Leaving a legacy
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments,
but what is woven into the lives of others.”
— Pericles
Last month my mum passed away at the age of 85. Amidst the sadness and loss have been moments of light and encouragement as people have shared their experiences of who mum was. Despite their varied backgrounds, relationships and timeframes in which they knew her best, there are some key things people are consistently naming as qualities they appreciated about her. It’s at times like these that we reflect on a person’s impact in our lives and in the wider world.
One of our core beliefs at Moringa is that everyone desires purpose - that we want our lives to count for something and leave a meaningful legacy. The question is, do we know what difference we want to make and are we being intentional about living in a way which is consistent with that desire?
Of course, this is relevant for every single human being, but as leaders we have enormous opportunity to leave a legacy in other people’s lives. I can immediately think of one leader who significantly shaped my career through their belief, investment and trust in me. I can think of another whose wisdom, perspective and integrity have moulded some of my own attitudes and behaviours. Then there is my mum who, fuelled by her deep Christian faith, modelled a life of compassion, care, hospitality and service which I seek to emulate in my own life, and which I know touched many people.
As leaders we can choose to make a difference, in the here and now, but also in future generations as we live with intentionality and focus on what we are sowing into the lives of others. This investment could be made in many different ways: skills we pass on, qualities we embody, words we speak, principles we uphold, the example we set, the lifestyle we model. How's the world going to be different because you are here?
Questions for reflection:
What legacy do you want to leave?
How can you be intentional about living that out now - in your family, with friends, in the workplace and in your wider community?
How can you speak into someone’s life now, while they are still alive, and encourage them by telling them about the impact they are having on you and how you appreciate them?