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What do you want to give your child in legacy?
Such an odd question to ask yourself as a parent.
A recent incident made me reflect on how fragile and vulnerable life is. Even yet, we carry on with our planning and assumptions, pleased with all that we have built. Realising that nothing lasts forever is difficult. Life can suddenly turn around, and everything could collapse in a matter of minutes. From there, you can build a life, but you cannot go back.
My close friend’s 44-year-old husband passed away from cardiac arrest. She’s got to be forty. I was very affected by this tragedy, and ever since I learned about the news, I have been unable to stop thinking about it. It is background music. There are moments when it is loud and all I can hear, and other times when it is quiet but still present. It’s not stopped, not even for a second. I can’t even begin to imagine the force with which it may have affected her, given how much it has affected me.
After being married for more than a decade and having two beautiful daughters, being a single parent for the wrong reason. Losing your partner, losing the love of your life, losing the father to your children, and losing the person who has built this world with you is hard. Life is like a woven fabric, and suddenly you start pulling out these threads, making it weak and worn out. At this point, everyone around needs to handle this weak, worn out woven fabric with utmost care and love. People need to help weave new threads, be there to support.
Every moment that I am living, I am realising it will be different and difficult for her. This thought itself is unsettling. We are well aware of financial security in this day and age. Although we make the necessary plans, nobody emotionally gets us ready for these kinds of things.
This experience made me realise that healthy, solid relationships are the cornerstone of every human existence. These solid relationships that we have developed throughout the years can help someone get through difficult times. We leave our material possessions to the following generation when we go. Personally, I want my children to form such solid, enduring relationships. I want to pass on the legacy of strong, healthy relationships to my children.
In the end, it’s these relationships that define us and shape the legacy we leave behind for future generations.
