A Modest Legacy

The English language, I believe, often has too many definitions for the same thing. I was trying to understand the different interpretations of a modest legacy, only to come away with a lot more confusion then when I started. I must admit, Google has been wonderful for me to educate myself on many topics, but not necessarily this one. I have been thinking for some time now about my legacy and wanting to leave one for when I am gone. It sounds so final, kind of like a eulogy. 

Anyway, it got me to reflect on my life and what would be a worthy thing or things to note, that will be remembered about me. I instantly came to my love of writing. It has empowered me to be a storyteller of my life. There are many different things I have learned and have come across these past years.  I have had meaningful relationships which I am incredibly grateful for, as, without them, I would not have the strength or courage to write today. I always wanted to be good at something. I thought that I would be loved if I did something well. Later in life, it dawned on me that God and people loved me for me. I did not need to prove myself; I just needed to believe and trust.

It got me thinking on a deeper level to what a legacy truly is and why do I want to leave one? Two words emerged, love and sharing. 

The love I have received, I want to share. I have learned that love is a powerful and healing tool. It has healed my scraped and battered ego over the years.  When love is shared, it becomes unstoppable and contagious. It can be shared with a smile, a hug, a helping hand to say I care, an ear to listen, and an acknowledgment that you matter. There are so many ways to love one another. 

Love is a must in our world today. It has prompted me to share the mere drop in the ocean that I have, because I do believe, it will have a ripple effect. Hence, my modest legacy begins. 

One of the definitions of a legacy is leaving a will. I would like to leave a storytelling will, that will be passed down for many years to come, like Goldilocks & The Three Bears. That fairytale was written by Robert Southey in 1837. It is now 2022. My legacy will not be as great as The Three Bears, simply different. I imagine myself as Goldilocks, hanging with the butterflies and animals. I think about stories like this and living happily ever after. It is still alive many years after it was written and many years after the author has been gone. It shines with Hope.

I relate to this story on many levels, as the porridge was too hot for some, too cold for others, and for the amazing young, just right. Here was a family that shared and cared about each other’s preferences. We all have different tastes for things and that is one of the attributes that make us special and unique. This story was written for children, I am guessing and yet, I see so many adult lessons in it. They took walks together, ate together and all rested together in their own beds. I did not have many children stories growing up, but the ones I did have were alive and magical to me. 

I slept in an upper story farmhouse that had a fairytale linoleum on the floor. There was Little Boy Blue, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Little Jack Horner, Jack and Jill, and Goldilocks and The Three Bears. These types of stories took me to love of life and togetherness. I must admit most were animal stories, but still, there were wonderful lessons about loving each other and sharing what they had. I often think, maybe we need more animal examples.

Loving each other and sharing seemed to radiate through the stories of my childhood. They kept me full of hope and inspiration on cloudy days when real life was present. The goodness always seemed to outweigh the scary days, like when Goldilocks was lost in the forest. She found her way home. It gave me encouragement to keep on looking for the house of goodness in my life. Children’s stories seemed happy and always seem to end happily ever after. 

It made me feel good and strong. I often submerged into the fairytale as a safe place to rest awhile. I was thankful they were there etched in the floor of my bedroom. 

My adult life seemed to zig-zag its way through the ideology of Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Their simplicity of love and sharing continues to send a powerful message all over the world, keeping hope alive. I believe God was not messing around when he created Goldilocks and The Three Bears. He wanted to remind us of the power of love.

Today, my modest legacy is to give you, wonderful memories for years to come.

I will pass along this story and many other stories, in hopes, they help you to love and share your person, with your families, your friends, and strangers. 

My wish is to leave a legacy of many smiles to enrich your being, hugs to let you know you are loved, and a place in my heart where you will always be very special to me.