Within my upcoming book, I ask the question- “What is your trademark on the world?”
I believe we make an imprint on the world each day we live. I also believe that this trademark will outlast us and be passed onto future people and generations. It will be our legacy. Therefore, understanding and dissecting what our trademark is, and tying it with our personal mission in our lives, is pivotal in aiming to live an even more purposeful life.
This past week, this thought above resonated with me once again when we found out that my husband’s grandfather, Charlie, passed away. Even as he was battling Alzheimer’s and other medical illnesses, Grandpa Charlie had such an incredible sense of humor. He was always smiling, laughing, and telling it like it was in the best one-liner quick-witted fashion that he could. Moreover, Grandpa Charlie was a talented musician. He never learned how to read music, but he could play any song, any tune, any note, simply by ear. He played music for weddings, events, and his songs even reached the radio.
At Grandpa Charlie’s funeral, it choked me up to see how many lives he has impacted throughout his life. During the service, one of Grandpa Charlie’s bandmates played their bluegrass and country music that they used to play together. This bandmate also shared that Charlie had been a mentor to him since he was a young boy, that he did not have a father figure, and Charlie rose to that occasion to fulfill that void, while also teaching him how to play music.
After the service, I listened to stories from the Pastor, family, and friends about the life of Grandpa Charlie. It was clear that he had made a trademark of love, humor, friendship, and mentorship to those around him that everyone will keep in their hearts with them wherever they go.
Someone once said, “Build something that outlives you.” This quote is so brilliantly and simply written that I just need to pause to think about it more. We all know we are not on this earth forever, but as humans, it is really difficult and nearly impossible for us to truly understand our own mortality. But, I know that to build something that outlives us, it starts with our people. Maya Angelou said it best, “Your legacy is every life you have ever touched.”
It’s tremendous and daunting when we think of the influence we have on the lives of others. Especially since wherever we go, we will most likely interact with people: The people we work with, the students we teach, the strangers we meet at the grocery store, the restaurant waiters and waitresses. . .
This does not mean we need to strive to be perfect humans in every interaction, this just means we need to be more thoughtful in our approach.
I will never forget when a store clerk, of a store I often shop at, stopped me one day when I was shopping to tell me “Thank you.” She said that every time I see her, I say hi and acknowledge her. She said that some customers pretend she does not exist and it feels great to have nice customers who make her feel that her work is important, too.
This interaction was a reminder to me of how much little hi’s, smiles, and words of affirmation mean to everyone. But more than that, what is the most valuable to people is that we take the time to value them. We will never know the full impact of our behavior- At home, at school, or through day-to-day errands, but we can start with becoming more aligned to it.
Hi's, smilies, and words of affirmation mean the world to people. But, what is even more valuable to people is that we take the time to value them. Share on XThank you for touching the lives of others and understanding that above all else, what matters is the people,
