J asked me yesterday if I've ever thought about what kind of legacy I want to leave when I die.
No, to be honest, I haven't. Even when Michelle died and my grandpa died I thought plenty about the legacy they were leaving--but not my own.
He said for him he has. He didn't know if he would leave a legacy anywhere--because he moves around so much--but he said the legacy he wants to leave is he just wants people to know he tried to be the best person he could be.
Couple things I want to clarify for him (though in the moment I just nodded, listened and continued eating my burrito)
1. You are remembered. No one has forgotten you. You may feel like they have, but they haven't. I was afraid, just like you were, that maybe someone had. When I took you back to Sunshine to visit friends I was so terribly worried no one would say anything to you. But they did. They remembered. You had left an impact. They hugged you, they showed you pictures, they celebrated your accomplishments, they told you they were proud. They remembered. You left a legacy there and I'm sure other stops along the way too.
2. I can see you trying. I am proud of your trying. I am so glad that we have ended up with this "new and improved" version of yourself that people seem to think we created (that was ALL you.) BUT--I hope when the day comes that we do reflect on the legacy you've left (many, many, quarter-centuries from now) there's so much more to your legacy than "trying." We'll remember you as BEING that amazing man you want to be. That we'll remember not only that you tried but you excelled and you set the standard. That's my hope for you.
No, to be honest, I haven't. Even when Michelle died and my grandpa died I thought plenty about the legacy they were leaving--but not my own.
He said for him he has. He didn't know if he would leave a legacy anywhere--because he moves around so much--but he said the legacy he wants to leave is he just wants people to know he tried to be the best person he could be.
Couple things I want to clarify for him (though in the moment I just nodded, listened and continued eating my burrito)
1. You are remembered. No one has forgotten you. You may feel like they have, but they haven't. I was afraid, just like you were, that maybe someone had. When I took you back to Sunshine to visit friends I was so terribly worried no one would say anything to you. But they did. They remembered. You had left an impact. They hugged you, they showed you pictures, they celebrated your accomplishments, they told you they were proud. They remembered. You left a legacy there and I'm sure other stops along the way too.
2. I can see you trying. I am proud of your trying. I am so glad that we have ended up with this "new and improved" version of yourself that people seem to think we created (that was ALL you.) BUT--I hope when the day comes that we do reflect on the legacy you've left (many, many, quarter-centuries from now) there's so much more to your legacy than "trying." We'll remember you as BEING that amazing man you want to be. That we'll remember not only that you tried but you excelled and you set the standard. That's my hope for you.
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