Are You Living A Meaningful Life?

What is my Legacy?

What is the purpose of my life?

What do I want to be remembered by?

You can be a doctor and save lives,

You can be a lawyer and defend lives,

You can be a solider and protect lives,

Or simply be you, a person who touches lives.

The dictionary defines legacy as: “A gift or a bequest, that is handed down, endowed or conveyed from one person to another. It is something descendible one comes into possession of that is transmitted, inherited or received from a predecessor.”

Legacy is a similar concept as inheritance and heritage. Usually, heritage refers to material and economical inheritance, while legacy refers to immaterial and cultural inheritance.

I believe, legacy is all about life, living and caring about our world during our lifetime. When you’re alive, you have a unique opportunity to draw meaning by helping others in some way that is meaningful to you.

I am a “Dear Diary” person, at the peak of my youth where life was about making money, saving some and using most of it on life experiences and material stuff, my Dear Diary moments were building blocks of my treasures, pages of my learning’s were jotted down. Thirty some years later, with the lockdowns and what have you to deal with to overcome this pandemic, I unlocked these treasures leafed through the pages, taking note of the experiences both good and bad the lessons learnt and choices made with consequences. 

I am now building my legacy, It’s a good time to start building yours:

Ask yourself what ‘legacy’ means to you?

Dig deep into all of life’s experiences to understand your true purpose, note it down in just one sentence.

Start living your legacy, using your time wisely.

When? …… Right here, Right now!

How do I Build my Legacy?

Traditions give us a sense of belonging, write down family traditions. My grand ma passed down the tradition of how to bless the home and the family. Warding off the evil eye (nazaar)

Family recipes are jewels in a crown. The ones we get on social media work, but that flavor and taste of your grandma daal or chicken curry, you will find only in her recipe book, it takes that one ingredient to “hit the spot.” Write down family recipes. 

Family photographs, The black and white photographs have a special charm to them, I have been through tattered albums with faded photographs, The memories are priceless, Write down family stories or captions attached to the event, my children absolutely love these. 

I have an album of my life, from childhood, college life, to work, to travelling the world; Even I enjoyed reminiscing in my past. Write down stories about you. 

Start a Family Tree. Generations of your bloodline with footnotes of each ones profession, achievements or even fun things (like nick names for personality traits) to remember each person by.

Take a DNA test to reconnect with lost family, now that you have the time and patience.

“Our great human adventure is the evolution of consciousness, we are in this life to enlarge the soul and light up the brain.” – Tom Robbins

Every person and all events of your life are there because you have drawn them, what you choose to do with them is up to you. Building your legacy with memories of your life to be passed down is one aspect. I have found something much more rewarding, something you can do on a daily basis to make your life purposeful. It is drawing people to you or making time for people,with acts of kindness. People will be drawn to you when you make your personality attractive.

Attract people by the expression on your face, if it is peaceful, cheery and warm people will approach you.

Let a series of happy thoughts run thru your mind, Let your beauty and inner light shine out of you.

Treat every person whom you come in contact with the most important person for that moment. 

The deepest craving of a human being is to be needed, feel important, be appreciated, give it to them and it will return to you.

The human mind can hold only one thought at a time predominantly, keep the positive and discard the negative 

Spend a minute forgetting your pet grudges, bring each one up in your mind and say, “I forget it.”

Don’t waste your time broadcasting personal problems or health issues, unless its beneficial.

Test before you speak; is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

If your attitude is right, all will be right. 

Whom do I want to be remembered as?

Oprah Winfrey says:

You don’t need money to have a generous spirit, give of yourself.

Write hand written notes to people you care about.

Look up someone from your past and call.

Visit a nursing home or palliative care center.

Bake a cake for your neighbour for no reason 

Be generous with compliments

Introduce yourself to strangers and talk to them, you never know how you may lighten their yolk.

So what’s your legacy?

I pass through this world but once, any good I can do, let me do it now. 

For I shall never pass this way again.

Let it be a spiritual journey that has touched millions of lives.