Do you think about your legacy?
I was listening to a few Hamilton songs the other day, and it occurred to me that legacies are a recurring theme throughout the musical.
So, I was thinking about that, and then I saw this tweet.
Do you ever wonder what your legacy will be? I think about that a lot.
— Michelle Jackson (@MichLovesMoney) September 9, 2020
And that made my wheels turn some more.
I know that I am never going to be as famous as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, or any of the founding fathers.
I mean, no one is going to be writing a musical with me as the main character (or even a side character!) in a few hundred years.
But this doesn't really bother me. I don't care if anyone ever "tells my story" in the future.
One day I'll die, and in relatively short order, I will be forgotten. No biggie.
However (!!)
I don't think the effects of my life will die with me.
And I don't go through life figuring that what I do is pointless.
I just don't think that having my story told is the point.
So, what IS the point?
Barring an apocalypse, there will be an endless string of people populating the earth until the end of times.
While an individual person is not going to live forever, there is a sense in which they will.
Because the way we impact other people changes the way they impact others, and so on and so on.
Almost all of us are connected to other people, right? So we are going to have some kind of impact on those people, and the way we live our lives will determine whether we leave a legacy of impact for good or for ill.
I don't care if people remember me in particular, but I want my life to have a positive ripple effect on the people around me.
And I want those good ripples to keep going long after I'm gone.
That's not about me getting credit; it's just that ripples are a sign of a life that has not been wasted.
What kind of ripples do I want to start?
Obviously, if I want to leave an impact behind when I'm dead, I need to start ripples that involve investing in people's lives. If I invest in other people, they can then invest in others, and there's the ripple starting.
What are things I can do that make people feel loved and cared for?
How could I share my faith with someone?
What can I do to help lighten somebody's load?
What can I do to encourage someone?
What can I do to teach a skill to someone?
How can I brighten someone's day?
There are big, lifelong answers to these questions (I will be investing in my children in these ways my whole life) and small, short-term answers (like helping a stranger reach an item on a high shelf at the grocery store).
You may never know the effect of your ripples
If you are investing in people you see regularly (like your kids, if you have them), you will probably get to see some fruit of your labors; the beginnings of a legacy.
But even with people we see regularly (like students, if you are a teacher), sometimes the effects of what we do cannot be seen until years down the road.
Or if you put in efforts online like I do, you might not ever lay eyes on some of the people you are trying to help!
So, I figure it's best not to be fussed about whether your efforts are having a lasting impact.
It's better to just consistently invest in people, put good out into the world and trust that these efforts are going to bear fruit in people's lives.
It's a little like planting seeds.
You can start ripples for free!
Of course, there are lots of ways that you can start good ripples by using money.
(Donate, start a charity, start a non-profit, pay someone's bills, hire someone who needs job, etc.)
But since this is a frugal blog, I'm going to make a list of free/inexpensive ways that you can start a ripple and leave an impact.
You do not need to be a millionaire to impact people and leave a legacy.
(note: some of these are not possible during a pandemic, but most are)
- smile at people (out and about, yes, but also at home.)
- say thank you (again, out and about, but definitely at home too!)
- ask people questions about themselves
- listen to people
- check in on people you know, especially if they are struggling (a text, a call, an email, a mailed note)
- spend time volunteering
- encourage people when you see good in them
- send a small gift card (a coffee, donuts, a breakfast or lunch meal)
- deliver a small gift (a baked good, some flowers)
- leave a comment, not just a like, on their social media posts, or send a direct message
- pray for someone
- share an encouraging quote/proverb/Bible verse
- give compliments to the people you live with, but also to people you see when you are out ("Your baby is so cute!" "I like your dress." "I like your perky attitude!"-a thing I just said to my energetic, peppy mailman)
- keep an eye out for ways to help people who are having a rough time, and offer in specific ways ("Can I watch your kids for you next week?" "I'm taking my kids to the park/pool/etc. Can I pick up your kid and bring them too?" "I made an extra pan of freezer dish ___. Could I drop it by for you tomorrow?")
- invite someone to join you for a family tradition (we've invited people to carve pumpkins with us, and we've had a wide variety of people here to make Christmas cookie characters with us!)
- empathize with other people's sorrows
- share in other people's joys (delight in their baby, congratulate their raise, admire their new house, celebrate their kid's accomplishment)
I could make an even longer list, but 1000 words into this post, I think I should probably stop and give the floor to you guys.
