Ive become Mr Smith

jos51700 said

I'm 44 now. So primed to be the old guy down the street; someone's gotta do it. No kids. Gonna die alone, I know that for a fact. Sometimes it scares the hell out of me, sometimes not. Sometimes I'm sure I'll meet God. Someone I can only imagine going back to the nothingness I was before I was born, and that terrifies the piss right out of me.

The saddest part is being as smart as I am, but not being smart enough to figure out how to leave a legacy.

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I was adopted as an infant and raised by good folks. They provided everything I needed and taught me a work ethic in their business. But nothing about real life, or living. What I needed was a mentor. Someone that cared but was also not responsible for my upbringing.

If you can become a mentor for young adults or even children, you can have an enormous influence on their lives. Teach them right from wrong, show them how to do things, and most of all explain why people behave the way they do. Tell them not all folks are rocket scientists, and not all folks process their thoughts the same way others do. But they are good people anyway. Most of us can think of a time where even a single brief word of encouragement at the right time had a profound positive influence on us. Be that person who is there for someone at the right time.

Become a Big Brother, or a Boy Scout troop leader, or 4H leader, or coach a team. Or volunteer at a suicide prevention center, anything. Something that will bring you into contact with younger folks and give you the opportunity to set the example. Ultimately you might end up having a greater legacy than if you had a bushel of your own kids.