147
Yesterday you wrote your obituary. It was probably a sobering exercise and maybe not that much fun, but it’s important to look at the big picture. Have you thought about your legacy? As Billy Graham says in this quote, it’s not just about the possessions you leave behind. You have an opportunity to contribute to the world in so many ways that have nothing to do with money or things. You will live forever if you touch the heart of someone else while you are here.
Kathy’s grandmother died five years ago, but she left a rich legacy. She was not a wealthy woman. In fact, she was quite poor. But Kathy thinks about her every day, and in some ways she models her life after her grandma. Kathy has a beautiful, clean home where family and friends are always welcome. Her grandma taught her that it is an act of love to clean your house until it shines. It shows everyone who enters that you care about yourself and about them. She also taught Kathy that it’s important to leave the light on and welcome family and friends whenever they need a safe haven or a place to feel loved. Kathy’s grandmother lives on in Kathy’s actions. She didn’t waste her time on earth. She filled her days with joy and love and gave that wealth away every day.
Write about a person in your life who left you a rich legacy. How would you like to emulate that person?
148
Who are your heroes? Everyone has at least a handful of people who are heroes to them. What traits make someone a hero?
The most common response people give when describing their heroes is that they offer a great example. Heroes are larger-than-life examples of how to be a success. They are legendary, because they had the tenacity to live life to the fullest and seemed to make all of the right decisions when faced with adversity.
Heroes also live by a code. They have a high standard for themselves, and they follow that standard in all of their affairs. They set the bar way up in the stratosphere, and they achieve success because they are willing to adhere to their higher standards.
Your assignment today is to become a hero. This is not a joke. Today you will become a hero. There is no reason you cannot be one. The first thing you need is a mission statement. This will be your code to live by. It states clearly what your overall goals are in life. It says who you want to be. Write your mission statement today and live by it from now on. How would you like to define your purpose in life? Here is your chance to get it down on paper. You can’t ignore your aspirations. They are part of your innermost self. Now, what you must do is attempt to live up to those aspirations.
Be a hero today. Set your standards high in your mission statement and live by your own code of success.
149
You became a hero yesterday. How does it feel? Are you a little uncomfortable with that title? Do you think you already messed it up and don’t deserve to be a hero anymore? Here’s the good news: you get a chance to start over every day—every minute if you choose.
It is admirable to set lofty goals and try to live up to them, but you will fail sometimes. Even heroes fail. The beauty of life is that as long as you’re breathing, you get a do-over. You have an opportunity to change the way things are every single day and every single moment.
You don’t live in a static world. Your mission continues as long as you are alive, and you will be presented with a ton of new opportunities for change and growth throughout your journey. You have absolutely no idea what today holds, but there is one thing you can do to make it a good day. Participate!
Dive into your mission today, and remember the code you wrote yesterday describing your standards for how you want to live your life. You aren’t done yet. In fact, you’re just getting started. Enjoy your mission. It is completely, uniquely yours. At the end of the day, write in your journal about how the mission went on Day 149. List at least three things that were a success, and then list a few things that you could improve next time around. Then reset, recharge, and get ready to continue your mission tomorrow.