So. Two questions for you today.
1) Do you think about your legacy?
2) What would you add to my list of ways to invest in people?
Wonderful! Your ripples are indeed felt by your readers.
I am much older than you and have moved from geographical areas and from jobs enough times to have to say goodbye to some people. However, I believe that everyone we meet and get reasonably close to becomes part of us, part of how we live, respond. So saying goodbye is not really what it sounds like. Of course there are some we stay in physical touch with as well, but many others from our past influence our later lives as well.
Being a mom, grandma and having been a teacher for many years make me feel that I have had some influence and that a teeny bit of it will be carried on. That is good enough.
Thank you for the reminder to do small and kind things for the people in our current and past lives. You might be surprised, Kristen, to know how much readers think about your shared ideas.
I do think about how my actions effect others when we interact. It is a much more pleasant experience to be patient, polite, and kind even when I don’t feel like it. Or the person is not helpful at all. I still thank them and move on instead of getting upset. Which is a selfish reason because me staying upset about that encounter makes the rest of my day unhappy. And I try not to be competitive and feel like I have to win and be right.
I also thank the people who help me in person or on the phone. Even if my problem doesn’t get fix I know they worked on it or sent me to someone who did fix it. This helps me also because I come away feeling better and not angry because of a problem not being fixed right away.
I used to never do those surveys about customer service. Now I do, and when I get good service I will add a name and why it went well. My hope is the person who took extra time to help me gets some credit.
Even though I don’t have much in common with you or your lifestyle I visit here everyday. The reason is because you are always thoughtful and kind with your words. The world is harsh sometimes but I always felt kindness and optimism makes it better.
Yes, I do think about my legacy regularly in fact.
Your list of things to invest in people is quite extensive already. But what came to me is: recognize people for the positive ripple they have caused in my life (their encouragement of me, or their just criticism of me for instance). This is showing recognition and appreciation of how they have invested in me and I hope also encouraging them to do the same for others.
I can't say that I have ever considered my own life in terms of a legacy. That seems like an awful high-falutin' term for someone ordinary like me. 🙂 Like you, I expect I will not be recorded in the annals of general history. So insofar as I have ever thought about how my own life will impact others, it's really just in terms of my four children. And, of course, their children, and their children, and so on.
I was just thinking this yesterday when I was baking what is known as "Grandma Bishop's chocolate cake" for my daughter's birthday. Grandma Bishop was my MiL's grandmother, and so is my daughter's great-great grandmother, and all my children know her name because of a cake she learned to bake when she was a domestic sciences student at Cornell in the early part of the 20th century. A small thing, but it has kept her memory. Same with the cast iron pans I use that belonged to my husband's great-grandmother, a noted cook. Nana is remembered for her skill and generosity in the kitchen. I figure it'll probably be something like that for me.
1. Not really. 2. I don't have anything to add.
But I do have a comment-- Yes to making sure to smiling at those you live with: recently I helped my son do an inspection of his beehives. I enjoyed it immensely. He filmed it to make a youtube video, and when I saw it, I was floored. I looked either aggravated or constipated or worse. I had no idea that my neutral/enthusiastic/happy/curious face was so scowling. That is something I need to work on because in order to serve others better, my good feelings should probably show on the outside, too. (I think this falls in line with "actions speak louder than words.")
Thank you for sharing what many of us have also done. Now, you are aware and you will allow yourself to show your joy. So many of us are raised or are in circumstances where we have had to learn to not express ourselves. Or are unaware that our facial expressions don't necessarily match our inner thoughts and feelings. (I've been told I look as if I'm scowling when I have a certain facial express that, due to wrinkle location, makes it seem that way when actually I'm just thinking and reflecting.
The writer Tony Morrisson made a beautiful point once about the way you greet your children (but it applies to anyone in your life, really).
Too often, we are not smiling and our first words are of judgment, criticism (stand up straight, etc.) or questions (where have you been? did you do your homework) that make a person feel anything but welcomes.
I have thought long and hard and been careful to think carefully before I speak and interact with anyone else. It is not always easy (work related!) because it often takes a lot of effort and more time than I want to spend, but it has helped smooth difficult situations and improved the quality of relationships and interactions.
I also have now really watched how others greet me. It is quite revealing.
