Whether we like it or not, each day of our life is an etching in the legacy we leave behind. I look at it as a personal logo or print signifying our existence. I asked myself, what is my legacy? Do I take more than I give? Do I cause others pain through my words or actions? Do others feel accepted and loved in my presence? Does my life benefit others?s I cannot help but allow logic to prevail and remind me that our legacy follows us wherever we go, albeit job to job, town to town, country to country, life to death. The more I witness my own transformation and evolution, the more I feel that all those summers spent staying with my Grandmother allowed allowed her legacy to take root in me.

(l) to (r) Esther, Ida, Clyde, Eva and Gertie

I witnessed my grandmother, Ida Faye (Dempsey) Maynard, live according to her truth. I was fortunate to benefit from her life from the time I was born until adulthood, after which time, her days on this Earth were no more, I saw her simply a a saint (and quite honestly, still do.) I heard her speak no ill will towards anyone. I never witnessed her act out in anger or hate. In fact, I cannot remember a time she did not embrace another person, familiar or not, without a kind word, warm embrace, or heartfelt smile. When she hugged, you could feel love rain down upon you from head to toe.

Looking back, I could never be her, because I am me. But, as mentioned before, it would not surprise me that she willed her legacy to take root in me. Premeditated legacy transference. If that be so, then each day is an opportunity to carry on with her beautiful legacy as my own, passing it forward to other souls by loving unconditionally, giving with no expectations, and sharing the best of one’s self with others.

Tina Robbins, a contributor to the blog, Tiny Buddha, wrote:

Recently a friend asked me what kind of legacy I want to leave for future generations. It was an unexpected question that really got my wheels turning. Usually when people pass away there is a huge focus on the things they owned and who gets what, and the idea of handing down ideas and values was a totally new way to look at it. What if the most important gift we can give our descendants is not a tangible item, but a piece of ourselves?

It seemed revolutionary!

So I started thinking about the things my loved ones (the ones still living and the ones who have passed) have shared with me.

I thought back to the backyard parties my grandparents used to have with friends, food, and music. My grandfather played guitar and sang us children’s songs in Spanish.

My dad’s sisters had been dancers in their youth, and as kids we would play for hours in my grandmother’s attic, trying on their colorful costumes and playing make believe. My mom’s sisters and brothers shared their love of games and books with us.

Some things were passed on and taken to heart. These are the ones that I want to continue as part of my legacy.

My grandparents on both sides demonstrated deeply held faith and never missed church on Sunday. Even at ninety-five my grandmother still gets upset that the family won’t let her walk to church whenever she wants.

My path isn’t the same as theirs, but I hope to inspire a deep connection, with self, loved ones, and with the divine.

There is magic in connection. Take the time to listen. It’s so easy to hurry through life, but it’s over too quickly and there is so much to learn and enjoy when you stop and take in the stories that are shared with you.

The stories of my grandfather bringing home people who needed a meal are family legend, and I have seen my dad fill a bag of groceries from our refrigerator to give to a young mother who was in need.

A few years ago my brother gave his Christmas money to a single father who needed holiday gifts for his kids. And those are just a few examples.

I like to say that generosity runs in my family. I am but one link in a long chain of sharing and lending helping hand to those who were in need.

And what I know is that the energy of giving is extremely powerful, and generous actions will bring you as much blessing as it brings to those you help. I hope to be a good example of generosity in action.

I have vivid memories of all of these things. They have become a part of who I am and I hope they will become part of future generations.

I’ve also learned a few things of my own that I want to pass along.

I hope I can leave others with a belief in the goodness and the magic of the world outside their door. Because I know that there is beauty everywhere, you just need to open your eyes and take it in.

And I want to be a reminder that you should keep going when things get hard. If I learned anything through my own hardships and challenges, it’s that I was stronger than I ever thought.

Going through divorce, financial struggles and bankruptcy, job loss, entrepreneurship, moving to a new state—all challenging—all tested me in ways I never could have imagined. I came out the other side stronger than ever before, and I will again when the next challenge pops up.

I want to remind people not to think about how you will find the strength; instead, just keep moving and the strength will come.

Looking at what I have taken in from others and also what I have learned from my own experiences has been a powerful exploration of who I am and what I hope to leave behind.

And I realized that in order to be that example, in order to pass on these beliefs and values, I have to live them consciously, right now.

Knowing the legacy I want to leave behind helps me stay focused on what I’m doing in the present so that my goals are in line with that legacy. It offers a concrete sense of purpose in choosing what I am giving my energy to.

And the whole concept of legacy can be a deeply powerful way of connecting with others. Looking at your roots, ancestral, blood family, cultural, spiritual, or whatever avenue you choose to explore, connects you to those who have gone before you.

Planning the legacy you are leaving behind connects you to those whose lives you touch, and that they touch, and so on, potentially for generations to come.

I encourage you to take some time and really look at the things you carry on from past generations. See what you need to leave behind, as well as, what you want to carry forward.