Now that I am in what is euphemistically called my twilight years, I’ve begun that to think about my legacy. How will I be remembered? Will I be remembered at all? Does it really matter? There are already some things that I know. I will never do great things like Washington or Lincoln. I will never write great works like Shakespeare or Hemingway. I will never create great inventions like DaVinci or Edison. I will never have great thoughts like Aristotle or Thoreau. I will never be a great athlete like Jim Thorpe or Babe Ruth. And I will certainly never be a rock star like Elvis or Mick Jagger. So where does that leave me? I think, like most people, I will have to be content that I did my best, helped as many people as I could, and did as much good as I was able. I think my legacy will be in my family and my friends. For more than 50 years I have had the love of a good woman who made me more than I ever would have been without her and saw much more in me than I saw in myself. I also have two wonderful children, who while not perfect, (but whose children are, despite what their parents would have you believe) have been a great joy for me. And, of course, my grandson who is the best legacy that I will leave behind. I’ve had many true and wonderful friends in my life, and I can only hope that I have been as positive an influence in their lives as they have been in mine. I know my life would have been far emptier without them. The one truly great thing about friends is that there is no limit to how many you may have and that you may continue to make new friends even as you get older. I have also been blessed in my life and in my career to be able to help many people in the most trying times of their lives and to sometimes make a lifesaving difference. Most of these people, I expect, will never remember me, but it is enough that I know that I made that difference. So, what is our true legacy? It is the people that we have loved and who have loved us. It is the good that we have done, and it is those whom we have helped. This then, is a true legacy of which to be proud. It is better than fame, notoriety, or wealth (well, maybe wealth would have been nice). It is certainly a legacy that I am satisfied to leave behind. And, that is my opinion, although not grumpy for a change.
Thinking About A Legacy
By John Turley
On August 10, 2022
In Commentary
Now that I am in what is euphemistically called my twilight years, I’ve begun that to think about my legacy. How will I be remembered? Will I be remembered at all? Does it really matter?
There are already some things that I know. I will never do great things like Washington or Lincoln. I will never write great works like Shakespeare or Hemingway. I will never create great inventions like DaVinci or Edison. I will never have great thoughts like Aristotle or Thoreau. I will never be a great athlete like Jim Thorpe or Babe Ruth. And I will certainly never be a rock star like Elvis or Mick Jagger.
So where does that leave me? I think, like most people, I will have to be content that I did my best, helped as many people as I could, and did as much good as I was able.
I think my legacy will be in my family and my friends. For more than 50 years I have had the love of a good woman who made me more than I ever would have been without her and saw much more in me than I saw in myself. I also have two wonderful children, who while not perfect, (but whose children are, despite what their parents would have you believe) have been a great joy for me. And, of course, my grandson who is the best legacy that I will leave behind.
I’ve had many true and wonderful friends in my life, and I can only hope that I have been as positive an influence in their lives as they have been in mine. I know my life would have been far emptier without them. The one truly great thing about friends is that there is no limit to how many you may have and that you may continue to make new friends even as you get older.
I have also been blessed in my life and in my career to be able to help many people in the most trying times of their lives and to sometimes make a lifesaving difference. Most of these people, I expect, will never remember me, but it is enough that I know that I made that difference.
So, what is our true legacy? It is the people that we have loved and who have loved us. It is the good that we have done, and it is those whom we have helped. This then, is a true legacy of which to be proud. It is better than fame, notoriety, or wealth (well, maybe wealth would have been nice). It is certainly a legacy that I am satisfied to leave behind.
And, that is my opinion, although not grumpy for a change.