THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley


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Had to think about this

What is the legacy you want to leave behind? An interesting question I haven’t asked myself yet comes from the daily writing prompt.

I guess I should have thought about this question a long time ago, but I guess I’ve been busy building whatever will be perceived of my time here and who you ask.

I’d like to be remembered as a good son, husband and father. Far from perfect but I gave it my best.

I’d hope that many would consider me a good friend. One that added some joy and laughter to their lives

If people believed I was thoughtful and compassionate, that would make me happy.

That I worked very hard to provide a better life for the family. That some might have enjoyed the photos, writing or art I produced.

That I loved, sacrificed, cared, and shared.

That I was a good teammate in life, work and sports.

I was proud to have worked in the Newspaper industry on by the local and daily levels when truth and facts mattered.

That I was lucky. A 2x cancer survivor.

That I loved driving cars and motorcycles.

Other wild stories from the late 60s, the 70s and early 80s I can neither confirm or deny. Luckily there is no videotape. Remember details from old friends may be highly embellished and hard to believe. Keep in mind that they are old and their memories may be suspect. They grew up at the same time and did many of the things I may or may not have done. So again, stories of escapades of my youth might be greatly exaggerated.

Always make your family proud. Photo by Mike Hartley


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Legacy

What is the legacy you want to leave behind? – That is a deep question from the Daily Writing prompt.

My first thought was what did I leave behind as a person? I hope I passed on how to be a loving and supportive parent and grandparent to my children. That family and friends remember me being there for them and the great relationships we had. I hope I was a lot of fun to be with and that a smile crosses people’s faces when remembered by friends and family.

I know I left a legacy of hard work. I don’t know what that is worth. 48 years in Newspapers – a profession that is slowly morphing into something else. My grandchildren will only know it from history books and me.

I’m working on leaving a legacy of artwork, photos, and maybe a few words that I hope may inspire or just bring a smile to faces in the future.

Honey, I think we’re going to need a wider lens. Photo by Mike Hartley

Here is where I paused because I wanted to make sure I was thinking of legacy correctly. I’ve gotten in the habit of looking up definitions lately because my limited English education sometimes leads me to confuse some things. I’ve included the definition below from the standard of dictionaries.

The first thing it lists is a gift of money or personal property. Wow, I didn’t think of that at all as a legacy but I guess it is in a way. I’ve always thought about having my children do better than I did and worked hard to make that happen. And I hope I can leave a foundation for them for the future as well.

So the good folks at Merriam-Webster tells me the noun “legacy” means

a gift by will, especially of money or other personal property BEQUEST

She left us a legacy of a million dollars.

something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past

the legacy of the ancient philosophers

The war left a legacy of pain and suffering.

a candidate for membership in an organization (such as a school or fraternal order) who is given special status because of a familial relationship to a member

Legacies, or children of alumni, are three times more likely to be accepted to Harvard than other high school graduates with the same (sometimes better) scores …—Michael Lind

Other replies to this prompt: https://wordpress.com/tag/dailyprompt-1945