I had to laugh when I heard a 28 year old woman talking about “her legacy” and what she would be remembered for after she was gone. She’s a self described writer, comedian and digital content creator who went viral with a TikTok about a bad date involving 100 tacos.
It was a funny video. I must admit she is an entertaining storyteller.
But that’s not why I laughed when she mentioned her legacy.
When I was her age I thought about my legacy too. It was important for me to be respected, admired, and remembered as a good man. Back then, I still thought I could change the world in a big, meaningful way.
Today, I realize that the only true meaningful impact I can make is one-on-one with another human being or animal. Even then, that impact is often fleeting.
As for legacy, very few of us will be remembered by anyone other than our closest loved ones after we are gone. And I imagine, with few exceptions, those memories are fleeting too.
Think about it – even the wealthiest and most famous people from history – Pharaohs, Kings, Wealthy Industrialists, Scholars, Actors, Musicians – have as their legacy a Wikipedia page, a wing of a hospital named after them, a library, a tomb or a famous quote attributed to them.
I guess the reason I used to worry about my legacy was because I hadn’t seen much death yet. Now that I see how quickly people who once seemed so important “disappear” after they die, I vow it much differently.
When I think of legacy now, I think of love and kindness. I try to offer love and kindness to the people around me. When I am gone – be it from moving away, job change, life change or death – I hope that if someone thinks of me, they remember me for being kind.
It’s OK if they don’t too.
Because most likely they won’t think of me at all.