Legacies

      Legacies

      We all want to be remembered, immortality is something we all crave. I am sure most of us have thought about how we would like to be remembered, what we want people to think of us, how large the guest list will be at our own funerals. I think kindness is the best legacy to leave behind. I don't mean a kind gesture thrown in for good measure amongst many selfish choices, true kindness. The willingness to always go an extra step for someone. Are people ever remembered for kindness? Is it not the cruelties in life that seem to be remembered.

   

     Do we remember the people that have always held our hand, always picked us up when we fell? Or do we remember those that scolded and broke our hearts only to apologise so convincingly that we forgive? Perhaps those people change, perhaps they never make that same mistake again, however do we remember the people who have never done us harm above those that have? I think we favour the cruel and the kind are forgotten. Is this because we all have faults and meeting someone kind to their core intimidates us? Do we refuse to believe that they are that godly that we create faults for them? Maybe we crave adventure and danger so we live life always a little in the red, or perhaps those kind natured individuals are boring and easily forgotten.

       What if memory and trauma are linked, for example if I asked you to recall where you were when the twin towers fell the majority of people will be able to recall very specific details from that horrific day. The same could be said if you were involved in another traumatic event perhaps you caught your husband having an affair, or your child was committed to hospital- the details of which are so fresh and clear. However if I asked you to conjure a happy memory could you give specific dates and details surrounding the event?

    So in conclusion if we want to leave behind a legacy, if we want to be remembered, is kind hearted ness the most effective route to take? Maybe we should all take a moment to remember the many good and beautiful people in the world: lets create new legacies.

"No legacy is so rich as honesty" - William Shakespeare

"Be the change you want to see in the world."- Gandhi