Your Legacy

[The Hammer]

I have recently been thinking about Legacy. What it means, and what mine will be that I will eventually leave behind. As we all will leave our mark on this world, but the work to make that mark must occur every day.

Definition of legacy | Dictionary.com

The second definition of legacy here, is the one I am most concerned about: anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.

This can be positive or negative memories, even a skill, or ideas taught/held (which includes things said on the internet these days.) Just like my grandfather will be remembered for the love he had for his wife, and his great BBQ's; and how my Dad will always be remembered for the sacrifices he made for his family, and always showing us that the key to a good life is a willingness to put in hard work. Or how my Uncle is going to be remembered as the man who built his own business, but thought money could save him from what he was suppressing via alcohol, causing him to be an alcoholic like his father before him. Or how the strongest memory of my Aunt that I have is of the time she ridiculed me at her wedding when I was a child, because "That's not real dancing"; leading to years of self doubt, and an inability to dance in public.

How are you going to be remembered by those you love? How will they carry on your legacy?

I want to be remembered for loving my family dearly, and making sure their needs are met. And to have at least one thing published, be it a book or academic research article. Also, for my love of animals, but this goes without saying among those who know me.

Hávamál
Stanzas:
75.
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
thyself too soon must die,
but one thing never, I ween, will die, --
fair fame of one who has earned.
76.
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
thyself too soon must die,
but one thing never, I ween, will die, --
the doom on each one dead.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I will probably be remembered for my sense of humor. I may be remembered for other things, and certainly wouldn't mind if it's not the main quality brought up at my funeral, but yeah... it's probably going to come up.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Hopefully for my compassion, sense of humor and service to others.

 

[Father Heathen]

Most of us will be completely forgotten; the only evidence that we've existed will be tombstones - names and dates long weathered away - hidden beneath the foliage of an overgrown and forgotten cemetery.

 

[Bear Wild]

If I am known for doing everything I can to give back to the world that gave me life I will be happy even if it only the birds and raccoons that know. I will have done something I consider as good.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

If I am known for doing everything I can to give back to the world that gave me life I will be happy even if it only the birds and raccoons that know. I will have done something I consider as good.

I like this approach to it.
Ultimately we're not around to see the impact of our legacy, and people's legacies can be both misrepresented and/or misunderstood. But if you can leave the world a little better than how you found it then you've left a legacy regardless of recognition.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I have recently been thinking about Legacy. What it means, and what mine will be that I will eventually leave behind. As we all will leave our mark on this world, but the work to make that mark must occur every day.

Definition of legacy | Dictionary.com

The second definition of legacy here, is the one I am most concerned about: anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.

This can be positive or negative memories, even a skill, or ideas taught/held (which includes things said on the internet these days.) Just like my grandfather will be remembered for the love he had for his wife, and his great BBQ's; and how my Dad will always be remembered for the sacrifices he made for his family, and always showing us that the key to a good life is a willingness to put in hard work. Or how my Uncle is going to be remembered as the man who built his own business, but thought money could save him from what he was suppressing via alcohol, causing him to be an alcoholic like his father before him. Or how the strongest memory of my Aunt that I have is of the time she ridiculed me at her wedding when I was a child, because "That's not real dancing"; leading to years of self doubt, and an inability to dance in public.

How are you going to be remembered by those you love? How will they carry on your legacy?

I want to be remembered for loving my family dearly, and making sure their needs are met. And to have at least one thing published, be it a book or academic research article. Also, for my love of animals, but this goes without saying among those who know me.

Hávamál
Stanzas:
75.
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
thyself too soon must die,
but one thing never, I ween, will die, --
fair fame of one who has earned.
76.
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
thyself too soon must die,
but one thing never, I ween, will die, --
the doom on each one dead.

I think there is no reason to worry about legacy, when the "legacy" about me are going around i will be gone already, so as long i live a normal life now, i wont be remembered in good or bad ways.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Most of us will be completely forgotten; the only evidence that we've existed will be tombstones - names and dates long weathered away - hidden beneath the foliage of an overgrown and forgotten cemetery.

Right, but that doesn't mean our legacy doesn't live on in some senses.
My grandfather taught me plenty of things, and I could tell you about a lot of his thoughts, habits or philosophies on life.
I suspect there are pretty strong elements of that which came from his father, and grandfather. Their legacy is passed on, in some ways.

Ultimately it's like the old story about an axe, though.
I've heard this a few times, told different ways, but I couldn't find the exact version I was looking for. But here is a Pratchett version, which might at least paint a picture...

This, milord, is my family's axe. We have owned it for almost nine hundred years, see. Of course, sometimes it needed a new blade. And sometimes it has required a new handle, new designs on the metalwork, a little refreshing of the ornamentation . . . but is this not the nine hundred-year-old axe of my family? And because it has changed gently over time, it is still a pretty good axe, y'know. Pretty good.

