“The more one forgets himself – by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love – the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself.”
—Victor Frankl

Focus on Legacy

Upcoming Workshop:

Legacies of the Heart: Touchstones for a Life of Meaning at Kripalu Center, January 3-5, 2010. Co-led with Donna Krone.

http://snipr.com/pkv7h

What is Legacy?

Despite its narrow primary dictionary definition, namely, "a gift or bequest of property," in my view legacy is:

as broad as the imprint of one’s life that lasts at least into the next generation and as specific as a single piece of property (e.g., a family heirloom) willed to a survivor;
as mighty as a religious or scientific paradigm shift or great artistic output and as mundane as a single family recipe passed down the generations;
as public as an architectural monument and as private as a letter written to your children or grandchildren;
as tangible as a bank check and as intangible as a seemingly casual word of advice;
as life-enhancing as a life-saving Heimlich maneuver and as life-denying as the holocaust.

Legacies are gifts of ourselves as well as the imprint of our lives. We have all received legacies, and we all leave them, more or (usually) less intentionally. As we grow older, we begin to think and care more about the meaning of our lives, our contributions -- past and still to come, and the legacy we want to leave behind for those we love as well as for generations to come.

Why Legacy?

After much Soul searching, I recently set aside my life coaching practice in favor of teaching, speaking, and writing on Legacy. Why this shift of focus?

On a personal level, I am increasingly preoccupied with the questions: What are my legacies? Where have they come from, what have they been, and what do I want them to be? I want my life to have meant something to others, made some small positive difference to the world, and I want to be more aware and intentional as I continue to leave my imprint. I want to be thoughtful, soulful and generous about what I bequeath -- both the tangible and the intangible gifts.

More generally, I believe most of us are best served if we reflect on and act intentionally to leave our legacies. To do that we need to discover or clarify our deepest values, longings, gifts, and life purpose, because when we are living consciously from our essence and purpose, we will have a powerful, positive impact on the people in our lives and a clearer idea what we want to bequeath to them and future generations. The authenticity and purity of intent are key, not the magnitude of the actual legacy. What matters most is that it comes as a gift from the heart, without strings and expectations, but with love and a desire to self-express, serve, and make a positive difference. These legacies will be received if, when and how, according to the readiness of the recipients, and they will be passed on in ripples impossible to imagine.

Indeed, if enough people were to consciously leave such "legacies of the heart," we could incrementally transform the culture and preserve the planet for future generations. And who is riper to leave such a legacy than those of us in our second half of life?

Workshops and Presentations

Upcoming workshop: Legacies of the Heart: Touchstones for a Life of Meaning at Kripalu Center, January 3-5, 2010. Co-led with Donna Krone. http://snipr.com/pkv7h

Resources for Legacy:

Book Project: How You Can Help

I have begun a book project on this infinitely rich and multifaceted topic and would love to have your legacy stories. (Please email to mnewhouse@gmail.com, with "Legacy Story" in the subject line.) Here are some possible topics.

What legacies have you received that have been mainly burdens? How have these "negative" legacies impacted your life and the legacies you are leaving? (Are you interrupting them? Transforming them? Passing them on unintentionally?)
Do you have experience either giving or receiving legacies without initial awareness that later became meaningful to you or another?
Have family stories been important to you, and if so, how have they impacted your life and how are you preserving them and passing them along?
Your fresh perspective on legacy.

Thank you in advance! Meg