"Eyes closed
Sounds pour in with the absence of sight...
It seems as simple and as hard to master
as the wisdom that says...
Focus on what delights you
the rest will fade into the background." - exerpt from "Focus" by Chris Heeter
The humor and snark is sidelined today in favor of reflection and solace. As a person who craves (and creates) relationships in my professional life, this week has been a particularly sad one for me. My first true professional experience was working with an extraordinary group of people who became a second family to me. On Saturday, I awoke to find one of them had passed away after complications resulting from surgery. In the days that followed, I spent a great deal of time thinking about her, her family, and the tremendous wake the loss of loved ones leaves. But most of all, I spent time reflecting on the legacies left to the living, long after the dead are buried.
I tend to believe the legacy an individual leaves is not singular, but instead varies greatly from person to person. She was a deeply religious person, so I'm sure for many, her faith transcends any other impact she might have made. She was also intensely devoted to her family - she cherished and loved each of them with a fevor unlike any I have ever seen, so for others I'm sure this legacy of love will be the blessing they carry from her. For others still, her meticulous attention to detail and her advocacy for those in her charge will be her ultimate gift to her community. And while I find each of these qualities admirable and praise-worthy, I was having difficulty pinpointing what exactly would stay with me most about this person who I grew to love and adore as a "chosen" family member. That is, until this morning.
At my current place of employ, another cozy haunt full of a small handful of folk I choose as extended family, we had a professional development seminar. At the beginning of these two engaging hours, the facilitator mentioned this small phrase, which pulled into relief the legacy my former coworker has left me: "Dare to step into life." The facilitator challenged us to bring our best selves to work each day, to choose positivity over tension, affirmation about what's right rather than dissention about what's wrong, to be present and authentically engaged in our surroundings.
*lightbulb*
THIS, my friends, is the legacy left. This former co-worker of mine actively loved the life she lived, she was sincere in her faith, had genuine concern for all those around her. She brought her best self (not to be mistaken for the SAME self, but instead the very best self she could muster on any given day) to each of her interactions. There is no better life lived than that, and no more authentic legacy to share. And for that, I am grateful and honored to have known her.
Peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment