"To be or not to be, that is the question." (Shakespeare) In literature, words so boldly asked of ones self. Now apply it to current life. Who do you want to be? With whom do you want to be with? How do you want to be remembered? What do you want to be remembered for? A legacy. A Legend. Intense. I know!
My legacy, what is left of me when I move to the higher ground of life beyond life, remains but bittersweet pieces for others to put together of my life and my memories. Moments in time that are left undone but still existing in the Universe. In a previous poem I wrote words relating similarly to this topic. "The greater truth from the greater self, our eyes blind to see. Unveil the shadow before thine eyes, propel your life to be." Taking steps toward the realization of my personal legend which will leave my legacy in life has been challenging, rewarding, educational and uplifting. But those are only baby step trophies to the real deal. I still do not know what my personal legend is. I can humbly admit this fact. What has changed though, I now have the mindset to "propel my life to be". A thought process I have not acted on until recently.
Leaving memories and a legacy is a key part to life. Historians, Writers, Actors; examples of all who have left legacies, their marks in this world with achievements, epic novels and classic films. Their moments in which we remember them. There is a certain level of magnitude that goes into marking the world with "you". A magnitude that commonly gets swept under the rug. People in nature, have the built in feature of being great at something. It is how the human mind works. It is up to us to uncover what it is that we are great at and give into it.
Ideally, I would like to believe my personal legend embodies goodness, kindness, happiness and brilliance. Qualities in which I know I would want to be remembered for. The best part of me that my children can be proud of. Something they can brag about to their children, and their children's children. A lineage of comfort from memories of who I was to them. Leaving all materialistic value to the side and leaving them something to hold on to. A memoir or a novel or even a book of short stories will be printed and authored by myself. A piece of me I will leave to the my girls, (and the world) to learn what I have learned in life, know what I know and feel what I have felt.
Legacies should not be mistaken for value. Royalty, hierarchy and status know no bounds to the legacies people can leave. You do not need money to create your legacy. What you do need, however, is translucent sight into the soul of who you are, what you are great at and the positive forces you radiate into life around you. That is something I am still and now working on.
Poem of the Week
Epitaph/Poem
Her head lay still
Her final rest
Her voice whispered silence
Palms to her chest
Her heart of gold
Reached miles at length
Her legacy of life
Was her greatest strength
The Universe beyond
Her eyes could light
She had one wish
Just love, don’t fight
For life was short
She understood
Her taste for life
Was pure and good
Her need for knowledge
Was not unforeseen
Her limitless reality
Started out as a dream
The words she wrote
Left marks in time
A writer’s path
She would define
She reached sky’s limits
With hard work and risk
Passion for love
Was her personal bliss
Her death portrays
A lesson to learn
For a life with limits
Creates a wrong turn
Her absence herewith
Brings tears from the stars
Her smile is missed as
Her soul watches from far.
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Kerri,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post. I really like the more abstract, high road, that you took with this assignment. Focusing more on the biggest of the big pictures - the more abstract, etherial legacy, as opposed to writing about work accomplishments, trophies, and/or physical footprints...
You went for the soul-level achievements.
I also like how you wrote this post from more of an objective viewpoint (in your writing tone). It makes it feel like a magazine article, and less like a personal journal, which is impressive and different.
Excellent work. It's inspiring to me, as the professor, to see a student take this class to such heartfelt levels - it keeps me motivated to keep this class going - and to keep it moving forward.
You prove to me that it's working!
Your personal legend sounds nice and simple, yet incredibly noble. You truly want to leave a good mark, and I'm sure that you have been leaving incredible impressions upon all the people you've touched so far.
Your poem this week - one of the best I've read. You were able to take this task, this direction - and create a fascinatingly beautiful string of lines the capture your legacy. Chisel this one on the tombstone. It's eternally beautiful.
Amazing work. Would we expect anything less?
GR: 100