Legacy

During a milestone year, like turning fifty, it’s natural to contemplate what legacy, if any, we’re leaving behind.

Those who have raised or fostered children have a ready, vivid answer. 

Those of us who are happily childfree, don’t. 

I never wanted kids.   Rare is the day that goes by in which I don’t thank my lucky stars that I avoided parenthood. So when I think of my ‘legacy’, I can’t think in traditional terms like genes or future generations.  I have to ask, at a basic level, what is it that I am leaving behind in the world?

Now I have co-fostered and co-trained service dogs with my husband.  I know that counts because I’ve seen the difference it has made in people’s lives.  Our first pup is now a Guide Dog for the Blind, bestowing personal and professional freedom to a consultant/public speaker.  Our second pup is a Dog4Diabetic service dog who has literally saved the life of his person dozens of times.  Future pups will no doubt transmit other benefits to the community.

I know the teaching and coaching and writing I do helps people.  It’s gratifying to see writers publishing their books -- and musicians thriving financially -- and entrepreneurs achieving their financial goals.  When readers write to tell me that my articles or blogs or books have been helpful or interesting, it’s lovely to realize that others are benefiting from my words.  It might not be world peace or a cure for cancer but it does seem to be a net, albeit modest, contribution to the planet.

Maybe that’s all legacy means:  a net contribution.  As long as we are we’re giving more to the world than we’re taking, that’s a legacy.  If we’re being responsible members of society rather than harming others.  If we’re good stewards of the environment rather than plundering it.

And this can translate into smaller acts:  we can leave a legacy by  

* growing and creating things, rather than just consuming

Whether it’s a vegetable garden or a handmade sweater, making things is a contribution.  There are probably bonus points for ‘upcycling’ -- for taking apparent trash and making something useful or beautiful with it.

* loving more than hating

Sure there are some people who are challenging to love -- especially those who hurt us -- and there are benefits to forgiving them (as we would want to be forgiven).

Happily, it’s easy to give affection to people we do care about.  To -- in the lyrics of James Taylor -- “shower the people we love with love”.  To truly appreciate them and what they bring to our lives.

* sharing and knowledge and ideas, rather than hiding it from others

Education might be another form of love.  The more knowledge we can spread in our communities, our professions and our personal lives, the greater the gift to the world.

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What about  you?  What do you think about the legacy you're leaving? Message me or leave a comment.