Legacy
A month ago, you let go about how you believed that, despite everything you have done and do, all often without gratitude and thanks, people continue to nitpick at the small things that couldn’t matter any less in the grand scheme of things. You spoke of how you were worried those small things were what you’re going to be remembered by. I’m here for that today.
From an early age, you practiced and achieved. You achieved in school, despite your feeling that your brothers had it easier, and the only comfort was you were only being challenged because they knew you could do it. You achieved in your extra-curricular, earning starring roles in musicals because, with a presence and a voice like yours, how could they choose someone else for the role. You achieved in your personal life, attracting a man who couldn’t be bothered to purchase his own vacuum cleaner, and instead made a habit of seeing you weekly and then daily, going strong for the past near 30 years.
More recently, you have had children, who strive to continue this legacy, despite what they might do from time to time. One struggles a bit, but with your unending support and unconditional love, has improved drastically, and tends to remind you of one of your brothers at that age. Another shares a mirror image of you in a way that she knows what she wants, and she’s not one to back down from a challenge, although sometimes she still needs some help from you. Finally, the third is a bit of an enigma. Unsure of his identity for a large portion of his life thus far, you have been able to guide and sometimes push him through his challenges, because there has never been a time where he hasn’t earned a valuable lesson. From the late Thursday night writing sessions that inspired the want and the skill to be able to write things like this, to always looking for the next challenge for one that always needed it, similar to yourself at that age, you can be sure none of that has been forgotten.
Difficulties do come and go. For some, others’ might seem like a breeze compared to the ones they have to battle through themselves. Any test related to health and illness can be especially trying, but the strong face you keep, added to the humanity you still show when it all hits you hard, is a demonstration that you aren’t going to let it win. While it might not seem like everyone around you always appreciates everything you do, even though it’s a lot, you can be confident that those lives would be a lot different if not for your presence.
Your story is one of a powerful woman. One where she faces any challenge, overcomes it, and dares life to throw her another one. One that never let life give her too much adversity before she’d just fight through it. One where she is given the opportunity to show how caring she is to everyone around her and how that feat always appears to be an easy one.
It’s not an easy road, but the defiance to the obstacles that life throws is what makes the stories, the tales, and truly, the legacy.
Happy Mother’s Day.