In December each year, the Canadian Wildlife Federation sends me a calendar, and I send them a donation. This year they included a small fundraising insert with the following quote:
“In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.”
—Baba Dioum
The caption above the quote reads “Create a Lasting Legacy.” It got me to thinking.
Leaving a legacy seems like a lofty pursuit, but the truth is, we leave something behind with everything we do. We create a tiny wake in the space-time continuum every single day.
If you’re the type who dislikes resolutions, think about your legacy instead. What kinds of things, big or small, do you want to leave behind? What would you like to add to your memoirs? What kind of impact do you want to make in your profession, your community, or the world at large?
Instead of making promises out of tradition or obligation, connect with your deepest, most honourable desires, and move forward with thoughtful purpose. Lofty aspirations, yes, but completely practical if you do it in increments of choices.
What lofty, practical, big or small accomplishments are in your sights this year? Leave a comment below.
Possibly related posts:
I particularly like this year because my goals have merged with my husband’s. We have together goals, ones that we want for the greater us. So, we look to travel as much as we can before a baby is in our midst. We want to roam during the day and plan for the future at night. In addition to travels, we also are preparing to find a more permanent home to drop into at the end of a world excursion.
I personally want to explore craft, art and my writing style with greater focus!
You?
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Stacey Cornelius Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
“Together goals” – I like that.
I knew someone was going to call me on my own plans… mine are still a little squishy (read: not entirely firm). Keep building, and hope I can do someone some good with my writing. Since that’s an online project, the concrete details will evolve at the speed of bytes: see the needs of the audience and respond thoughtfully.
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I like Lydia’s “together goals,” too, and, yes, I was going to ask your plans, as well, Stacey.
My plans are squishy, likewise. “Continue the exploration” is one way of putting it, I suppose. Continue learning about photography, continue learning from the cats (fortunately they’re patient with me). Living lightly on this earth.
Happy new year!
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Stacey Cornelius Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Happy New Year to you, too, Sally. I hope it’s filled with exhibitions that lead to some sales.
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I want to master embroidery to record and leave as part as my history and I have two aspirations that I hope will enhance my legacy…learn to speak Italian and study to become an appraiser in fine and decorative arts…pretty lofty, right????
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Stacey Cornelius Reply:
January 1st, 2010 at 12:50 am
Wow, Kathy, those are great! I secretly want to learn to speak Spanish and to play the guitar – should we make a pact?
I really like the idea of using embroidery as a way of recording your history. Textiles have marked our paths in so many ways and so richly reflect our culture. I’ll look forward to pictures.
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Okay…its a deal…now if I can just afford those Rosetta Stone tapes and the NYU classes…in the meantime the embroidery project is underway and I just may start my New Years post with that.
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Stacey Cornelius Reply:
January 1st, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Kathy – I’ve been tempted by Rosetta Stone, too, but like Sally, I’m a big fan of libraries. There are also some foreign language lessons online, but I haven’t looked into those too much – yet.
Sally – I had no idea you did embroidery. The things you learn online…
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Kathy, I’m interested in seeing the results of your embroidery project, too, especially since you already work with textiles.
Your local public library might have tapes on how to learn Italian? I’m a big fan of libraries.
My mother taught me embroidery as a young child. At that time, I never embroidered anything other than pre-printed religious panels, sheets, pillow cases.
However, a few years ago when Jackie the Perfect Cat was dying, I embroidered her “portrait” on a shirt. Embroidery provided the exact mix of concentration and distraction that I needed.
When I wear that shirt, people always ask about the embroidery. One woman wanting to know if I’d show her how to do it immediately backed off when I told her it took hours to do.
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Sally….THE LIBRARY!…and its FREE…btw we have a spectacular library in Chicago worth a trip if only for the inspiration….and about that embroidery….what is missing in our culture is not enough time spent on meditative pursuits….what will we leave behind?…a text message?
Stacey…I will check into those lessons online..THANKS!
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Yup, the library’s free. And if your local library doesn’t have what you want, they can probably get it through interlibrary loan.
Text message: isn’t that what an epitaph is? : )
Stacey, I don’t “do” embroidery, usually lacking the patience for it. But since it’s the only kind of sewing I know how to do, when I need to mend something I use embroidery stitches.
Ain’t the internet great?
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Stacey Cornelius Reply:
January 1st, 2010 at 7:37 pm
The Internet *is* great when you do it right–a huge collection of great ideas and amazing people. But at the first sign of a Twitter funeral, I will toss out my computer and spend the rest of my days drawing in the dirt with a stick. Oh, and browsing the stacks at the library. I call it “grazing.”
If there’s already been a Twitter funeral, please don’t tell me. I really don’t want to know.
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Hi…love your message….so very true…that what I’ve built both my businesses on…we carry on the legacy of others …personally, professionally and other wise….and if we’re lucky ….very very lucky …our own personally legacy will carry on too.
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Stacey Cornelius Reply:
January 11th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
That’s a good approach, Tamara, and it seems like it’s working well for you.
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