls I interact with and the values I strive to live by. That is why I choose to fill my life with compassion, gratitude, kindness and service to others. I honestly believe Robert Ingersoll’s theory that “We rise by lifting others.”
When I pass, if even one person testifies that I touched their soul, it will have been a life lived well. I hope that my children and grandchildren will hear stories of how I helped someone, how I made a tiny difference to someone or how kindly I treated someone. That is what I have to leave behind…
THAT IS MY LEGACY
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