What is your legacy?

It is so funny how life works. At least, I think it is funny how mine works. I have to believe that a power greater than my own is guiding me, providing lessons, gentle (and sometimes, not-so-gentle) pushes in a particular direction. Although I often think I am calling the shots... sometimes, I wonder if it is really me or an unseen spiritual guide. There are moments in my life that seem to just "happen" as if they were predestined to do so. When these pivotal moments happen, I don't even question it. It is as if I was expecting it and was prepared to respond. Once such moment happened recently as I was offered an opportunity to begin providing counseling again. A short, one-sentence text from a friend launched me into revitalizing my private practice that I had placed on a back burner years ago when focusing on finishing my doctorate. It stayed on the back burner as I pursued my career. And, only recently, as the dominos fell from that one-line text... I sit here building a website and start contemplating how this practice came about in the first place (more on that later). I begin to ruminate on the idea of my Legacy and why I chose that for the name of my practice.

As I think about the years since starting Legacy in 2006, I realize that the "me" I am today, writing this post, is the culmination of so many others who continue to influence me daily. That is what I wanted to embrace when I chose the name Legacy. In me, I see my mother in my mannerisms. I hear my grandmothers' voices providing wisdom and guidance. I dutifully put things away as my dad taught me. I summon strength in difficult times inspired by my husband. I still remember so many life lessons, taught to me by myriad others who have been brought into my life - all leaving a bit of themselves. I also see me, and my mother, father, grandparents, and husband in my children, grandchildren and now... great-grandchildren. But, it does not stop there. I know I leave a little piece of myself every time I interact with others, including my family, friends, colleagues and clients. Even strangers we come in contact with every day. We all leave a little bit of ourselves - hopefully in a way that makes that person's life just a little bit better.

My Mammaw Ruby left an indelible mark on my heart and mind when she taught me to "always leave a place better than I found it". That is my mantra... that is my purpose. That saying was exemplified in my Mammaw Hazel's life of service. My Legacy is handing down those values and principles to my off-spring in the hopes that they will continue in their own ways to make this world a better place. We are all living legacies of each other.