The importance of leaving a positive legacy...

The importance of leaving a legacy.

I often think of legacy in terms of relationships and family. Legacies can mean anything from financial, to spiritual (albeit I am not a spiritual person), to the impact you had on others lives.

Leaving a positive legacy for others to follow can be a positive goal in life. The hope is that your legacy continues long after you are gone and that it continues to change lives in a positive way.

What do you want your legacy to be? How would you go about creating your legacy in life?

Failed that goal.

Failed that goal. Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

Hey you can always start now..lol

Hey you can always start now..lol Originally Posted by Bebe Le Strange

Except for Presidents, a legacy is usually what you leave from your lifetime. If I started now, I'd be late to the party.

I try and be the best mother I can be, I want my son to grow up to be a good person and I want to teach him the importance of being kind to everyone, and to treat ladies with respect and chivalry...I wan't him to have everything I didn't have, I want him to have a good family and children, and hope he will teach his children some of the positive things I've taught him

To paraphrase the great Harry Callahan, 'everyone's a legend in their own mind'. Everyone wants to be remembered but the truth is the youth of today have a shorter attention span, the internet is in constant flux and everything is created and disappears in a flash. I worry post X-Generation, the next few Gens have no reverence nor care for anything unless it's on FB or Youtube. Your best chance for a legacy is with those you know.

I have no doubt my greatest legacy will be my daughter. We have gone to great lengths steer her away from bigotry, hatred and any sense of entitlement. She is already showing many good qualities of a compassionate, well rounded young woman.
I have seen her and the people with whom she interacts in action and am quite comfortable leaving the future in their hands. I hope I'm right.

One of the ancient 7 wonders of the world was The temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Made of marble and adorned with rare wood and gold. After it was completed and opened to the world it was destroyed in fire by a nobody arsonist. Herostratus set the fire because he said it was his way to be remembered. For over 2 thousand years it has worked.

"I have seen the walls and Hanging Gardens of ancient Babylon, the statue of Olympian Zeus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the mighty work of the high Pyramids and the tomb of Mausolus. But when I saw the temple at Ephesus rising to the clouds, all these other wonders were put in the shade"- Philon of Byzantium
Ancient 7 wonders of the world.

My father grew up during the depression went off to WWII right out of high school serving in Africa and Italy. With only a high school education started his own construction company that evolved into real estate Development Company in the SF Bay Area.

I asked him what he wanted his legacy to be. He wanted to be remembered as an individual who changed people’s outlook on life. Who no matter what age they were and with a little help could fulfill their dream.

My father’s proudest achievement was not building and owning strip malls, apartments and warehouses it was the foundation he started to help people get educated and start their own businesses and in turn those people giving back to the foundation so we can continue to educate and help others start and grow a business.

One of the ancient 7 wonders of the world was The temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Made of marble and adorned with rare wood and gold. After it was completed and opened to the world it was destroyed in fire by a nobody arsonist. Herostratus set the fire because he said it was his way to be remembered. For over 2 thousand years it has worked.

"I have seen the walls and Hanging Gardens of ancient Babylon, the statue of Olympian Zeus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the mighty work of the high Pyramids and the tomb of Mausolus. But when I saw the temple at Ephesus rising to the clouds, all these other wonders were put in the shade"- Philon of Byzantium
Ancient 7 wonders of the world. Originally Posted by Marcus Aurelius

True that people often times remember the bad things someone has done instead of the good things...

My father grew up during the depression went off to WWII right out of high school serving in Africa and Italy. With only a high school education started his own construction company that evolved into real estate Development Company in the SF Bay Area.

I asked him what he wanted his legacy to be. He wanted to be remembered as an individual who changed people’s outlook on life. Who no matter what age they were and with a little help could fulfill their dream.

My father’s proudest achievement was not building and owning strip malls, apartments and warehouses it was the foundation he started to help people get educated and start their own businesses and in turn those people giving back to the foundation so we can continue to educate and help others start and grow a business. Originally Posted by 5150

This to me is most profound. When someone really takes the time and effort to help those outside of family. To give to those who are in most need and never stop giving even if it hurts.

I remember in the news a man and his family who lived on very meager means and would cook for the masses, for the indigent in their city. Their oven broke down from over use, and they had to use a family members oven downstairs from their apartment. Eventually he and his family's efforts were recognized and the fire department and others in the city donated money for a multi level oven in their home, so that they could cook for hundreds of people. They even brought everything to "code" as required by the health department on serving food to the public. To this day they still continue even though he and his family make minimum wage.