I'm afraid that I have "bitchy resting face" and can appear mad when I am feeling completely neutral or thinking about something else. When I was a teen I was, briefly, a waitress and customers would frequently tell me to smile---when I thought I was looking pleasant and welcoming! As old as I am, I have to consciously remind myself to smile.
Thank you, I needed this today as I’m feeling a bit down. Your writing reminded me to have faith, and believe that the good deeds I try to do may have effect even if I don’t see it right away.!
I believe that, for parents, their biggest, longest lasting legacy is their children: what sort of children is one raising? Are they children who will be concerned about their legacy? Are the children being raised in an environment of love and support? Will the children be productive, positive members of society? Will they leave the world a better place?
Sometimes a legacy is a small thing. My favorite example of that is picking up trash in park or roadside. It's not permanent, no one else will know that you did it, and yet it leaves the world a better place.
Thanks for your comment, William!
Your input reminded me that it is often the small things that make a big difference. And it reminded me of a quote by Anne Frank:
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
I love that quote!
I rarely take the long view — whether fault, blessing or merely fact, I don't know. I give little thought to my/our legacy (that is, mine and my husband's as a linked pair). That's good; in daily life, we are insignificant; in opportunity, we are often overlooked. Sometimes that's painful to live with and acknowledge. It certainly doesn't lead to many thoughts of influence or legacy.
If nothing else in my earthly life, I hope my words and behavior help others to see Christ. It's probably the hardest thing to do, which is kinda sad.
Yeah, that is part of what hit me as I listened to Hamilton; like, why spend all this energy trying to make sure you leave some big legacy and that someone tells your story?
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep doing the right thing, and let the chips fall where they may. You can't control what happens after you're gone, but you can control what you do now.
Yes. Exactly.
Yeah, he really should have learned how to take a break.
If only he had gone upstate!
Have to disagree slightly about the Hamilton observation and comment.
There are people in this world whose role is such, and so important, that it is about legacy. The founding fathers HAD to think about legacy because they were trying to create a foundation for the running of our country. That is not pure ego, that's reality.
Legacy has different definitions and I think in terms of the characters in Hamilton (remember, FICTIONAL interpretation of history) one has to use the one where there were people who did what they did with the image / vision of the future in mind as they "created"
They had to think about legacy...meaning what would come after what they did back then.
That is legitimate and maybe partly ego driven, necessary to take the huge risks they took.
There are many things in our lives now that improve the quality and so many came from a lot of sacrifice from those who created them. They need to know their work did not die with them. That is fair and genuine and OK by me.
As long as it is about improving life for others...
Right now, it would be time well spent if many of the folks in our government, at all levels, started thinking long and hard about legacy and not political power or benefits.
What is the lasting impact of your actions and behavior on the citizens they allegedly represent?
Your comment has given me a new something to think about. I am currently reading Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography with my high school sons. The question I'm wondering about is. . ."Is it his ego or his honesty?" He lived in an extraordinary time and did extraordinary things. He was concerned about his legacy and what his children/grandchildren/others might learn from his experiences. I'm still questioning whether was appears to be ego is perhaps a good thing for him.?
I've been thinking about this —
Hamilton is definitely a creative portrayal, about as accurate to real life of the time as a singing candlestick and teapot are to a dinner table.
There's a difference, I believe, between focusing on what's best for people over the long, long haul and "what's my legacy going to be?" and moving the focus to self and then using that as a motivating factor. I might be wrong, but in trying to think the best of these historical figures, I'd prefer to think they weren't doing this work in the interest of self-legacy, but rather they were looking at the long view of the next several hundred years and the success of the government and nation they were founding.
With that in mind — here's my thought. While we ascribe a legacy to Hamilton (or Franklin, or Jefferson), that's really a later construct, not something they were intentionally creating. One's own legacy can't necessarily be assessed by oneself, I don't think.
And I might be splitting hairs. And not only have I not seen Hamilton, nor listened to the entire soundtrack, I haven't read any of these men's biographies ... so yeah. Just kind of off the cuff thinking.
All of these things are great for leaving a positive legacy! Being kind, genuine and consistent is so helpful.
I do have a question- Quite recently you wrote about a camera upgrade, but for the life of me I can't find it. My daughter is looking to upgrade her camera, and I told her I'd share your info with her...but I can't find it! Ugh!
Please help and thank you! 🙂
Hmm. I replaced my 50mm lens recently, so maybe that's what you're thinking of? I have my camera equipment listed in my FAQs, which would probably be most helpful! https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/faq/
What a timely post Kristen!
