Tag: Legacy

Keep on Keeping On, Even if Nothing Means Anything

Posted on by andrew

Zarna Shah (she, her, hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Another day of scrolling through an endless barrage of engagements, million-dollar deals, and six packs; lives perfectly curated to fit on my screen and tease me with all that I could have but don’t. If only I just worked smarter, harder, longer. Hustle culture screams at me to be busier, to do more, to be better, to squeeze every ounce of productivity out of myself, so that maybe, just maybe, I can do something worthwhile, and be someone worth remembering. That’s the end goal, isn’t it? The mad dash toward excellence, just to feel like we mattered, and believe that our lives will be celebrated long after we are gone. 

Nowadays, it is easy to trick ourselves into a false sense of self-importance with all the privileges that social media has afforded us. What would have once been forgettable days, uncelebrated achievements of anonymous names and faces, are now stamped in a few lines of code to be remembered indefinitely. From markings in caves to cameras in our pockets, we have come a long way to make sure our existence is known. 

As my eyes glaze over the relentless stream of promotions, graduations, and pregnancies, my mind wanders to all those nameless and faceless that lived before me. My ancestors whose names are not in history books, whose faces are not in royal portraits, and whose achievements are unmarked. Did they not have lives worth remembering? And all the other people lost, stolen, forgotten from wiped out cultures and civilizations. They spoke in languages no longer spoken, sang songs that are no longer sung, and their stories are no longer told. No record of the lives they lived, only scarce accounts of what was lost. 

I almost pity them, but I know our fate is the same, only mine may be a little delayed. The dead only live through the memories and stories of the living, and in due course, the last brain holding the memory of me will be a decomposed pulp — or a pile of ash. The last body retaining the strengths I nurtured, and scars I created, will breathe no more. One day, even today’s most influential person’s page will be clicked on for the last time, and everything will be dust. 

So, is it all futile? Why try so desperately to create the illusion of immortality when we are all destined to be forgotten? 13.8 billion years of my atoms existing, 300,000 years of human life, and an infinite stretch of time ahead, long beyond the survival of humanity, yet we are irrefutably persistent to try and make a mark on Earth. Why make an effort when everything is destined to be nothing again? Well, that’s just what we are wired to do. Despite not knowing what all this life, love and labour is supposed to add up to, we endure on the off chance it might lead to something. 

Dinosaurs make me believe that our chances may be better than we think. 65 million years ago an entire species was eradicated. Now, a new species — supposedly more intelligent — spends years digging up their bones — to fight over them, yes, but also to learn about their ways of life and piece together details of their existence, long after they had any reasonable hope of being remembered. 

It is easy to look at the scope of the Universe and admit defeat because everything means nothing, and nothing means anything. Our existence is arbitrary, our survival is random, and the likelihood of being remembered is infinitely small. However, the chance that our actions could ripple out and matter to some entity, somewhere, someday is enough to carry on. Every human body, name, or face forgotten is not gone. Their legacies live on in us in ways we may not even understand. We carry them through our genes, cultures, beliefs, yes, but also through the butterfly effect of their everyday actions, and decomposition after death. Every creature that lived is remembered by the Earth, and the Universe must know that the Earth exists. So, we keep on keeping on.

 

—

 

Leave your thoughts for Zarna in the comments below — better yet, start up a dialogue with the Low Entropy community in person at a Conscious Connections meeting or online at our community site. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Perceiving Others: A Complex Process

Posted on by andrew

Elizaveta Garifullina (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Is our perception of people always correct?

 

My answer is that someone who feels people and, most importantly, knows how to listen to themselves understands people correctly. However, some people may have difficulty with this. We like to put labels on others, and then, we successfully become disillusioned with these people. But is it their fault? We fill them with our expectations and believe they are wrong if they do not meet them. 

 

Especially the first meeting and acquaintance are always filled with riddles. We can be confused by fears, anxiety and stereotypes, but we must listen to gut feelings; it is one of our most powerful tools. If when meeting a person, our whole body shouts “run” to us, and our emotions overwhelm us, then we clearly need to be careful with this person. Our body, like our subconscious, knows much more than we think and much more than we know. There is a lot of wisdom in this, so why don’t we use it?

 

Intuition. A thought that comes into our head and is felt in the back of our head. These thoughts feel like our voice. Anxiety can be caused by our past negative experiences or by various stereotypes. But the difference between anxiety and intuition is that intuition will never scare us. Intuitive thoughts are never obsessive; they will not spin in our heads and lead to panic. Thoughts from intuition just feel right but never cause disturbing feelings.

 

But even people who understand their own and others’ emotions and who are empaths cannot fully understand and know another person. Sometimes we spend our whole lives trying to understand ourselves. As for other people? People show only a part of their personality, a little bit of their character.

 

We know only a tiny part of the character of distant classmates, friends of our friends and just people with whom we went through only one situation that did not reveal all our sides of personality. If we only get closer to these people, we can get to know their great essence. Each person is incredible in their manifestation, and it takes a very long time to understand the whole personality.

