A Legacy Lived: How will you be remembered?

There are some people whose spirit transcends them even as they live. They are recognized in part by their mastery of language to communicate thoughts and ideas. That allows them to deliver a philosophy meant to lift us up in order to see ourselves and the world from a higher plane.

That was and is certainly the case with Dr. Wayne Dyer. When the world learned that his time here on earth had come to an end what set him apart was the fact that social media feeds were literally full of his words. There were of course memories shared and a life celebrated but in truth, the mourning was minimal because the life was so celebrated. And it was celebrated with his words. That to me is remarkable. When the world is able to celebrate you by sharing you; that is the ultimate testament to a life well lived.

Some of the quotes shared were new to me but most were familiar. In fact I have used them myself many times in my journaling and mediations and writing. As homage to this wonderful man and the life that he lived, here are some of my favorites:

  • I am realistic – I expect miracles.
  • You’ll see it when you believe it.
  • Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.
  • When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
  • Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.
  • You must become the producer, director and actor in the unfolding story of your life.
  • My goal is not to be better than anyone else, but to be better than I used to be.
  • When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.
  • Focus on understanding yourself instead of blaming others.
  • Conflict cannot survive without your participation.
  • Circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him.
  • With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.
  • You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it.
  • Don’t die with the music still in you.
  • Our purpose in life isn’t to arrive at a destination where we find inspiration, just as the purpose of dancing isn’t to end up at a particular spot on the floor. The purpose of dancing – and of life – is to enjoy every moment and every step, regardless of where we are when the music ends.

As a final thought, here is my overall favorite which to me sums up everything he taught and what I believe his message would be for us even as we honor him:

“Never forget that you are one of a kind. Never forget that if there weren’t any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn’t be here in the first place. And never forget, no matter how overwhelming life’s challenges and problems seem to be, that one person can make a difference in the world. In fact, it is always because of one person that all changes that matter in the world come about. So be that one person.”

In gratitude and love to Dr. Dyer for showing us through his life how to live our own and make a difference.

Live today like you want tomorrow to be. Live well. Live your legacy.