Many people are driven by leaving behind a legacy. Some people may want to leave behind a legacy so they can be proud of themselves when they reflect on their own life, or someone may want others to look at the legacy the person has left behind so that others could be proud of them. Others may create a legacy for themselves that they wish would disappear, such as crime. Some may have a legacy that makes their life unenjoyable, such as being famous to the point where you can’t go out in public or be normal. Many want the legacy of fame and riches, which few have. People wish their lives away by wanting this precious fame and wealth.
Some people get so wrapped up in having a legacy that they forget to live their lives in the moment, which is the most important element of being alive. If you would live your life out and just let yourself think and work instead of dragging your mind through trenches of anger due to weaning a legacy, you would be able to create experiences and create a real legacy. Think about it. Have you ever seen someone have a legacy by wishing for a legacy but wouldn’t do any actions to work towards that legacy? Probably not. Look at many people who are well known and have fame. They fought and took action to gain wealth and fame, even if it hurt them or their ego or their pride or their soul. They fought for their legacy to get to where they are and didn’t stay in their bubble. They broke standards, eradicated stereotypes, shed tears and blood and fought internal wars with themselves to get to the point where they are today. Think of music and the stereotypes that come with it, how some people believe people of a certain race or skin color can’t be in a genre. There are few that were brave enough to change that, and the few that changed it are some of the greatest music artists because they had the courage and faith to snap those standards. Since those people were brave enough, they achieved a legacy, and a breathtaking one at that.
Getting back to the main point, many people are so focused on a legacy and a title, that they don’t live their lives and they don’t let things fall where they should. They don’t let pieces come into play, they don’t let motivation come into their life, they just get stuck in a slump and isolate the world. I think many people struggle with that, including myself, sometimes. That’s how anger builds up, how mental illness is created and discovered, how addictions start, how pain eats someone alive, how comparison destroys someone’s mind, how tears fall, how blood is shed, how a heart can shatter.
Comparison is a word I would also like to focus on. Many people compare themselves to others or people with fame and titles, and it discourages others because it creates jealousy. Jealousy is an ugly thing, a painful thing, a double-edged sword. Jealousy kills people, even if it’s an emotion. People who are experiencing jealousy should take a breath and live their life to where they can get to a stable point to where they can attempt to achieve what they wish and finally create that legacy. I have to tell myself that sometimes, like how I feel like I can’t do as much as I wish, or will I be good enough, or what if I’m hated, or what if I say things that are too controversial? I think that’s where my mind searches itself for pain, and I have to stop myself. I’m still young, there’s so much opportunity. I don’t like to say that either, even if it’s true. If you have too much opportunity, you start something, and say that you ruin your life while doing that thing. You think you have the opportunity to start over, when truly, that past will always be there. It will always be there, I promise. That’s another element to a legacy. Many people have a clean, crystal clear legacy, but you may have done things in your past that affect your legacy in a negative way. Sure, those negative things may be forgotten, but it happened and it will always be there.
Back to talking about a legacy, many people want a legacy when really, if you live your life and get yourself to a point where you can achieve your dreams, you will have the legacy you have dreamed of. You’ll have that one thing you’ve always wanted. Maybe it’s having your name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or having your name next to the greatest music artists of all time, or maybe it’s owning your own multimillion company, or finally meeting someone who inspired you. Any way you choose to go, just know that you matter and your thoughts matter. You can make your own legacy, but it will take strength and learning to be tough. You’re also not limited to one thing. For example, I would love to be an author and a music artist.
One piece of advice I have for you before you go and live your life: Just be yourself, live your life and get to a point where you are stable, mentally and physically. Once you’re stable, achieve the dreams you have been waiting patiently for, and create the legacy you want.
