Legacies Are Societal Actions

Have you ever thought that you have not done much with your life? During a recent conversation with a very dear friend, she expressed this very same sentiment. I was astounded that this energetic, high family and work ethic person had this negative self-image, but pleased that she felt comfortable sharing this thought.

Quickly, I began to ask her questions about all of the “Legacies” that she had left in this world during the last 60 plus years. Since her retirement, she relocated to be near her daughters, grandchildren and in-laws to support them. This support included taking her grandchildren to necessary school functions, being there for them after school while still being actively involved in her church and local civic organizations. Her high values, unselfish and positive attitudes to overcome life’s challenges became a rock for her family and friends. As we continued to talk, she expressed several times how I made her feel much better. Her honesty provided me with the opportunity to return one of the many legacies that she had shared with me during our 30 plus year friendship.

After our conversation ended, I began to wonder why someone with such incredible gifts and who had personally left countless individual legacies with so many people had such feelings of inadequacy?

Possibly, the presence of the media from local newspapers to television to the Internet may contribute to the development of these feelings. When we hear and see the success of others who have reached high positions whether in business or government, we may start comparing our accomplishments with these high profile media persons. Unfortunately what happens is that many of our “average” citizens fail to understand that it is these average citizens who are the backbone of this country and without their legacies we would not be the country that we are. Plato recognized the importance of citizens over 2000 years ago when he wrote, “ This City is what it is because our citizens are what they are.”

Each of us lives a legacy, not when we are gone from this earth, but when we are here. Our legacy may be something as simple as a smile to a complete stranger to taking the time to help a friend or co-worker through a difficult situation.

Just imagine what the world could be like if everyone looked at every interaction as an opportunity to leave a legacy? What would happen to your personal relationships if you intentionally acted with the desired end result to make each and every interchange one in which you left a legacy that the other person could build upon and then later share with another? Or how about at work? What additional heights could your team reach and how much stronger would your organization be by such “Legacy Leaving Actions”?

With the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the fourth anniversary of 9/11 on the horizon, the American public is being reminded of the importance of legacies. Citizens both private and corporate across the country are demonstrating “Legacy Leaving Actions” by donating their time and resources to help those affected by this natural disaster. Through the stories of those who survived 9/11 and those who didn’t, again, American citizens can hear and even see how they, average American citizens, left legacies during that fateful day which changed our country forever.

Legacies are intentional societal choices that we make every day. By being aware of these choices, makes us better citizens, better parents, better friends and ultimately makes for a better world for our children and the next generation. So as you venture forth today or tomorrow, ask yourself “Where can I leave my legacy?” and “How will that legacy benefit another citizen?”

619 Words

Copyright 2005(c) Leanne Hoagland-Smith, www.processspecialist.com

This article may be freely published. Permission to publish this article, electronically or in print, as long as the bylines are included, with a live link, and the article is not changed in any way (grammatical corrections accepted).

Getting Help From the Alcoholic Anonymous Group

There are many reasons and many different kinds of people that join the alcoholic anonymous groups in their area. There are some that only go to meeting because they were told to and there are many that go to all the meeting because they want to. No matter what the reason on why you are going to the alcoholic anonymous meeting in your area, you are going to end up with something good out of it. That is only one thing that the people that are involved with the alcoholic anonymous groups are going to be able to do for some of its members.

There are many more reasons why there are people that will join the alcoholic anonymous groups beside the fact that they are going to get at least one thing out of it. Some will join alcoholic anonymous so that they are going to be able to get some real help with a drinking problem that they have come to realize that they have. If you know someone that does have a drinking problem, you may want him or her to join up with alcoholic anonymous groups. But the reality is that is they are not going to admit that they have a drinking problem then the alcoholic anonymous group is not going to be able to help them out until they are willing to admit that they have the problem.

If you really want someone to admit that they have a drinking problem then you are going to need to find a way to make them realize that they have a problem first. That is the only way that the alcoholic anonymous group is going to be able to help them out. You may be able to get them to realize that they have a problem is by making some kind of a mark or even a tape of how they are acting and how much they are drinking so you will be able to shoe them the problem that they are having with the drinking.

Once you or your family member is admitting that they have a problem with the drinking, you are going to be able to get them into one of the alcoholic anonymous groups that are in your area. Then you know that they are going to get the help that they are in need of or their addiction to the alcohol with the help of the alcoholic anonymous group that they are seeing. In addition, another good thing about the alcoholic anonymous is that all the people stay anonymous unless they are ready to let people know who they are. The alcoholic anonymous group is not going to pressure you to doing something that they want you are going need to get thru this at your own pace so you can kick the drinking habit.