Living Outside The Lines: “What’s Your Legacy?”

Legacies are made in the natural daily rhythms of our lives. What does your rhythm entail? Are you kind? Slow to anger? Willing to stand for what is right even in the face of adversity?

by Becky J Miller

Ever pondered what kind of legacy you’re leaving? Maybe you think legacies only occur after your time on earth is through? Or maybe, you don’t figure your life has been memorable or significant enough to leave a mark on this world. Think again.

Whether we realize it or not, we all leave an imprint on the world around us. Sometimes our imprint leaves the world better than how we found it, and sometimes there is nothing, but carnage and destruction left in our wake. The good news, if you are so inclined to take action, is you control the type of legacy you leave.

In order to leave an impactful and enduring legacy one need only be intentional; in other words, make a choice. You could choose to be an evil SOB, and while I would not recommend it, if that’s your choice, then I say fully commit to it! However, a kinder, gentler, path requires a commitment to consciously & consistently do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Be forewarned some seeds may not sprout exactly where they are planted. What do I mean? Sometimes even doing your best, and working your hardest to leave a great legacy appears to go unnoticed. Here is a difficult truth, choosing to leave a legacy is an intentional decision made with no guarantee of payoff, you do it simply because you want to be that person who quietly goes about making the world a better place one interaction at a time.

We make a nasty habit of lying to ourselves. We constantly put ourselves down, say we are not good enough, make unrealistic comparisons to others, and decide that we don’t matter. Not only do we lie, we believe those lies! Maybe you will never find a cure for cancer, sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl (woohoo Luke Bryan!), or rescue someone from a burning building, but life isn’t about the headlines!!!

Life is about the smallest of moments; the time you brought breakfast tacos to the office just because, the time you sought out the only person sitting alone in the lunch area and asked to join them, the time you called a friend who moved away just to see how her first few days on the new job had gone, the time you mowed a neighbor’s grass because you knew they didn’t have a lawn mower, the time you took off your favorite sweater & offered it to someone who was cold, or the time you offered to babysit so a young mom could have a few hours to herself.  Get the picture?

Legacies are made in the natural daily rhythms of our lives. What does your rhythm entail? Are you kind? Slow to anger? Willing to stand for what is right even in the face of adversity? Do you smile quickly & easily? Do you notice when others are hurting and offer comfort? Are you willing to sacrifice your own selfish desires for the good of someone else? Do you leave a place in better shape than you found it?

Maybe you’ve never considered your legacy, or maybe after taking notice you realize the mark you are leaving isn’t what you want it to be. Dear friends, do not despair though thinking it is too late, for there as long as there is breath in your lungs, there is hope for change!

What will your legacy be? The choice is completely yours!

Until Next Time,

Becky J Miller ~ Warrior Princess 

Becky J Miller is a contributor and is exclusive to SM Corridor News. You can read more of Becky’s columns in Lifestyle.