I don't think that there has been a better time in history for all of us to consider the legacy we are leaving behind. In my opinion, legacy is quite possibly one of the most important elements of each of our lives. There is an old saying that people will always remember the way you made them feel - this can be accomplished in a variety of ways....smiling at one another, caring for each other, cooking, keeping a home in certain way, investing your time in the people around you and in strangers.
I agree with William in that the longest legacy we as parents have is our children. I'm sure my son will not be profoundly affected years down the road because I made him do x,y.z but I believe he will remember how I made a home and what that felt and looked like, how I cooked or gardened, taught him to work hard, to engage with people and serve them, to listen, to love and serve the Lord. In our family these are things we place a high value on. There are of course a host of other life skills, character traits and general learning that take place, but I genuinely believe that the legacy will be in the quality of human beings that we raise and their ability to see beyond themselves.
Now more than ever we need to be taking care of one another regardless of opinions and backgrounds. Raising and becoming people that walk through life looking for opportunities to care for one another can create a huge ripple effect that cascades over generations.
"Now more than ever we need to be taking care of one another regardless of opinions and backgrounds."
THIS!
Thank you!
What a great post! I don't actually think about that, in part as my husband and I were not blessed with children. I love the reminder of how kindness and consideration can make such a difference, not just during these trying days, but every day.
Yes! I think legacy is sometimes wrongly limited to something for "people with kids". But there are so many ways to invest in people even if you never are a parent.
You have a positive effect upon me. Your kind, thoughtful sharing of the good and the not so good are welcomed here. Thank You.
This is beautiful, Kristen!
These are the exact principles I try (my best) to live by!
There was a saying once that I liked:
"Everyone dies twice. Once when your physical body fails, and the second time when the last person says your name aloud."
I think about that quite a lot. For instance, every November 11th, we - as a family - remember my grand-grandpa Ernest, and his brother Sidney, who was killed in WWI. Sidney died 104 years ago now, but I still make a point to say his name.
I’ve always liked that saying, too, Sally. It really resonates with me. How I appreciate when others who knew my parents still bring them up in our conversations!
I didn't think about this much, other than hoping I did well with my kids, until a friend gave me a grandmother's book to give to my grandkids later. That book and this post will combine to keep reminding me to think of what I leave behind. It isn't going to be a fortune that I leave, so what will I leave? Lots to think about here.
I think recognizing people is so important. I occasionally will write a real (!) letter, telling someone how much they mean to me, or to me and my family. I wrote one to a friend dying from cancer, and she hugged me so tight afterwards and said it meant so much to her and her husband. I recently wrote one to a relative who turned 90, and I've written several to other relatives who told me how much they appreciate it. I suppose you could say I'm adding on to my legacy by recognizing their legacies.
Another thing I would add is to welcome a newcomer. For instance, my husband turned and welcomed a couple we'd never seen before at church. He talked to them after the service and showed real interest in them. They came back every Sunday, and told him that it was mainly because of him that they decided to join this particular church out of the five of this denomination in town. Welcome someone new to the neighborhood, a club, a school, a church, a volunteering group. It might have a lasting effect down the road.
Writing letters telling others how much you love and appreciate them can have longlasting impact in terms of ongoing relationships or in patching up problematic ones. So can speaking from the heart with love and respect.
It is not easy for some people to express themselves, but really people love even the attempt.
I always ask myself: Have I made it clear how much I love and care for someone? Have I communicated in a way (Love languages) that THEY feel it? This is not about perfection, but about the effort.
Sometimes it isn't words at all. It's something we do, or create, or share.
Be creative. If you really know someone, you'll find a way.
I have letters written to me over 50 years ago. Some of those writers have passed, but they mean as much to me today (perhaps more) than they did when I first received them.
Life is far more than social media. A real phone call, not a short text. A letter and not a facebook posting.
What lasts? What matters? Have you shared it one-on-one?
I second the idea of welcoming people. Going out of our way to make others feel included and wanted is a wonderful way of creating ripples of legacy.
I don't really think of my legacy so much as I want to live in a way that my friends & family are sad when I'm gone & not relieved or happy to have me out of their lives. Ha!
My husband & I are empty-nesters. We've talked about how hard aging has been, how difficult some of our parents were to deal with & that we want to show our own child how to age well. How to keep giving & encouraging to others, how to show grace to ourselves & others even through the hard parts of life.
