Legacy

Have you ever thought what you would like to leave behind when you have passed on in life?

A friend of mine shared recently that while he has achieved much in life, he hopes to leave something behind to the people close to him by sharing the knowledge he has learned. This morning I had a chat with a friend who shared that his dream as an architecture student when he was in school was to leave behind signs of his existence even when he has passed on from this world. He shared with my a little scene from a movie where the lead was asked why she got married.

Her reply was "Because there will be a witness to your life".

While it may seem a little strange to hear that but to someone who may have no other kin in this world, it may not seem such a strange notion. Just imagine, what if you had no contact with the outside world, will there be anyone to remember you? Will there be anyone or anything to remember that you once existed, breathed and lived?

Many past greats have had the notion of leaving their mark in history. Some call it ambition. This drove great inventions, achievements and even wars. Even the normal man on the street will hope to be remembered after his death. We all hope to have made a little difference to the world we live in. After all, our existence here should have a purpose isn't it?

To me, a person is not only measured by the things that he has achieved in life but more so the things he leaves behind when he is not longer in this world. There are times when I have heard seemingly low profile people having a huge turnout at his or her funeral. Death does something to people. It makes us realise true good and bad and cherish the things that we may have taken for granted. There is little that we can take with us when we die. We leave this world as we have arrived - alone.

Someone once told me a good way to look at what you hope to achieve in life is to think of the three things you hope to be written on your tombstone when you die. The strange thing is when I thought if it, none of the three things I thought of had anything to do with material achievements. This really makes you think of the things that really drive and move your soul. Try it :)