Elementor #172

What’s Your Legacy?

“If you’re going to live, leave a legacy.  Make a mark on the world that can’t be erased.” – Maya Angelou

I was having a conversation with my daughter, and she asked what will be your legacy? This was a difficult question for me. Mainly because I lost my mother and father in my formative years, and no one ever mentioned the word legacy. The sad notion that in many ways I raised myself, lives very real in my soul. I never really gave much thought about legacy until my daughter inquired.

As I pondered, I thought of course my children are my legacy. Being an extension of the bloodline for generations to come. I challenged myself and questioned, do I really know the meaning of legacy? It’s defined by Webster’s as a gift by will especially of money or other personal property; something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.  After reading the definition, I thought that it was more about giving material things. While that’s important to leave things such as real estate, stocks and bonds to your children,  I thought more about the true gifts of sharing wisdom, values, and love. The things that money can’t buy and can be passed on for generations.

What legacy of wisdom have I shared? We are often so busy dealing with the day-to-day life, that we miss opportunities to share wisdom. Not only wisdom we’ve learned over the years, but wisdom from our ancestors. Since my daughter hasn’t had the pleasure of meeting her maternal grandmother, I’ve started to share things I learned from my mother. Her funny sayings, stories about her interactions with her family and friends. My daughter has matured to where she’s interested in cooking, so I now share my mother’s recipes.  

While we may think that making a mark on the world has to be some grand impact, our mark is significant in the lives of others. The wisdom, values and love that we give is passed on in ways and multiples by a pass it forward effect. Each person we touch, we pour into can pass this on in quiet ways and have such a mighty impact.

Have you left a legacy in someone’s life?

ZEAL Big, Without Limitations 

ZEAL Big, Without Limitations

” Being naïve is the blessing to dream big without limitations. “

There is a saying that being naive is a blessing to dream big without limitations. Do you remember in your youth that you had so many big dreams. What were yours? Mine was to be a jazz singer. To travel the world singing and spreading good times. Although I’d taken music lessons, did talent shows, competed in beauty pageants all in honing my craft, the adults around me suggested that I have a more practical career. I was encouraged to go to college and major in a career that was stable, so I did. Being a singer, wasn’t promising. How could I support myself? Everyone wants to go to New York to try to be a singer. Those voices can mute dreams. As I reflect, parents can take their hardships and disappointments and really dull young dreams.

I think its important to support dreams. Be it your children, your friends and family. For children, I say let your child follow their dream for 1-year and provide support – financial and emotional. Remember, college is not for everyone. See how they will commit themselves, how hard they hustle. Then after a year, if they’re not following through, then put them on a more guided path with your influence. However, giving them a chance to try on their own is so important for them to hear their own voice.

I’ve started to follow my dream. I’m taking voice and piano lessons now. My goal is to find a local gig and start singing. Then eventually, to travel around the world singing in jazz clubs. I challenge you. Do you have a dream unfulfilled? What will it take for you to try at this stage in your life? Don’t be afraid. If you’ve gotten this far in life, you can do it. Just living day-in and day-out should give you the confidence to go for it. The voices. You’re too old. Time has passed you by. It’s only for young people. I should have done it twenty-years ago. Stop the noise! It’s never too late. 

Is my initial blog post, and this is so exciting!  I started this blog as a way to challenge myself. To find a new place of creativity. I’ve longed to do this, but life had me going in so many busy directions for so long, that the lanes were just too overwhelming. Zeal  Getter is all about never losing your zeal for life. To discover, explore, create, have fun  – dream big and think big. I’m a woman 50+, and I know sometimes we get to a place in life where we’re doing status quo. We’re comfortable. But who says it has to be that way? Why not get off the couch and travel solo? Why not do something you’ve always wanted to do? We zig and zag in life and have so many unfulfilled dreams. If you’re an empty nester or the kids are older, now is the time to just do it! 

The diamond emblem above the “Z” in ZEAL, is a very intentional representation in that like a diamond which is one of earth’s most precious and rare stones, we as mature women, are very rare. There’s no one that is alike. It takes a diamond over 100 years to form, while our womanhood doesn’t take that long to form, the layers of who we are does take time to find its brilliant self. I’m now more confident than I’ve ever been. I now know what I want, but most importantly, what I don’t want. I now speak-up when things are not right. Actually, as part of my personality I’ve never had a problem with speaking up!  It took time to gain this confidence. No, this didn’t happen over night and I’m glad it didn’t. I’m glad that with every experience, every win, every loss – I learned valuable lessons. Whew! And yes, I made it! I’m sure you have similar stories. You made it too – even when others thought you wouldn’t. I always say  for those who are not in my corner, please come to my party and watch me dance! I’m going to dance on you, over you, above you. I’m going to dance and smile, all while you want to see me fail. I’m dancing and I won’t stop until I succeed.  So ladies, dance on – get your ZEAL on!

I’m a ZEAL GETTER. Enjoying life, family, friends, experiences, spirituality  –  it all really rocks my soul. I hope that you’ll find this space, a place where you can laugh, relate, and share your thoughts. We’re all learning and growing every day. So join in, be a ZEAL GETTER. Define – what is your zeal? Have you lost your zeal? If so, it’s not to late to get it back. Let’s become a community of Zeal Getters. I hope you’ll share your stories of how you get your Zeal on. Let’s encourage each other daily. Life can really get to you. Let’s have harmony together. Let’s be positive, regardless of what negativity is in the world. So please connect and I’d love to hear your Zeal comments and stories. Let nothing rob you of your ZEAL!

I was always goal-oriented and ambitious. In my 20’s the layers of life were to find myself. Yet, so much tragedy defined that time in life. I lost my mother and father in that decade, and it was crushing. Where do I turn? How do I navigate this thing called life without my closet village of supporters?