This isn’t something I generally think about, however, when doing something new or different it sometimes pops into my head. This weekend, I participated in an “Inspired Classroom” workshop. The workshop was for teachers and how art can help kids with social/emotional needs. What amazed me was the amount of talent in the room. The “Andy Warhol” projects blew my mind, and trust me when I say: “I’m not an artist.” I love the process, I loved being around so many like-minded people and I appreciated their immense talent, I just felt my art was not on their level. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I’m not talented; I am just saying that I have different talents. I got so much out of the overnight, which included the opportunity to bond with people from work, whom I don’t often get to spend time with.
With that being said, I did begin to wonder, today, while doing laundry about legacies. What might my legacy be? Legacies come in all shapes and sizes. They are generally passed from one person to another within a generation or across generations. They can be visual, tangible things like paintings, folk pieces or published works. They can be the altruistic work you have left behind. Your legacy can be shared with family and friends surrounding you, or by wider audiences who have supported your art, writings, or altruism. Whomever they are shared with, it is something that can impact the future, because the legacy has influenced someone to profoundly act, changing their life or the lives of others. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best when he wrote:
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.”
Although I dabble in many elements, including this blog, I can’t say I am really great at any one thing, but I so enjoy trying them all. However, I do ardently hope that my being, my friendship, and my love will be my legacy. I hope that in the future I’ll be remembered for the kindness and caring I have shown to others. What’s your legacy?
