R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts

"If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader."
Dolly Parton

I've been with four of my grandchildren all weekend. (That's why there was no blog Saturday! Sorry!) Being with them was a wonderful blessing! But it made me conscious of what I am modelling for them. That relationship of grandchild and grandparent has all kind of potential for seeing life anew. But I got to thinking that all of us are creating a legacy of some kind or other. Our legacy is the sum total of what we are contributing to the good or ill of our world. Those closest to us -- our family and friends -- are the people who are most affected by our life view and the lessons we leave behind. Do our children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews/friends/co-workers/neighbors see a positive person or a negative person? Do we consistently concentrate on the good things in life or the bad? Are we instilling confidence and hope and power and goodness or are we encouraging those around us to be complainers and whiners and impotent victims of circumstance? I want those around me to be able to count on me to be an inspiration and not a negative influence. I want them to be better equipped to handle the trials of life because they saw me handle them in a good way. We can't be perfect. But we can learn to make choices based on our overall legacy in mind. I want those I love to be able to look at my life and see a person who handled adversity in a positive way and who encouraged them to take life by the horns and to live this wild adventure with joy and confidence. Let's all think about our legacy today. I know it's scary, but do it anyway.

"So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing."
2 Thessalonians 5:11