Our One-Word Legacy

I enjoy it when a conversation makes that subtle, yet powerful, shift.

When something happens, and both participants let go and "drop in."

The moment when a casual exchange changes gears and gets real.

There is something special about that moment.

The drop from shallow to deep.

There isn't anything wrong with casual conversation.

But when we let down our guard, we open ourselves to opportunity and possibility.

Allowing ourselves and our conversational partner permission to speak with trust and respect.

That's what happened a few nights ago when a casual acquaintance became a closer friend.

We were talking about a few books we had read and the authors behind the work.

How we hold in our hands the culmination of someone's passion and hard work.

How in these few hundred pages, we hold countless hours that someone has poured into this project.

And how from these pages, we can often put the takeaway in just a word.

Here are a few examples we considered.

Brian Johnson - heroism

Cal Newport - focus

James Clear - habit

Carol Dweck - mindset

David Steindl-Rast - gratitude

Ryan Holiday - stoicism

Richard Rohr - contemplation

Rob Bell - joy

Hal Elrod - mornings

Nassim Talib - antifragility

Brene Brown - imperfections

Steven Pressfield - resistance

Fred Rogers - neighbors

Daniel Coyle - talent

Rick Weinheimer - excellence

Evan Carmichael - believe

Then we started talking about the one-word legacy.

Not that an entire life can be summed up in a word, but it is a nice thought exercise.

As I look at the list above, the one word is my perception.

So the question came up, what would we like for our one word to be?

I think mine is some variation of peace, serenity, or tranquility.

That has evolved over the years, but at this point in my life, I take pause much more often.

I like to step back and just pause, breathe, and smile.

I love to participate in life, but I also just love to appreciate and celebrate life.

I don't need to be the center of anything.

Being a part of this life adventure is more than enough.

I enjoyed that conversation deeply.

Because as we kicked around our one-word ideas, we had such a robust, real talk.

I encourage you to give it a try.

Think of your one-word legacy.

How do you think you are perceived?

How would you like to be perceived?

How could you craft your doing-ness and being-ness to better convey this legacy?

It is a fun thought experiment and perhaps a gateway to a fun, deep conversation.

Give it a try.

As you do, I'll sit here.

Pausing.

Breathing.

Smiling.

And as I do, I'll offer you this one word.

It may not be my legacy yet, but it is my hope.

Lord, may I be an instrument of Your...

peace.

Photo by Kenrick Mills on Unsplash