I had a surreal conversation today. A former student who had dropped out several months ago ran up to me in the schools parking lot and gave me a big hug. She breathlessly told me that she had been told I had died months ago. She couldn't believe that I was standing in front of her.
This amused me at first, but then it got me thinking...what if I had died.? Would it matter? Would I be remembered and how? Sure my wife, mother, a few other family and close friends would mourn but what else? Have I left anything that will be remembered, anything that has touched anyone, anywhere? I have a few drawings, a couple of paintings and half finished stories but nothing artistically to survive me. I've been thinking about THE DREAM for so long that I forgot to pursue it. Is it too late?
Will any of my students remember me or will they, as I often joke, forget me within a year?
What is my legacy?
Who was John Wilson?
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Interesting! Ya know, this sounds like it could be a movie: The Legacy of John Wilson.
All-in-all leaving a legacy is quite a daunting task. Sure, everyone would like to do so - BUT it's better to just effect the lives of others around us (for the btter). Look at it this way - would you rather have people reading about you in history books (remmber how borinbg history was to most of us when we were kids?). OR you you rather genuinely someone - making their life much better than had they not met you?
For me, I'd take being an inspiration to 1 person than being a footnote in a history book.
Also, legacies are risky too. Something you do may have drastic effects in generations to come. Then how you feel?
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