Throwback Blogs - My Legacy Tipping Point

I have reached a tipping point – a legacy tipping point.

As many of you know, a primary focus of my work has been about LIVING your legacy. Emphasis on the word LIVING! Technically, our legacy is that mark we leave behind, a measure of the richness of our existence and the remembrances others will share. That is a past tense representation. Our legacy should be an ever-present work in progress. Something we carve out every day. Something we consistently and joyfully spend time with, embrace, and nurture.

For me, I am at a stage in my life where most of my earthly living, at least this time around, is behind me.

It is a fact. The number of my years don’t lie; more have ticked away than lie ahead. I am perfectly OK with this because I believe there is still so much life ahead, so much more to do, and above all so much more to enjoy.

We are moving toward the end of February, and I woke this morning to the sound of birds chirping, louder than they usually do this time of year. While it is a beautiful sound, it filled me with a sense of panic this morning. Time is moving on quickly. Spring’s rebirth is just around the corner. My life is moving ahead at warp speed. I need to take a pause and evaluate.

It is time to take stock of what is behind me and what is still ahead, and honestly, I don’t entirely like what I see.

I have no issue with what lies ahead because no matter what our age-phobic, youth embracing society tells us, there is no substitute for experience.

My experiences, every single one, has led me to where I am today. No textbook, no social media post, no life coaching expert could influence the state of who I am today. You must live it to understand it – plain and simple. So many of the “you will one day understand” gems my parents uttered to me over my formative years have come to pass and have proven to be true. I thank them for their wisdom and insight. The truth is, and they knew it to be valid through their own life experiences, I wasn’t always going to heed their advice because my younger self simply could not. I had to live it to understand. ONLY time can nurture and give birth to true understanding. 

This brings me to where my disappointments lie. What I do not fancy in my rearview mirror.

I spent a significant part of my years, at least the adult chapters in my book of life, scrambling for footing, searching for purpose, and lying to myself. I don’t fault myself for this. Survival is a primal instinct. We do what we must do to get through each day.  This is understandable. Bills must be paid, families tended to, relationships nurtured, and wounds healed. This takes time, but unfortunately for me, it consumed too much of my time. This is time I will never get back.

I spent so many years pleasing others, working for organizations and people who never recognized me. My output was all they saw, and when in their minds I fell short, so did my value. In my inexperienced and still developing mind, there was always tomorrow, “a one day I will” ahead. 

And I did achieve some of what I wanted to. I shifted gears.

Changed course and for a short time made a difference in the lives of others through my work in funeral service, although this precious time was short-lived. I counseled, comforted, and brought acceptance to those who needed it. I made a difference. I experienced joy, unconditional love, and sadness. It has been a good life, but so much is still missing.

We comfort ourselves in believing every experience, every triumph, and every disappointment was part of our journey and that is so true. But, in sitting back marking it off – as a "meant to be," we are doing ourselves a disservice. It leads to passive acceptance.

Remember our legacy should be a PRESENT work in progress, not a compilation of entries in our life’s ledger sheet.

We must work at being who we want to be and how we would like to be remembered, there is nothing passive in this dynamic. Make a conscious decision today in how you would like to be remembered. Envision the eulogy that will one day be presented in your honor. Write the script, be an active participant in the beautiful story of your life. Practicalities and realities aside start living the life you want to because there is time ahead to be who you want to be, do what you want to do, and embrace all the experiences ahead.

As I sit here writing this, it is later in the morning and the birds have stopped singing. They will be back.  Time will continue to move on. What we make of it is within our power!

I hope my feathered friends are louder than ever tomorrow morning! I am ready to hear their beautiful songs and embrace the trajectory of time. I wish you a beautiful spring and a rebirth of your OWN making!