One of the most interesting things that I often find myself wondering about is do people actually care about what they stand for? Do you care about the legacy that you leave behind? So many times we say that we don’t care what others think about us, but do we care what those close to us think? Does it mean anything to truly have a legacy? I’m so fascinated by how those soldiers who die in the line of duty have their comrades and superiors speak about how awesome they were.

Think about the businessman or businesswoman who leads a successful company and retires or tragically passes away. They do everything they can to leave their “mark” and have their respective legacies stand for something. Think about the teacher or President. Think about that sports coach or that mom or dad. How is it that they seem to block out the world but hone in on their own?

What it makes me realize is that no matter how much one says they don’t care about anyone’s opinion, the truth is there are some opinions that do matter. Otherwise we wouldn’t spend our time trying to leave the mark that we do on this Earth. One my dearest friends is no longer here but the mark he left on those who know him is so profound.

I think of the President of the United States. How hard he works to make sure that people know he’s America’s President, not just the Black President. I look at mothers and military personnel that don’t get the credit they truly deserve, but they continue to be their best selves because they care and they want it to be known when their gone, that they did the right things.

What am I trying to say? You’re legacy is nothing than a reflection of what you stand for, and how you go about defending those beliefs. If you’re full of shit that will be legacy that you leave. If you are messy or suspect, or blowing with the wind, then that’s going to be what you’re remembered for. No matter what you or anyone else says, we always care about the legacy that we leave.

Maybe if we always kept that in the front corner part of our minds, maybe we would be more conscious of one another. Maybe we would care a little more about how we treated each other, because we know that our legacies are defined by these actions that we take. I truly do implore all people to take a moment and think about what you want to be known for. Because that’s what’s going to stand the test of time when your dead and gone.