An explanation of what spurred this topic for me: I have always felt (and still do) that the idea of wanting to "leave a legacy" is absolutely narcissistic. I already know that one of the arguments I will probably here is that I feel that way because I don't have children. Fair enough.
But still, should we care about whether or not we leave some lasting impressions of ourselves after we're gone? At the core, doesn't it feel a little selfish?
I realize that there is a danger here, because the "who cares what people think about me" attitude can lead to a very narcissistic PRESENT life. That's not what I'm advocating. It's important to lead a life which ultimately contributes to the well-being of others. No doubt. Maybe it's a matter of motivation? Doing something so that someone reads about me 25 years after I'm gone is ridiculous. Doing something because it makes a positive impact now is noble.
I know that Christians are very big on the legacy concept. That's actually the first place that I started to tire of the concept. Most legacies that I find amazing or impressive were never intended to be legacies. You can't create something and then call it a legacy. The legacy label comes years later almost involuntarily.
Okay, I'm just rambling now. I'll finish with the words of songwriter Chris Rice from his song "Power of a Moment":
But I have no guarantee of my next heartbeat
And my world’s too big to make a name for myself
And what if no one wants to read about me when I’m gone?
Seems to me that right now’s the only moment that matters
Marc
P.S. In doing a little research on narcissism, I came across an interesting article from the Harvard Business Review in 2000 about the pros and cons of narcissistic leaders. Check it out.
A legacy to me is somewhat akin to verbalizing what someone might want to appear on their gravestone, only instead of engraved in stone being engraved in the memories of those who they love and care about. If a legacy is intended as a means of notoriety, then I agree that's selfish.
ReplyDeleteI believe most want to be remembered for their good rather than their bad, and create memories of them that cast them in the most favorable light possible - in some ways an even better memory or remembrance than actually may have been the case.
A lot like a bust or statute actually ... do you really think Julius Caesar or King David really looked that good? It had more to do with others who created these statutes wanting those they were honoring to be held in a more favorable light.
Me, I'm opting for the bust ... and please, a little more bulk upstairs and a little less downstairs would be nice!