{"id":1189,"date":"2011-03-14T12:47:32","date_gmt":"2011-03-14T16:47:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=1189"},"modified":"2011-11-19T00:37:31","modified_gmt":"2011-11-19T05:37:31","slug":"love-your-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=1189","title":{"rendered":"Love Your Legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>By Rena M. Reese<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/ys38.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1190\" title=\"yang sheng\" src=\"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/ys38-300x133.jpg\" alt=\"life legacy\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/ys38-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/ys38.jpg 527w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Mention the names of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and Eleanor Roosevelt, and people immediately associate each of them with their legacies. \u00a0Reflecting on the lives of Albert Einstein, Gandhi, and Helen Keller will naturally call us to celebrate their life\u2019s work and achievements. \u00a0The achievements of each of these people were quite varied, important and far-reaching. But don\u2019t be fooled into thinking you\u2019ll have to win the Nobel Peace Prize to have a legacy that matters; a modest life holds a powerful legacy too.<\/p>\n<p>There was a time that each of us filled our lungs for the very first time with our first breath. \u00a0Juxtapose this awareness in considering that you will one day exhale your very last breath too. \u00a0All of the breaths you\u2019ll take in-between will make up your personal timeline yielding y<em>our legacy<\/em>. \u00a0Whether a life lasts moments, months, or a century will not diminish this truth. Further, the value of a legacy is not measured by the degree of fame attained in life or in the size of our last will and testament. \u00a0Although these can be components of the final footprint we will leave in this life, there is much more that makes up the awesome concept of a legacy. Mindfully creating our legacies as we make decisions, build relationships and invest our energy each day will leave us with greater peace when our last day&#8211; and last breath&#8211; arrives.<\/p>\n<p>How do you mindfully create a legacy when it is something that seems so illusive and intangible? \u00a0A legacy is most often built upon a lifetime of simple interactions and daily decisions. Occasionally legacies are built on a heroic act like that of Todd Beemer and Navy Seal Michael Monsoor. When Todd Beemer heroically stormed the cockpit of a hijacked plane with other passengers on September 11<sup>th<\/sup> and Michael Monsoor threw his body on a live grenade to shield his fellow Navy Seals from the blast, they were making decisions <em>in the moment<\/em>. And in the same way, our day-to-day decisions matter in constructing a life legacy too. \u00a0Deciding who you will be in every day relationships, at work, and in moment-to-moment decisions will offer a great place to mindfully build your legacy.<\/p>\n<p>Things to consider as you design your legacy:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Financial abundance<\/strong> is more than a means to power, attainment of      luxuries and security, but it is also an opportunity to further a cause,      lift up individuals and support something you value. How can you put some      of your financial resources to work for what and whom you value most?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Your relationships and connections<\/strong>, whether they last a lifetime or mere moments,      house the potential to propel people to greatness and inspired living.      \u00a0Recognize the gifts of those you meet, acknowledge the efforts of      those who do a job for you and show gratitude without measure.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pour love and acceptance into a child.<\/strong> Whether you are a parent or not, you have      the opportunity to mold a new generation with every interaction you have      with a child. Buy some lemonade from the child who has set up a stand on      the corner, mentor a child, donate to a scholarship fund or simply turn      off your TV and cell phone when you are eating dinner with your child.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Extend your sphere of influence.<\/strong> The Internet has made it possible for a woman who      lives in South Carolina to learn from a woman who lives in South Africa.      \u00a0Be open to opportunities to positively impact people you may or may      not ever meet in person.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Seek opportunities to give help and give hope.<\/strong> These simple four letter words have a way      on etching themselves on a person\u2019s heart for a lifetime. \u00a0An      encouraging word, a leg-up, offering support in a crisis or a simple      acknowledgment can provide the opportunity to completely change the      trajectory of another\u2019s life. \u00a0And most often, it won\u2019t even cost you      a dime.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Respect the planet and all living things.<\/strong> Switching to a refillable bottle for your gym      jaunts may not seem like much, but the small decisions you\u2019ll make to walk      instead of drive or bring your own travel mug to the coffee shop to get      your morning latte add up. Crank up your awareness that the earth is a      living host.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be a person of integrity <\/strong>and you will earn the respect of those in your      life. \u00a0This will have your family and peers celebrating you and your      biggest critics admiring you. This respect most often comes from speaking      truth, acting humbly, and offering respect in your connections with      others.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be a smile-maker. <\/strong>We are presented with countless opportunities      every single day to make someone smile. \u00a0Whether it is a compliment,      a gesture of support or breaking out that hilarious one-liner at just the      right time, seizing those opportunities imprints your legacy on the heart      of another.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Share your talents and natural-born gifts. <\/strong> Whether you own a company that builds      beautiful homes or you are responsible for lovingly landscaping them,      share your innate talents with the world. Your beautiful voice, ability to      advocate for another or gentle manner with a child may be examples of some      of the special things that you have to offer the world. \u00a0Share them.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Participate in values-based work. <\/strong>Honoring your values in your work will carry over      to your home life too. \u00a0This creates a whole-life scenario that is      congruent with your core beliefs. This is a powerful element to include      when creating a legacy you\u2019ll love. \u00a0Participating in work that      opposes your values will erode your health, level of happiness and muddy      the vision of your legacy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When Mattie Stepanek was approaching the end of his short life he asked his mother Jeni, \u201cHave I done enough? Will it last?