Day 198 (A Hundred & Ninety-Eight) of 365 days
My biggest fear is not being remembered for something by the end of my life. Whether I will be remembered by many or by few, I want to leave a legacy for future generations of people. I want to be able to say that I made an impact, a mark, on the world in some way, and changed it for the better. This dream is what motivates me in my everyday life, and what has influenced my previous endeavors.
In a relay race, members of a team take turns running while they hold a baton in their fist. Each team member runs a portion of the race, and then they hand the baton over to the next runner. One way to think of your life is to see it as a relay race. Live a righteous life and pass it on to others.
Let us be clear that to “leave our mark” does not mean destroying private or public property, it is a metaphor regarding the imprint we leave on the soul of humankind that reminds us we are all connected even beyond time and space. We all desire to have others witness our lives — to know that we matter. There is something sacred that lies deep within us that seeks to connect us to our oneness with others and with eternity; to confirm that our presence here has purpose and meaning and that those who live downstream from us will receive the benefits of what we add to that stream through our consciousness. By our mere presence on the planet we shall leave our mark. In one way or another, every moment of every day, we are leaving our mark, energetically imprinting some part of ourselves in our world. The question is not, shall we leave our mark, but, rather, what type of mark shall it be.
Some might argue that it is only the egoic self that wants to leave something of ourselves behind but I think it goes far beyond the ego. To leave your mark does not mean you have to, metaphorically, erect huge stones upon which you can inscribe your name, knowing it will stand for thousands of years. The mark you leave doesn’t have to be monumental in size, just mindful in approach; with mindfulness, the mark you leave can be inscribed more deeply daily. As an example, the practice may be to remember that every time you act with compassion and loving kindness you leave your mark etched on the minds and hearts of others. The same could be said for those times when you may speak or act mindlessly, thoughtlessly, or with cruel intent; you still leave your mark, but not in ways that serve our world or those you love in a beneficent manner.
But a legacy isn’t only about leaving what you earned but also what you learned, and we all have an opportunity to make a difference. It doesn’t call for wealth, fame or even taking giant steps — you don’t have to be a Gandhi or a Martin Luther King to leave a positive mark right now, one that will linger long after you’re gone.
So where can you start? What’s important to you? What are your values? How do you want your life to touch others? What would make you proud? If you had to do one thing to improve your world, what would your contribution be? How can you increase the well-being of those who depend on you? How can you leave your mark on whatever you do?
The answer to these introspective questions will help you develop a meaningful philosophy of life that goes beyond just creating financial wealth. Your words become the building blocks of your legacy. Knowing what’s important, what drives you and how you want to be remembered creates tremendous clarity in how you should live your life.
