Be True to Yourself

In reflecting about this post the word legacy kept coming into my head and heart. Legacy is a powerful word to me. Being a visual person, the word legacy brings to mind something larger than life; perhaps a large stone carved statuary piece. A legacy represents something or someone who is no longer here. It is something left behind to preserve a concept, idea, or ideology.

Many times a foundation is even set up in honor of an individual’s contribution to society. I like this concept of legacy. It reminds me of that movie Pay It Forward, I think that is the name. Creating something with the intention of somehow benefiting future recipients is a worthwhile endeavor.

In 2004 Karl Pillemer, a professor of human development in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University, began the Legacy Project. In his project he began collecting practical advice from senior Americans. Those seventy and above were polled for their response to the most important lessons they had learned in their life. I have included the link for your reference.

<a href=”http://legacyproject.human.cornell.edu/” target=”_blank”></a>

The lesson posted for today is ‘don’t worry about what everybody else thinks…be true to yourself.’ Be true to yourself. That is not always the easiest thing to accomplish. Recently I was faced with a decision to make, that was difficult. A decision which involved not only being true to myself, but also being true to the legacy of a friendship.

The legacy of a friendship, at least for me, carries with it strength and commitment to hopes and dreams. The legacy of a friendship colors and influences the future. After you lose a loved one it is not unusual to occasionally ask yourself, ‘what would he or she say or do in this situation?’ I have done it many times over the last five months.

After someone dies you may hold on to the smallest seemingly insignificant detail, idea, or item. These things in some way represent the person and become part of their legacy for you. It’s something you hold dear. It’s something that may bring comfort, meaning, and purpose to your life. I am not talking about a situation where you are stuck, not able to function.

I am instead talking about a legacy that gives you fulfillment; one that brings exuberance for your life into your future. I am talking about something that keeps the passion of the person alive.

To me a legacy does not need to be something tangible or visible. A legacy can be in the form of a belief or even emotion. A legacy truly is something handed down from the past. Once you recognize and place value on the legacy; the care for keeping it alive follows as well. Keeping it alive might be in how you choose to preserve it or in some cases defend it.

An emotional attachment to a legacy runs deep within your very being. It is not easily pushed aside or ignored. And if the one who holds this emotional legacy feels that it is being trivialized the automatic reflex to defend it is stronger.

Jesus left us many legacies, perhaps the most profound would be his holy words recorded for us by the gospel writers. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. We can go to the Bible and find scripture to parallel any of our life events or feelings. Therein lies its legacy.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’” (Is. 30:12)

Last week I felt a legacy connected to my friend was jeopardized and my emotional defense system was activated. If you value a legacy, in my opinion, you are responsible for its care and preservation. If you value a legacy, when it’s threatened and you do not protect it; what do you really value?

 

“Happiness is when

what you think,

what you say,

and what you do

are in harmony.”

Mahatma Gandhi1869-1948

I am committed to keeping the legacy of her fingerprints on what we created together. ‘Be true to yourself’ is not necessarily as easy as it sounds.

 “Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I shall have the belief that I can do it. I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning.” Mahatma Ganghi 1869-1948

Leaving a Legacy is a lasting gift to those you care most about…your loved ones.

How are you living your life? How do you want to be remembered?