Legacy

Legacy is the energy you leave behind when you walk out of a room, when your name comes up in a story, or the impression you leave. Maya Angelou said: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget the way you made them feel.”

Today would have been my Dad’s 87th birthday.  I woke up with him on my mind, and, like I’ve done a million times before, I  googled his obituary, cataloged on the appropriately titled legacy website.

My dad wasn’t a CEO or a thought leader. He was an everyman. He loved to tell a (more times than not, inappropriate) joke, followed by his shoulder-shaking deep belly laugh. He could spend hours tinkering at the plumbing shop, talking to anyone who came in as if they were old friends, and loved nothing more than duck hunting with his buddies.

The comments people left after he passed paint a picture far more powerful than any résumé could:

*Ken was always a very special friend to our whole family and will be missed tremendously

*I used to joke and call Ken my dad's “girlfriend” when he would call because they could talk for hours just like us girls.    

*I remember his quick wit and jokes always lightening up any awkward moments and he could bring a smile to anyone's face

Your legacy isn’t your LinkedIn bio or the title on your business card. It’s not what you hope people will say about you someday. It’s what’s lived in the everyday conversations you have, the impact you make, the energy you bring.

My dad’s legacy was simple and profound: he cared about people. The comments keep reminding me:

* I am richer in spirit for having known him

* I have been fortunate to share friendship with many over the years...none were valued more than you. Thanks for over seventy years of your kindness, I will miss you

* I will miss him terribly after 55 years of friendship through ups and downs for us both.

So today I’m not only celebrating my Dad’s life, but thinking about how we can leave people and spaces better than how we found them.   I wish I could say I have always, consistently done this, but the fact is, no one is perfect. The important thing is to be intentional. Here are a few questions I am contemplating:

✨ How can I more regularly choose presence and connection, instead of speed and efficiency?

✨ Where am I holding on to “shoulds” or titles, instead of living my own way?

✨ What simple act of friendship or generosity might create a positive ripple?

What legacy are you cultivating? My Dad’s had so much to do with friendship and humor. How can you start living what you really want to leave behind… today and every day?

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