Of course the axe doesn't even have a single part which harkens back to it's '900 year old' history. None of it was ever held by that ancestor. But each passes something to the next, and the echoes of that lives on, in a sense.

Ultimately, I'm not too worried about my legacy from my own point of view, since I figure I'll be worm food, and therefore quite uninterested in everything. I'm not interested in having the wing of a library named after me, for example. But passing on a love of books is something I see value in...so that sort of legacy I'd hope to pass, not for my sake, but for the sake of my children, and their children.

 

[Mindmaster]

I have recently been thinking about Legacy. What it means, and what mine will be that I will eventually leave behind. As we all will leave our mark on this world, but the work to make that mark must occur every day.

I had hoped to be completely forgotten.. Unfortunately, we have the Internet Archives, lol.

 

[Sunstone]

I aim that my most lasting legacy shall be to shift the blame for everything that has ever gone wrong in my life from me to the sturdy shoulders of @lewisnotmiller.

 

[dawny0826]

Most of us will be completely forgotten; the only evidence that we've existed will be tombstones - names and dates long weathered away - hidden beneath the foliage of an overgrown and forgotten cemetery.

Methinks your legacy is short, defiant, strong willed and looks like your Mom.

 

[dawny0826]

My children, I hope will remember and apply the values that I've instilled and use it to make this world better. Most importantly, I hope that they will love and be loved fiercely.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

My I aim that my most lasting legacy shall be to shift the blame for everything that has ever gone wrong in my life from me to the sturdy shoulders of @lewisnotmiller.

Mostly that sounds like a good plan. However, I have a pretty good alibi for any shenanigans you got up to in your first ten years of life, given that I'm a little younger than you.

 

[The Hammer]

Most of us will be completely forgotten; the only evidence that we've existed will be tombstones - names and dates long weathered away - hidden beneath the foliage of an overgrown and forgotten cemetery.

I think there is no reason to worry about legacy, when the "legacy" about me are going around i will be gone already, so as long i live a normal life now, i wont be remembered in good or bad ways.

Our words, deeds, and actions live for far longer in the hearts and minds of others, whether we want them to or not. Best to strive and make them positive.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Our words, deeds, and actions live for far longer in the hearts and minds of others, whether we want them to or not. Best to strive and make them positive.

Yes, the "goal" in life is to better one self to become a positive part of others life and to be positive to one self

 

[Sunstone]

Most of us will be completely forgotten; the only evidence that we've existed will be tombstones...

Well, those and the police and court records. I mean, we're talking RFers here!

 

[Secret Chief]

I can't think of anything specific "passed on" from my parents and I have no offspring so I don't think there's any legacy involved, either from an ancestor or to a descendant.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I will be remembered for very little.
However a few of the things that I have made will be around for awhile.
That I existed at all, will be recorded pretty much for ever with the family records of much more famous family members from the past. mainly in Burke's Irish family records.

The things that I have made that will probably be around for a good number of years, are a number of spinning wheels of my own design, a small weaving loom or two, numerous spinning accessories. and a fair number of wood turned boxes and other items. some sold around the world. The larges item is an Oak Altar and lectern I made for the lady chapel of my local church. Numerous other smaller items made or restored for them, will be forgotten within a generation.

I also fully restored, back to working condition, a rare double flyer German linen spinning wheel. Where I had to replace a number of missing parts. it came to me dismantled as a pile of sticks. It is hard to date, as they had been made in this particular style from the early 18th century right through to the late 19th century. It is unlikely to be thrown away any time soon.
My photographs will mainly be binned soon after my death, as is the fate of most Photographers work. a few may linger a while on the web. but will soon be orphaned.

 

[SalixIncendium]

How are you going to be remembered by those you love? How will they carry on your legacy?

Hopefully by my impeccable fashion sense.



In all seriousness, I honestly don't know ho others will remember me, or if they will carry on any legacy I might have. Funny story though...

As my daughter and I were standing over my elder daughter's grave yesterday, were were talking about the two plots that I purchased next to it, and mentioned I wanted to be buried in the plot next to my daughter and that she could be buried in the other if she wished.

Then I mentioned that I wanted to be cremated, and she mentioned that she wanted to be as well, and she wanted her ashes spread somewhere. I told her that I really don't care what she does with mine, that she could flush them down the toilet for all I care, because spreading them could make a mess that someone would have to clean up.



I suppose I really don't have a legacy, nor do I expect to have one, because I really have no attachments to this world.

 

[Aupmanyav]

My posts in RF archives. How long will they be kept, @Rival ?