This one will be a little easier, more of an opinion than research.
It's only natural to consider one's legacy. When I was younger, I wanted to inspire people to consider the big questions. What is the nature of belief and our Creator? What are our leaders really up to (I read a LOT of conspiracy books)? And my personal favorite, What happened before our recorded history? I figured that if I made people consider these things, that my presence mattered.
I'll bet that you can guess how that worked out. Some people may occasionally like to bounce these ideas around, maybe over a few beers, but most liked their comfort zones for their day-to-day lives. Even the “free thinking” crowd (those who pass on de left hand side) could talk in circles for hours, but wound up back at their video games before long.
That's one reason I turned to writing. I can address these things in a fictionalized context, and either people respond, or they just enjoy a story. Either way, I've enjoyed presenting the ideas, and if I've entertained some people, well, there's something of a legacy.
In my day to day life, I deal with hundreds of people a day. Most of those interactions are pleasant, and if I can make someone laugh, I've spread a little joy in the world, and what more could I ask for than that?
As a parent, I don't consider it my childrens' responsibility to live out my dreams. I expect that they will find what's important to them, and live out their ambitions. I may feel differently when they're older, but today, I fully expect them to grow up to be autonomous. That's how I was raised, and my generation, and a few that preceded us, think that way in the Western World.
What do you consider to be your legacy?
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My legacy? The time I invested in making the memories the talk about all the time -- the simple things, the smiles.
ReplyDeleteMy legacy is letting my three children choose what career they wanted to do, I brought them up with the same values I was brought up to believe, for example money is not everything in life , to be honest to others but also to be honest to yourself, to be happy whatever life may throw at you and I have my own poetry book that they can read from time to time which is based on my life's expereiences.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
My legacy....hmmmmm. My mouth and all of the wonderful, inappropriate, thoughtful, loving, evil and in between things that fall out of it : )
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I have a legacy yet, aside from the software I've helped to create at work.
ReplyDeleteI still want to create a legacy with my writing, but I'm still working on that.
I'm starting up a 'Critiquing Crusaders' program, where participants in the Second Crusade can find other writers to exchange critiques with or form critiquing circles. If you're interested, come by The Kelworth Files to check it out!