“If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of.
There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.”
~ Fred Rogers
Fred McFeely Rogers (1928-2003) was best known as host of TV’s Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Remarkably, the show ran 33 years and 895 episodes. His incredible legacy taught children to love themselves and overcome childhood fears by simply addressing every day topics imaginatively. The show was recognized in parody on the long-running adult comedy Saturday Night Live. Rogers even received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his contribution to the well-being of children and public television career demonstrating the importance of kindness, compassion and learning. But such awards were not why he did it.
In a CNN interview, Rogers explained the passion that drove his efforts. Far beyond entertainment, his work provided young people a foundation for a good life. Another passion, ironically, was an admitted dislike of television. In the interview he said, “I believe that those of us who are the producers and purveyors of television – or video games or newspapers or any mass media … are the servants of this nation. I got into television because I hated it so,” he said. “And I thought there was some way of using this fabulous instrument to be of nurture to those who would watch and listen.” (Source: http://www.fredsociety.com/mr_rogers.html)
Much information about his views was gathered from Rogers in the short time before his death, and afterward – in that Monday morning quarterback way we humans have of considering the concept of legacy. But great legacies are generally built actively over time, inspired by deeply meaningful interests and strong passions.
Your own legacy can likewise be consciously explored, designed and carried out.
Most people only think of the traditional definition of legacy from legal estate planning: the disposition of real and personal property to your heirs at the end of life. We expand that perspective at Creating Legacy to help you identify your gifts, talents, deeply held interests and passions, and design a way to express them through living and working that produces a tangible long-term benefit – which also feels great. We think that changing the world for the better is a deeply held desire of many people, who often secretly think ‘who am I to be so bold as to think I could change the world?’ Indeed, who are you not to?
There are several common misconceptions about legacy, like:
“Legacy is something that only happens at death.” To the contrary, many great legacies are built and grown during one’s lifetime.
“I’m not wealthy enough to create a legacy.” You might be surprised, and legacy is about a lot more than about just money.
“My kids will inherit everything I have.” Again, legacy is not just about inheritance. Building a legacy for family is certainly a viable choice. But many people have raised successful children whose own families are doing well, yet they long to make a bigger contribution. Family can be involved – it’s a great place to learn about real wealth, through gratitude and giving.
All great legacies have a number of common elements that center around three main principles. Muse about them, and consider how to pursue your wild and precious life energy in the days and months to come.
First, legacy is about authentically giving your unique gifts to the world, about nurturing and giving back – or maybe giving forward. Your gifts include more than your finances and assets – which alone may be much more than you think as the Global Rich List (www.globalrichlist.com) demonstrates. Maybe more important is who you are, what you love, what’s important to you, and includes those things you do so naturally and enjoyably you likely think they’re no big deal. Somebody needs that from you – maybe a lot of people.
Second, our broader perspective is about actively and consciously creating a legacy during your lifetime. Many humans don’t think of themselves as creative, but we each have the capacity to “make something from no-thing.” Bringing meaningful thoughts or ideas to fruition is truly creative.
Your “legacy creation” can take any number of forms and sizes, depending on your individual situation. They can be financial-only, participation-only or a combination – anything from a personal memoir to an internationally based charitable foundation. Whatever form, this authentically and passionately built beneficial creation is also something that from the outset you plan to step away from. It is designed to allow others, possibly including family members, carry on its defined mission in a sound business-like way to be sustainable for as long as possible.
Third, creating a legacy actually is good for you. Research shows that approaching life from a spirit of giving and contribution has positive health impacts including improved life-satisfaction, both physical and mental health, and living longer. A project born from the financial legacy of philanthropist Sir John Templeton, has a mission to demonstrate this very notion. The Institute for Research on Unlimited Love was founded with a grant from the Templeton Foundation and has demonstrated the benefits of giving back.
Creating a legacy involves the ultimate in personal growth. It is one of those peak “Self-Actualization” activities in Maslow’s Hierarchy. Choosing to create a legacy project allows you to fine tune your awareness of who you are, your own sense of purpose, and how your life will make a difference in the world. It requires only that you fire up your own personal passion for making the world a little better, the patience and persistence to build on a project idea that jazzes you, and do so sustainably – to make a difference that lasts for generations.
Is this your year to get started?
About the Author:
Dolly Garlo, President of Thrive!! Inc., founded Creating Legacy (www.CreatingLegacyNetwork.com), to deliver programs, products and consultation that promote individual and corporate legacy development. To learn more, obtain your free copy of the Creating Legacy Kit on the website, and join in the creative dialogue at our Creating Legacy Studio teleprograms.