Ohh, I feel that! I want to leave a hole when I'm gone, not because I want people to be sad, but because a life well-lived will leave a hole.
I really, really do not want to live in a way that makes people breathe a sigh of relief when I'm gone. That's a nightmarish thought to me.
Thank you! Your blog has rippled down to me
I am so glad! <3
<3
The only people that I'm thinking about when I think about my legacy are my children. I grew up in a house that was not a happy one, so everyday I make sure to tell my kids that I love them, that I am proud of them. I listen to them, I share with them, I give lots of hugs and kisses. Etc, etc!! You can say that I "broke the mold" in a sense. To me, this is the only important legacy.
My being 82 years, Has me thinking this way. Think I did a good job in rippling with my four children. It is paying off now with their visits to help with what my body can not do. Today I see why all these years of reading your blog. You have wisdom!! Take care my friend. (HUGS)
I am so happy to hear that your children are there for you at this stage of your life; that's some good fruit from your years of mothering. 🙂
I shop, unmasked, at 5-6 am to see and smile at the unmasked grocery workers. I need people. Extreme extrovert, night owl here. It’s worth getting up early to chat with and smile at strangers. I’m a SAHM during the day.
We will lose more people to lockdowns than we did or will to covid19.
Thank you for promoting kindness here.
Kristen: This is a brilliant article. It may be the best of the many great ones you've posted over the years. You absolutely nailed the concept of legacy as it applies to our everyday lives. And how it applies to everyone, with or without children or family.
Your list of suggestions covers a lot of territory and shows how thoughtful you are. Would that everyone embraced some of those suggestions.
I'm of the belief that each of us no matter our "place" in life, our resources or stuff, has the ability to improve the quality of everyday life for those around us. Others may not appreciate, or notice, or respond, or respect, or acknowledge our efforts. No matter, to choose our words and actions each day with the intention of improving the quality of life for all around us IS living the legacy.
And given what is going on in our country, it is even more important.
A kind word of encouragement; active listening (which so few do so well); being present for people. Acceptance; non-judgment. We all have something to give and share.
Some of us are loved but will still be forgotten when we go. However, even though we may never know, our acts of love, kindness, appreciation, interest and attention do plant seeds that do grow.
Most of us will never know the measure of our actions and words in terms of a "legacy" but that matters not as you've noted. We do what we do not for recognition but for love and kindness.
But...for families and friends, I do hope people have stories to tell over the years. Our connection to our ancestors who we have never met often resides in those very stories.
Thanks for a wonderful post and a great way to start the week.
"Legacy" seems like way too big a word, butI do think about leaving the world a slightly better place because I was in it. I am an atheist, so faith does not play a role for me, but kindness definitely does. I am doing my best to raise my children to be some kind of force for good (whether that's through creating art, or helping the underdog, or being good friends or however else). I also raise guide dog puppies, and these dogs go on to change a visually impaired person's life for the better. I strive to use my money wisely -- supporting small, local businesses and charities I believe in.
This post makes me think of that camping motto about leaving your site better than you found it. That pretty much sums up my philosophy!
"not about me getting credit" and praying for people resonates with me.
Erin,thank you for being a puppy raiser. I have low vision, my “ claim to fame “ is an audible cross walk in my town. Note the only crosswalk in our town. My family will be my legacy. I am a very faith based person, feeding the hungry ,donating food during the season. Helping whoever I can. Thank you for the mind thinking post.
Nancy, raising puppies has to be among the greatest jobs in the world! I'm glad you were able to get an audible cross walk -- they really do make a difference. And family is a wonderful legacy.
Great thoughts!!
The longest lasting legacy is an eternal one. I have been very convicted and burdened lately to build relationships with those around me and share the everlasting hope I have because of Christ.
I really like supportung others by being a positive influence in their lives - even if just a smile, simple act of kindness, or simple words of kindness.
I think about this often, especially after losing my parents and realizing all of the valuable things they taught me. One of the most important lessons was to recognize the humanity in each person you meet and see their inherent value as a human being. They may disagree with your views, or try your patience sometimes, but they are human just like you. That has helped me in my efforts to become more compassionate and forgiving, not only to others but to myself as well.
