WHAT IS YOUR LEGACY?
It’s taken me an incredibly long time to find a way to start this post; how to find the right words that won’t sound too cheesy or profound for a casual Sunday evening.
But hey, I think it’s best that I start as abruptly as the question itself:
“What is your legacy?”
Deep, I know. But all I ask is that you take a minute or two to let it sink in. Think about its meaning and the way you choose to define it.
For many, their first thought is that a legacy is something you pass down to your loved ones once you pass away; like a piece of jewellery, a lump sum of money, a property or something of that nature. Some might even say that your legacy is the impact you have on others once you’re no longer here; what people will remember you for and how they will portray you.
But recently, what was once described as an object to pass on after your death, has been transformed into something that is defined by how you influence the present.
‘Your legacy is not just the impact you leave once you’re no longer here, but the current impact you can have on the future.’
There is so much more to this life than just living. We all have a purpose – whether that be something on a grand scale or something as simple as bringing another life into the world… We all have a reason for being here on this earth.
The thing is… It’s up to you to find it.
What do you love? What ignites a fire in your belly? What makes you wake up in the morning? What are the things that define who you are?
You don’t have to know right now – you might not know for another 50 years, but when you find it… Do your best to live it.
Not so the world can know about the notable things that you’ve done in your life… So that you can grow old knowing that your life was lived with purpose – “The legacy you live does not require remembering after death; it is a legacy lived unto death.”
After all, every thought, action and intention is a reflection of your legacy. Every moment has the opportunity to affect you and those around you on an unimaginable scale. Smiling to a stranger, picking up some trash, giving an animal a home, creating a new life. The list is endless, just like the impact you can have.
Thinking with the end in mind can be totally morbid, but that’s not what this is about in the slightest. The purpose of this question is to push you out of your comfort zone, to force you to live a meaningful life.
It’s not about what you look like to others – from the outside, you could appear exactly the same – it’s about how you feel when you do the things that mean the most to you. It’s what’s on the inside that counts, right?
What you must always remember is that the legacy that you leave behind is irrelevant if you haven’t lived it yourself.
So no matter the things you do, live your life with intention. Live by your legacy and do it with strength.
For me, my legacy is to live my life with the earth in mind. To only do things that leave a trail of positivity. To care for all things living and to give back even when I feel as though I have nothing to give. To do things that make myself proud. To only do things that I know the earth would thank me for.
To always live with kindness in my heart, and to conquer hate with love.
So tell me, what is your legacy? What steps are you going to take today, that will impact the way that you see yourself tomorrow?
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