leg·a·cy

/ˈleɡəsē/ noun. a. a gift by will, especially of money or other personal property.

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

Friends, I have something I need to share with you . . .

There are so many things we can’t control right now, and that can make us anxious, but I want to encourage you with this:

“In each moment of your life, you have the ability to change yourself and those around you in profound ways.”

No matter the time. No matter the day. No matter the circumstances.

This powerful message comes from a book called Everyday Legacy: Lessons for Living With Purpose, Right Now. It’s a recent addition to my collection, and let me tell you, the whole world needs to read it. Plus, I may just be able to help you get your hands on a copy once you get to the end of this post!

From the very beginning, the book asks you to reconsider your understanding of ‘legacy.’ Rather than a thing you leave behind when you die, as any dictionary definition would suggest, it’s something that permeates your day-to-day life. It means living the way you want to be remembered, with purpose and concern for others.

In this time of uncertainty, especially, we have to make choices every day that affect others. Will we reach out to our elderly neighbours to offer support? Will we check on our friends who are trying to balance this new normal of working from home while caring for children? Will we be compassionate towards the person who took that last package of TP? Will we show respect for our government as they make tough decisions? Will we pray for the sick and all those in healthcare risking their lives for others? Or will we simply hide in our homes, hoarding supplies, wallowing in self-pity, and just waiting for this to be over?

“What if you started acting the way you wanted to be remembered – right now – and shared your unique gifts with the world?” Codi Shewan, Everyday Legacy

There are so many things about this book that resonated with me – so many moments of self-reflection as I was reading – but for now, I’ll just share my three key takeaways.

LISTEN & LEARN

“A lesson lived means understanding what you’ve been taught, adopting it, and executing it with action. Lessons learned mean nothing unless they’re applied. You have to live the lessons you learn.” Codi Shewan, Everyday Legacy

I may be a teacher by trade, but I also know that you don’t need a classroom to learn. Life is full of lessons; the trick is, you have to pay attention to them. Everyday Legacy asks us to listen to those around us – to consider what they love about us, what qualities they hold dear. And if we don’t like what we hear? Then it’s time to work on ourselves and start showing up in the world the way we want to be remembered. While that may seem daunting at times, it’s really just about making one small change at a time. Or placing the first brick of a new building, as the author would say.

With some extra time on our hands, let’s try to slow down and look for the lessons in it all. Have you taken the time to look inward? How are you feeling? What have you learned about yourself? Personally, I’ve discovered that I can spiral pretty quickly into panic and despair, and instead, I’m trying to start and end each day by naming at least one thing I’m grateful for. It’s such a small thing, but it’s helping me in big ways.

GIVE GRACE

“If you believe that we all have a higher purpose – a greater, deeper truth inside ourselves – you will distinguish between a person’s ego and who they truly are.” Codi Shewan, Everyday Legacy

Everyday Legacy tells us that a person’s ego is rarely positive or encouraging. It questions us – our abilities, our limits, our relationships. It tries to control the voice inside your head, and steer it towards negative thoughts. Taking back that voice can be quite the challenge. But when we are able to identify it, and understand that others may be fighting it, too, we can start to look past it to the beautiful person underneath.

{The author gives a great example of this in the book, but I’ll save that for you to discover on your own.}

As a Christian, a wife, and a mother, I’ve experienced many examples of grace in my life, and I know the power it holds, both when it’s given and when it’s received. When God doesn’t open that door for you, consider that he has something better in store. When your spouse argues with you, consider that their opinion also has value. When your baby keeps you up at night, consider that you are her favourite source of comfort. There is so much freedom in changing your perspective, and it’s something that I’m continuously working on.

FIND COMMUNITY

“If you have a community that motivates you to show up with more authenticity, more frequently, then you’re with the right people. If not, they’re out there somewhere. You just have to pay attention to the clues leading you to them.” Codi Shewan, Everyday Legacy

Since we’re all a reflection of those with whom we spend the most time, the key to being your best self is to be surrounded by those who support and inspire you. In Everyday Legacy, the author describes these individuals as “finger snap people.” They are the ones who make you feel instant attraction, as quickly as you can snap your fingers. More often than not, you can’t quite put your finger on what it is that draws you to them, but their energy is like a magnet. There’s something about their character that causes you to be perfectly content in who you are, while also compelling you to be better. And when you find these like-minded individuals, the book says to hold on to them tightly, because you are much more powerful together than alone.

We might be practising social distancing right now, and staying apart physically, but that doesn’t stop us from taking advantage of the incredible technology that helps us stay connected. Can I encourage you to reach out to one of your ‘finger snap people’ today? Make that phone call, send that email, try playing a game through video chat. I promise that you’ll feel a little better afterwards, because people need people and we’re all in this together.

“We don’t have to make grand gestures. The most meaningful moments can happen in the simplest of ways.” Codi Shewan, Everyday Legacy

Throughout the text, the author’s ideas are paired with meaningful examples and clear illustrations. The personable writing style makes it an easy read, and leaves you feeling like you’ve made a new friend – one who encourages, inspires and challenges you. Overall, the message of this book is simple, but the potential life impact is profound.

And, without further ado, I’m very excited to share that I reached out to the author of Everyday Legacy, Codi Shewan, to let him know about this review, and he has graciously gifted me one copy of the book to giveaway to you!

To be entered in the random draw, just make sure you’re subscribed to my mailing list.

Winner will be chosen on April 9 and contacted via email.