As I look back on all of the mothers who have come before me, paving the way and passing the torch to the mothers of today, it has become clear to me that there is no “how-to” when it comes to building a legacy and making history.
Legacy: Planting the seeds in a garden you may never get to see.
When I look to the women in my own life, the lineage of women I come from are nothing short of complex masterpieces. I think of my own mother making hard decisions to honor herself in her life in ways that I could never understand—until I started to have to make those decisions myself.
Every family is different, woven together specifically and on purpose. As mothers, we are each creating a unique legacy and paving the way for ourselves and those around us by simply making the next right choice, whatever that may be for our family.
Legacies can be unconscious or intentional, intangible or tangible; positive, negative, or mixed. No two legacies will ever look the same.
Our theme this month isn’t about what you leave behind when you’re gone. That’s certainly the traditional definition of legacy. But for our purposes, we’re focusing on a legacy in real-time. The planting of the seeds, one by one. Our legacy is a continual expression of the love, values, and people we hold sacred. It is our investment in the bright future we know will carry on.
A mother’s legacy is a measure of the kindness, patience, encouragement, inspiration, support, humility, forgiveness, integrity, and trust you’ve shown others. It is made up of what you’ve given to the world and the difference you’ve made in your children’s lives.
Motherhood is not small work. It is a slow process. It takes stamina, patience, and grit to build a legacy you’re proud of. Let us remember that we are all building legacies and writing stories that will create ripple effects that impact future generations.
Make a list of values have been important to you throughout your life. Think about who in your life helped instill those in you. What kind of things did they do or say to model those values? Now consider your interactions with your children. How would they describe you to someone who has never met you? What would you keep about that description? What would you change?
