Gone But Never Forgotten ? #1 #cong24 #legacy

Over the last 25 years, on every Friday afternoon, I first read the obituary at the back of the Economist magazine.
This has helped me to see that legacies fall into three types: Pretenders seeking immortality through grand gestures, Penitents attempting to redeem past wrongs, and Purposeful who leave a lasting and usually unintended impact through just leading their normal lives. What I also learned over those 25 years is that time, due to changing social norms and knowledge growth can alter the perceived relevance, value, vitality and longevity of legacies.

Total Words

For the past 25 years, every Friday has held a special ritual for me: settling down with The Economist and turning straight to the weekly obituary.

These pieces hold stories that transcend the boundaries of a single life. They cumulate to paint a vibrant picture of contributions, positive and negative, from all walks of life and corners of the globe.

Over time I’ve noticed a fascinating pattern. The legacies left behind by these individuals most often fall into one of three categories: the Pretenders, the Penitent, and the Purposeful.

The Pretenders, bless their delusional hearts, crave some kind of immortality. They believe their grand gestures, be it a towering pyramid or a grand edifice paid for by a fortune amassed from human misery (think pharaohs or slave traders), will secure an unquestioned place in history.

Then there are the Penitent. These individuals, or sometimes even entire institutions, embarked on a desperate quest for forgiveness and absolution. Their  hope was that philanthropy or public gestures can erase the stains of past misdeeds and perhaps gain divine or societal brownie points.

But the most inspiring legacies, for me, come from the Purposeful. These are the people who, intentionally or not, leave a mark on the world simply by going about their lives. Their impact can be personal, like a parent who raises a kind and compassionate child, or it can unknowingly benefit the whole world, like Henrietta Lacks’ immortal cell line that has revolutionized medical research. These are the legacies that resonate the most deeply, often unrecognized in their own time but endlessly valuable to their beneficiaries whether individual or societal.

However, the passage of time is an unrelenting force. Even the most revered figures and noble deeds are subject to the scrutiny of evolving knowledge and societal norms. Mother Teresa’s legacy, once unquestioned, now provokes debate. Even Einstein’s theories face challenges. Yet, this does not diminish the power of most of these stories. They serve as a poignant reminder that every life, no matter how ordinary it may seem, leaves its mark.

They are in many ways a call for us to live purposefully, to contribute positively, and maybe, just maybe, leave a legacy that continues to inspire long after their final chapter is written, and hopefully someday, in the far future, be lauded at the back of the Economist.