“The Boss” seems to be minding his legacy with his just released The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story. So does Oprah.
“On Friday Oprah broke out the breakaway dress, which can only mean one thing!!!!!” gleefully proclaims Yahoo’s Daytime in No Time Nikki Boyer. Nikki cuts to Oprah giving away her “all-time favorite things” including shoes, sweaters, jewelry, bake ware, 3D TVs, and, of course, a luxury cruise.
Hmm… What legacies are we leaving behind? How do we want to be remembered? What difference do we want to make?
Last night my husband and I watched an amazing 1997 Spanish-with-English-subtitles film about a distinguished Guatemalan doctor (played by Federico Luppi) who longed to leave behind a legacy of hope and healing in the disease-ridden rural regions of his country. Three years earlier, the good Dr. Fuentes had trained and deployed several young physicians to tend to the myriad medical needs of the impoverished villagers. Not for the faint of heart, Men with Guns takes us on the aging doctor’s determined quest to find his former students whom, he discovers, have been brutally murdered by armed guerrilla soldiers, along with the dear salt people/gum people/tobacco people/sugar people/banana people the well-meaning doctors were sent to serve. Dr. Fuentes’ heart is broken. His legacy (or so it seems) up in smoke.
Such movies can’t help but make me think: What legacy am I building? Will it last? Will it make a difference?
If you don’t mind sharing, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you’re aiming to leave a legacy that truly matters. (And if you ever see Men with Guns, look for the messages of hope!)
Thank you and bless you.
Thank you for the reminder to look beyond our daily activities to see the lasting impact we have.
My wife and I are foster parents. Our legacy is the positive influence we’re having on our kids. It isn’t always easy but it is worth it.
As my father’s before me, my legacy will be the example I will set for my children and step children about how discipline and hard work can pay off. Hopefully, this will inspire them to achieve even more than I could.
Good food for thought, Jory. I’m going to ponder the long-range legacy question, as that will take some careful reflection on my part. The legacy I’ve been thinking about lately has to do with Christmas. I’m interested in creating a new tradition or activity or special food that will become my signature legacy. Over Thanksgiving, there were lots of comments about valued traditions (anything from a special jello salad to a creative prayer!); and I feel a need to create my own holiday legacy.
Maybe you could blog about it to help me out?
🙂