\u201d This young man of 13 had not only appeared on The Oprah Show many times promoting his message of peace, but enjoyed a very special, personal friendship with Oprah too. Mattie wrote several New York Times best-selling books, inspired audiences of thousands with his eloquent speeches, and raised millions for MDA. So one might wonder how it is possible that this child, who was an acclaimed poet, peacemaker and philosopher could possibly query his mom in this way. The answer to this is that it is in our nature to wonder if our life has made a difference in the world. \u00a0We want to know that the world is somehow better because we were here. We want to feel extraordinary\u2014even if it is well hidden in the very ordinary aspects of our lives.<\/p>\n<p>President Jimmy Carter eulogized Mattie saying, \u201cWe have known kings and queens, and we&#8217;ve known presidents and prime ministers, but the most extraordinary person whom I have ever known in my life is Mattie Stepanek.\u201d And the truth is, whether a person lives thirteen seconds or lives 113 years; his life matters and holds a legacy. <strong> <\/strong>Mattie taught us to distinguish being important from being famous and that it is a right and a gift to be able to touch another human being. So if you want a place to mindfully begin building a legacy you will love, why not begin there?<\/p>\n<address><em><a href=\"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/ys39.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1191\" title=\"Rena M. Reese\" src=\"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/ys39.jpg\" alt=\"yang sheng\" width=\"94\" height=\"114\" \/><\/a>[<strong>Rena M. Reese<\/strong> is the founder of <a href=\"http:\/\/soulsaloninternational.com\">Soul Salon International,<\/a> an inspirational multimedia company. which offers coaching and consulting, web-design, publishing support, and fund-raising opportunities for individuals and groups.\u00a0 She is the author of several inspirational titles, a professional speaker and coach as well as the host of a weekly radio program, The Soul Salon. Please visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.soulsaloninternational.com\/\">www.SoulSalonInternational.com<\/a> and connect with her on Twitter @TheSoulSalon.]<\/em><\/address>\n<div><div style=\"padding-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;font-weight:bold;\">Do you like this? Please share it:<\/div><div class=simplesocial><a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" data-url=\"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=1189\" data-text=\"Love+Your+Legacy\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\">Tweet<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\"><\/script><\/div><div class=simplesocial><iframe src=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/like.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189&layout=standard&show_faces=false&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=35\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:25px;\" allowTransparency=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/div><div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><a class=simplesocial onclick=\"return simplesocial(this,500,400)\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" style=\"background:url(http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-sharing-widgets-icons\/icons_16\/facebook.png)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189&t=Love+Your+Legacy\"><\/a><a class=simplesocial onclick=\"return simplesocial(this,812,420)\" title=\"Share on Twitter\" style=\"background:url(http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-sharing-widgets-icons\/icons_16\/twitter.png)\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/home?status=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189\"><\/a><a class=simplesocial onclick=\"return simplesocial(this,435,500)\" title=\"Email a Friend\" style=\"background:url(http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-sharing-widgets-icons\/icons_16\/email.png)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.freetellafriend.com\/tell\/?heading=Share+This+Article&bg=1&option=email&url=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189\"><\/a><a class=simplesocial onclick=\"return simplesocial(this,750,500)\" title=\"Share on Blogger\" style=\"background:url(http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-sharing-widgets-icons\/icons_16\/blogger.png)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/blog_this.pyra?t&u=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189&n=Love+Your+Legacy&pli=1\"><\/a><a class=simplesocial onclick=\"return simplesocial(this,750,500)\" title=\"Share on Google\" style=\"background:url(http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-sharing-widgets-icons\/icons_16\/google.png)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.google.com\/bookmarks\/mark?op=add&bkmk=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189&title=Love+Your+Legacy\"><\/a><a class=simplesocial onclick=\"return simplesocial(this,812,420)\" title=\"Share on Myspace\" style=\"background:url(http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-sharing-widgets-icons\/icons_16\/myspace.png)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/Modules\/PostTo\/Pages\/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189&t=Love+Your+Legacy&c=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189\"><\/a><a class=simplesocial onclick=\"return simplesocial(this,750,500)\" title=\"Share on StumbleUpon\" style=\"background:url(http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-sharing-widgets-icons\/icons_16\/stumbleupon.png)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189&title=Love+Your+Legacy\"><\/a><a class=simplesocial onclick=\"return simplesocial(this,812,500)\" title=\"Share on Technorati\" style=\"background:url(http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-sharing-widgets-icons\/icons_16\/technorati.png)\" href=\"http:\/\/technorati.com\/faves?sub=favthis&add=https%3A%2F%2Fyang-sheng.com%2F%3Fp%3D1189\"><\/a><a class=simplesocial title=\"RSS Feed\" style=\"background:url(http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-social-sharing-widgets-icons\/icons_16\/rss.png)\" href=\"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?feed=rss2\"><\/a><\/div><div style=\"clear:both;margin-bottom:20px\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do you mindfully create a legacy when it is something that seems so illusive and intangible?  A legacy is most often built upon&#8230; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=1189\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[118],"tags":[184,183,182],"class_list":["post-1189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-soul-salon","tag-life-purpose","tag-love-your-legacy","tag-rena-reese"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1189\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}