According to macmillan dictionary the definition of legacy, in the context I am using is as follows:
“something that someone has achieved that continues to exists after they stop working or die
Perhaps her most important legacy was her programme of educational reform“ If you have ever sat on a fund raising board, as I have, you may have heard the term “legacy” used fairly often. It’s a way for supporters of a charity to leave a lasting impression, perhaps their name on a marquis, an educational endowment, a room named after them, a scholarship… It’s a way to ensure that their dream lives on long after they have passed.
Perhaps one of the most famous legacies was created by Martin Luther King when he declared “I have a dream.” Ghandi left a legacy. There are millions of people in the history of the world who have been compelled to ensure their legacy has been fulfilled. Think Bill and Melinda Gates and Oprah, U2 and Bob Geldoff, Richard Branson and Maya Angelou, Brad Pitt and Angelina Joli….just a few of the fearless heroes who are choosing to step into their truth and following their dream.
Now I know that I’ve just named quite a few people who are famous and have had wealth in their lives and you might be reading this saying “well sure they can do that, they have money and resources and support” which is true. It’s also an excuse in my humble opinion. Two young boys in a northern suburb of Toronto, Canada had an idea when they learned about poverty in third world countries. They didn’t know how to fulfill their dream and they didn’t have bags of money to make it happen. What they did have was a vision and a dream and they shared that with as many people as they could. They created a community of support which has turned into a global movement. Who hasn’t heard of Free the Children and the Me to We movement? Two young boys, one dream, millions raised. So don’t tell me that money is your obstacle. Don’t tell me that you don’t know how to start, don’t tell me that you don’t have support, do it anyway.
Have you ever been to a funeral? Have you ever been to the funeral of a young person? Tragically sad passage of life to be sure but do you know what the most tragic loss is? The loss of potential, the loss of opportunity, the loss of dreams unfulfilled. If you’re reading this then consider yourself lucky: you still have time. You have a dream, you have a truth deep in your soul that you may have kept buried for far too many years. Now is the time to unleash, to dig up, to uncover that fearless legacy. Don’t worry about how, that’s my job, you just hold onto the dream. What’s your fearless legacy? What’s your first step in making it happen?
And, congratulations to the Oprah team for making today the first day for her facebook page live chat. A question she was asked…”When did you know that you were going to be successful” gets answered…check it out.