I'd like to offer an example of the opposite, which actually lends even more credence to what you say about kindness. When I was 13, a woman my father had been dating and broke up with wrote me a very ugly letter telling me that my father was ashamed of me and did not want to be seen in public with me because I was homely and refused to try to make myself look better by wearing make up and fashionable clothing. I realize now that she did that in retaliation for the break up and that being away at boarding school and unable to show my father the letter gave it a power that it normally would not have had. Still, I let that letter torture me for over 30 years, even pulling it out sometimes to reread it. It also made me automatically think a man was a liar if he told me I was attractive, which made dating hard. It did do one good thing, though: it gave me an early lesson on how hurtful words, especially the written word, can be. I may inadvertently say thoughtless or hurtful things, but I have rarely acted out of malice. And it also caused me to develop a lifelong habit of writing letters to thank people for something they have done for me or to praise them to supervisors if they were working in service jobs. I think kindness is a highly underrated quality...and I appreciate how kindness is so central to many of the pieces you write.
Lindsey, what a hurtful thing to do to a child. I am glad you were able to use someone's selfish action to make a choice to be kind. As an adult, I'm sure you are able to see that that woman was hurting, but it would always leave a sting.
I don't think of leaving a legacy as much as I think of how I impact people on a daily basis. I try to pray on my commute to work for God to use me to reach my patients and my coworkers in a positive way. And I try daily to meet the various needs of my family (often those needs are social/emotional/spiritual)--I know that I have a long way to go and that sometimes I'm just super cranky, but an awareness of the needs of others is a good start!
Wow, that is so terrible. I am so sorry that that woman said such awful things to you!
Speaking honestly, this post makes me a bit anxious. Dying and my "legacy" is a scary thought. I think especially since I have young children. I appreciate your perspective.
My family growing up had a lot of dysfunction. My dad died just 5 years ago from cancer. It was the worst time of my life. I miss him terribly, but at the same time it's hard not to think about his negative impact on my life.
I want to break that cycle with my children. I want to do and be better than my parents. I hope just that my children remember me kindly and with love in their hearts. My only wish and goal in life is to be a good mommy. When I die, if they remember me with a smile then my "legacy" will be perfect.
I can definitely understand that. When my kids were little, I sometimes felt anxious, like, "Ohh, what if I die when they are all still small?? Who will take care of them??"
Big hugs to you; it's hard to have complicated feelings about a family member who has died.
I think it sounds like your heart is dedicated to being a good mama to your children, so I feel quite sure that they will have fond feelings for you. <3
Thank you for your kind thoughts. I think all we can do as people, friends, family members, partners, parents, employees, etc is try and put forth our best. Life is a very funny and beautiful thing.
I love this post! It resonates very deeply with me. I have been a daily long-time reader here, and your positive words have deeply impacted my life. Thank you!
Reading this post and Irena’s reply reminded me of this poem:
Mother Teresa wrote this poem – Do It Anyway
People are often unreasonable,
illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
There was the story of the little boy throwing beached starfish back into the sea. A man came by and said, “There are so many starfish. You’ll never make the smallest dent in them. What does all this matter?” The boy replied, “ It matters to *this* starfish.”
We have to keep trying. Thanks Kristen
Yes! I love the starfish one; trying to solve the world's problems feels overwhelming and sometimes pointless, but we can at least make the world better for individual starfish.
Listen to the song by Casting Crowns - Only Jesus it says it all.
The YouTube video is really impacting.
1. I admit that I don't think about my legacy often.
2. I would add: Work to learn people's names. I know this is easier for some than others, but it really goes a long way. I feel far more special when someone remembers my name. My family visits Aldi and the library quite often and we've worked hard to learn and remember the employee's names because it adds so much more to the impact. Sometimes you have to be creative - my Aldi's employees stopped wearing nametags a few years ago, so I have to look at the name on my receipt to learn names or ask them, but it's been worth the effort. I can especially see the twinkle in sweet Miss Margie's eyes when my little kids use her name when talking with her at the library. 🙂
Your ripples reach far and wide and I'm thankful for you.
Yes! I try to learn the names of my cashiers at Aldi too, by looking at the receipt. I wish they still wore name tags.
And thank you. <3
For me it’s a generational thing. I like to think that how I treated my children was, in a way, how I was treating my grandchildren as well, because my children would probably treat their children the way they were treated. Trying to be mindful of what I’m passing on and what I’m trying not to pass on is important to me. Like you said, it’s not about me, but it’s because I already love them before they’re even born, and if my actions can help prevent problems for future generations, that is enough of a legacy for me.