What Will Your Legacy Be
How many of us have ever wondered if we have made any difference in this world?
As in the words of the Lee Ann Womack song, remember, "as you move through the days and the years of your life, you do not go unnoticed. You leave a trail, impressions and footsteps, unquestionable proof that you existed in the live of those around you. If you ever think you've not made much of a difference in the world, you have to me." And, I thank you.
Many who accomplish something worth leaving behind start from humble beginnings.
Think about Mozart, who learned to play the piano at age 4 years. At age 5, he began composing music. By age 14, he had composed several instrumental and orchestral pieces. Although he died in poverty, he created over 600 works of music, which are studied and performed by musicians throughout the world. When Mozart dreamed, there were symphonies and concertos playing in his head, and that is something worth leaving behind.
Think about Da Vinci, who was born the illegitimate son of a peasant woman and an Italian merchant. He became a brilliant engineer, painter, and creator of masterpieces as a relatively young man. When Da Vinci dreamed he saw marble as beautiful sculpture. He looked at the walls of a church and saw The Last Supper. The looked at a blank canvas and saw the Mona Lisa. All of those were somethings worth leaving behind.
Now, think about Oseola Mc Carthy. Her formal education did not surpass grade six, although she knew education was vitally important to life. She was forced to drop out of school at a young age to help her family. She wanted to be a nurse, but spent her life working as a washer woman who saved a portion of her meager wages on a regular basis, enabling her to amass a tremendous savings, of which she donated $150,000, to a scholarship fund for students at the University of Southern Mississippi. When Ms. Mc Carthy dreamed she saw a future full of possibilities for young people to do even better than she did.
When I think of the gift I want to leave behind, I dream of a world full of beautiful colors, and shapes, and sizes, and sounds, and textures. My world is full of vibrant reds, and purples, and greens, and blues, and yellows; all mixing together to create a monage of endless patterns. When I think of something worth leaving behind, I reflect on all the experiences in my life that have left an indelible mark on my consciousness. I think of the time in basic training, when I had my hair beautifully styled by one of soldiers on my team that was a cosmetologist, and being sent out to the sawdust pit to "exercise," in the dark of night during a rainstorm in Fort Leonardwood, Missouri.
The exercise session began as I propped my chin up with my hands and tried to continuing rolling left and right, protecting my well coiffed hair. With the onslaught of front, back, go (ie, push-up, crunch, run-in-place) being wailed louder and louder from the drill sergeants standing in the staircase (some chuckling hysterically), the ridiculousness of me trying to save my hair from a certain drenching was laughable. That moment was meant to teach us to maintain a positive and fearless mental attitude, even in a time of stress.
When I think of something worth leaving behind, I can smell my late grandmother's coconut buns baking in the oven, or my mom's homemade bread and ice cream, or my dad's big pot of soup, made with last nights leftovers and anything else he found in the refrigerator.
I think of the beautiful paintings my brother has created that now adorn my walls.
I think of the egg cartoons another brother craftily sketched all over walls of the house we grew up in. Although this amused us, my mother did not find the jokes so funny.
I think of the quirky things some of my students do to imitate the people they love.
When I think of something worth leaving behind, I think of all the people surrounding me on a daily basis, and the great encouragement that we can give each other. I think of a world where people take stock of their talents and gifts, and find ways to share them with the world at-large. I think of a way to create the type of community where each of our world views can connect what is in our heads with what is in our hearts to leave a lasting impression on all.
Most importantly, when I think of something worth leaving behind, I think about the gifts that we can share with each other. That the seeds we plant and water with our words of encouragement become blessings. That feelings become songs. More than the tangible, time together becomes memories. Each of us has talents and gifts that are worth sharing, a diversity that truly makes this community so wonderful, and that is really something worth leaving behind. As you conclude this article, please take a moment to inventory your gifts and talents that you can share with the world and make sure to give generously of the gifts that have been bestowed upon you. This world can only be a better place, if everyone were to use their talents to the fullest. Take care of yourself and make a pact to make a difference.
Adrienne Vyfhuis is a motivational trainer, and creativity coach in the Washington, DC area, with a background in biomedical engineering and clinical psychology, who specializes in career and academic development with young adults and career professionals at all levels. She currently runs a training business and facilitates seminars on dreams development, self-motivation, discipline and staying focused. She has developed and facilitated hundreds of workshops around those topics and currently has several journals in publication which enhance her clients ability to record and continually improve their focus and life progression. She is particularly skilled in teaching parents and grandparents to work with developing the skills, and abilities of their children for life-long impact. Check the website at: http://5houserocks.com for more information.
