A few weeks ago, there was a front-page news story that really caught my eye – the passing of former First Lady Barbara Bush.
Now stay with me here – I’m not trying to get political on any front. But there was one specific tribute that touched my heart in a big way:
“I already miss this FORCE of a woman – the “enforcer” because she was the glue that held our family together. She taught me to use my voice but also to value the opinions of others. She adored her friends and family; her loyalty was unwavering. Humor helps, she often said and it does, Gans, but I will miss your laugh terribly. She adored my Gampy, the first man she ever kissed; their love story is so ingrained in the history of our family. Thinking of my Gampy tonight – no doubt missing his beloved desperately. Gans, people stopped me all the time to tell me how much they loved you. I don’t mind sharing you with them. I love you more than tongue can tell, my Ganny.”
This was written by her granddaughter, Jenna Bush Hager. It caught me at a tender moment. So much love for this powerful force in her life.
I initially wondered if Barbara Bush thought about the concept of legacy throughout her life. Did she KNOW the big themes she was emphasizing through her words and actions? Did she have a vision for how she wanted to be remembered? Or were Jenna’s words the essence of her that her family picked up on throughout many years of living with her steadfast presence?
After pondering this for a few minutes, my thoughts turned inward.
“What will my grandchildren (or children for that matter) say about ME when I’m gone? In fact, what would they say if I were gone TOMORROW?”
That thought was somewhat sobering, considering we had a quite a WEEK around here last week. We had lots going on, time was at a premium, and I’ll be honest – there were some words spoken that I might not want repeated in my eulogy one day.
But I’m giving myself a little grace, because I have, in fact, spent a LOT of time thinking about my legacy as a mother, including what I want to demonstrate for my children, and how I can incorporate it into our daily lives.
I can handle the tough weeks with a little more ease, because I am crystal clear about my north star.
Mine is probably different from yours, of course, as it should be.
It’s a very personal thing, and when I work with clients on this practice, they all come back with unique legacy goals that match their particular family dynamic.
No matter what you want your legacy to be, keep this in mind: it is important.
This is the essence of you – it transcends generations – and is part of the values systems that your children and grandchildren will observe and absorb for their own families one day.
As we continue to talk about mothers this week, I want you to take some time to think about this concept.
Remember: your children will become who you are, so be who you want them to be.
It’s probably the best Mother’s Day gift you will ever give yourself.
Want to talk about YOUR legacy and how my program has been designed to help you build it piece by piece? I’d love to get into that conversation with you. You can book time here:
https://brilliant-balance.com/booking/
Download your Rebalancing Toolkit to design a week that lets you feel like you have it all:
https://brilliantbalance.net/haveitall
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Learn more about Cherylanne’s work:
https://brilliant-balance.com
