Several days ago I was reminded of the influence of one of America’s First Ladies. Hearing about her made me think about being a First Lady and wonder that what would I advocate for if I were ever in that position. What would my legacy be? My grandparents, pictured above with a much younger me and six of our seven children, left a legacy of faith, service, and kindness among other things. None of us need to be the First Lady of a nation to leave a legacy. You also don’t have to have a lot of money since a legacy is not necessarily monetary. My children and all that I have taught them and continue to teach them is certainly a huge part of my legacy. But now that I am not mothering them in my home day in and day out, I’ve got more time to reach beyond my family and leave a legacy outside of my family as well. What an amazing impact all of us empty nest home execs could have if we channeled our energy into creating a legacy that impacts the world for good. We all have unique interests, skill sets, connections that we are able to make with others, and people that we are around. As we look to each of these unique factors we can determine what we will do to help others and then make and execute a plan to improve the world.
Interests
When you center serving others around a passion that you have, your enthusiasm is contagious. People get excited and grow as a result of the positive energy they feel from you. Make a list of the things you like to do. Could you teach others about those interests? Could you use those things to bring other people joy in one way or another?
Skill Set
Everyone has talents and abilities that can be used to help others. Make a list of the things you can do. There is most certainly a way that one or more of your skills can be used to bless someone’s life. Maybe you can teach someone (or a lot of people) about cooking on a regular basis. Maybe you majored in accounting and can help people learn about financial matters. Maybe you are great at organizing events and can help non-profits host fundraisers. You see what I’m getting at.
Connections
We each connect with different people in different ways. Some adults can easily see eye-to-eye with elementary schoolers. Some individuals feel comfortable around the elderly. Who are you most comfortable around? Who do you relate to? Who do you spend a lot of time with? You might choose to center your legacy around people in your neighborhood, in another part of your city, or maybe somewhere else in the world. As you contemplate these questions you can determine what group of people you want to impact most.
Involve others
Those around you can help you decide what you want your legacy to be. They likely will tell you that you already have a legacy! Go you! But if there is more you want to do ask your husband, children, other family members, and friends what cause they think you should take up. Look online to see if there are organizations that you can work with. Leaving a legacy doesn’t mean that you have to create an entity that goes big and serves millions. Serving any number of people is of benefit. Bring other people along as you build a legacy by inviting family and friends to join you in your work.
Make a Plan
After considering all of the above factors, create small, achievable goals to develop and grow your legacy. A legacy is not built overnight. It takes time and many small and big steps. It might push you to learn new skills, meet new people, and get out of your comfort zone. It might be an endeavor that is at times very difficult. In the end, like all good things it will be well worth it. I’m looking forward to shaping my legacy plan. Share in the comments below your ideas on building a legacy.
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