“You came here with nothing, and look at what you’ve left behind.” These words were spoken through tears as a loved one ended the eulogy he wrote for his grandmother. They were so poignant and spoke to my heart immediately.
Since then I’ve been thinking: what does it mean to be a person of influence?
My loved one didn’t speak of accolades or academic accomplishments. But he spoke of wisdom, understanding and unconditional acceptance.
He didn’t speak of money or material riches. But he spoke of wealth. A wealth of faith, an abundance of love and bountiful passion, loyalty and determination.
He didn’t speak of fame and fortune. But he spoke of a life well lived, well loved and well learned from.
Despite having no formal education, no career and, in his words, ‘no special skill that our world today values highly’, he declared that his grandmother was one of the most influential people he has ever known.
And I couldn’t agree with him more.
It would seem that somewhere along the way our markers for success have shifted.
Yes, it is good to aspire, accomplish and achieve, but these things do not define our worth.
Yes, it is good to provide for our loved ones and to leave something behind for them. But nothing that we leave for them can ever compare to what we leave in them.
I wonder what would happen if we all took a look at our hearts and decided what kind of legacy we want to leave for those around us.
This legacy has nothing to do with material things that fade away. This legacy has to do with love, honesty, loyalty, peace, passion, integrity, authenticity… the list goes on and on and each item has the potential to make an impact for generations to come.
What if influence is less about power and more about passion?
What if importance is less about likes and more about love?
What if success is less about income and more about integrity?
What if we changed what it means to be truly influential? …And then we purpose to become a person of influence in the lives of everyone we meet.
We may have come here with nothing, but there’s no limit to what we can leave behind.
Beautifully stated!
Thank you, Rob!
Yes! Passion, love, integrity… This is what a real influencer is… this needs to be brought up with the social “influencers”. And let’s not forget compassion. =)
Yes! Compassion is a powerful legacy!
My Dear Angelina,
I congratulate you, for once again, you have outdone yourself with this wonderful and heartfelt presentation on such a vital, yet ignored part, of man’s life on earth, – our legacy.
Far too many of us, devote our lives to projecting our images, building monuments, amassing fortunes and creating an aura of invincibility for ourselves without ever realizing that these all, like the sands in the desert, will blow away, and leave nothing behind.
A legacy, as I once observed is “not any of the things you do for yourself, for these will go with you, but the things you do for others, for they will stay in the hearts and minds of all who remain back.”
Your loved one has clearly lived a life worthy of her legacy, and it is up to each one of us, to follow in her footsteps.
Sincerely,
Uncle Edward
Uncle Edward, As always this is so eloquently and beautifully said. Thank you for sharing your quote with me, it is loaded with truth and power. Sending all our love.
Beautiful!
Thank you, Linda!
Angelina,
Thank you for sharing this with us. My beloved uncle died last week. He did not have much money, lived simply and loved greatly. He was a faith-filled man. We are all diminished by his death, yet we are all much richer for having known him and loved him.
He was our family‘s treasure.
May he and your loved one rest in peace.
Ann, I am so sorry to hear of your Uncle’s passing. From what you have mentioned, I am certain that his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Thank you for your kind wishes. May they rest in peace.
This is very beautiful so insightful and helps me to realize that my values and the way I treat people is far greater then what I have or have not accomplished and I derive great comfort from this. Thank you. I shall pass this on to those I think will care.
Susan
Thank you for sharing this with me, Susan! Yes, our legacy is less about what we leave for people and more about what we leave in them!