 

Moreover, people change. We remember the versions of people they were when they were around, but each person goes through their own transformations. A few years, a year, a month, and even a day can completely and irrevocably change a person. We can think of a classmate at a school we graduated from five years ago in one way, but this person may already be completely different.

 

We can also be influenced by past experiences. If our new acquaintance looks like someone with whom we were very close but for some reason broke up, then we will perceive this person through the prism of past experience. Appearance, eye color, habits, place of birth, an atmosphere of a person and even the smallest details affect our perception. And if these details remind us of someone, then our mind immediately begins to create associations.

 

Therefore, the best solution that I advise everyone is to refrain from imposing expectations on people and not divide them into villains and heroes, bad and good, intelligent and silly, interesting and boring. A person can be a hero in the lives of hundreds and a villain for you. Does it mean that he is a villain? For you, yes, but would it be right to judge like that? We should appreciate every person in our life because everyone gives us amazing lessons and experiences. This is the most important thing because when the book of our life turns to its last page and closes, all we can take with us is the experience from this life.

 

Elizaveta Garifullina (she/her/hers)

 

–

Leave your thoughts for Elizaveta in the comments below — better yet, start up a dialogue with the Low Entropy community in person at a Conscious Connections meeting or online at our community site. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Why Do We Strive for Recognition and Appreciation?

Posted on by andrew

Raghavi (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Everyone likes being recognized and appreciated. Why is this so important for us? Is it because we are social creatures who constantly want to fit in? Is it a throwback to our prehistoric genes, when our very survival depended on how highly we were thought of by the people around us? Our lives may not depend on it so much anymore but it definitely is tied to a sense of belonging and our mental health. We all want to be liked. To be recognized and appreciated for our actions tells us we’re doing things right, that we fit in and that our community likes us. It’s an external validation of our feelings, it tells us if we’re doing the right thing, a yardstick of sorts, to measure ourselves with. 

It starts at birth, when we are completely dependent on our parents for support and security. Our life depends on them until we can fend for ourselves. It is important for them to like us. We are conditioned to want their approval to ensure that they continue to look after us. Most of us, as we grow and even after we’re adults, continue to look for this –  from teachers, friends, colleagues, partners and everyone else in our lives. Striking a balance with this need is important and something that may take a whole lifetime to learn. When we seek it too much, our happiness depends too much on what other people think of us and we become people pleasers. Too little and we may be verging on sociopathic tendencies. Where we fall on this spectrum depends on the personality we are born with and it is further shaped by our life experiences. Dysfunctional families and trauma can affect our thought processes surrounding this and tip us over into people pleaser or attention seeker territory or make us go in the opposite direction, rebelling against conforming to societal standards.

We are also biologically programmed to want this. When we are recognized and appreciated it triggers the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in our brains. This in turn triggers happy feelings. Dopamine is also known as the pleasure hormone and is also triggered by things like nicotine and video games and plays a big role in addiction. This is why it is not easy to change how much we care about other people’s opinions of us. It’s hard to let go of that rush of happiness when someone appreciates us. It is also why complements can be more effective than complaints when you want to influence another person’s behaviour. I know I definitely do a better job at work when I am recognized and appreciated. Studies have shown that recognition at the workplace can boost employee performance and reduce turnover rates. Many businesses now invest in learning about and implementing ways in which to recognize and appreciate their employees. Happier employees means better work which ultimately means more profit for the business. Interestingly studies have also shown that recognition tied to financial incentives doesn’t have the same effect. 

Recognition is also linked to power. People are recognized for their power and status. Wealth is an example of something that contributes to power. People like to ally themselves with powerful people. This is probably another throwback to prehistoric times when hierarchy and strategic allegiances could mean the difference between life and death. While not so critical in today’s world, it is still important. It can make for an easier life, open more doors etc. People like being powerful as it  gives them control over others and also control over their own lives. 

While the words recognition and appreciation are used interchangeably there is a difference. Recognition is when you acknowledge someone’s performance, a more formal process than appreciation, which is when you admire their inherent value as a person. Appreciation is not about a person’s accomplishments, it is about who they are. There may not always be the time, resources or opportunity  to recognize everyone around us but we can certainly appreciate them. A few words are enough to convey your appreciation; you can tell them what you like or admire about them. You can also show appreciation through your actions: listening, giving your undivided attention, asking how someone is doing and being available are some examples. When someone appreciates us we feel seen and heard, our existence is acknowledged. When someone recognizes us we feel that our efforts are noticed. Take the time to recognize and appreciate those around you and don’t forget to do the same for yourself. You deserve to be recognized and appreciated too and taking the time to do it for yourself can be highly rewarding.  

 

—

 

Leave your thoughts for Raghavi in the comments below — better yet, start up a dialogue with the Low Entropy community in person at a Conscious Connections meeting or online at our community site. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

 

The Benefits of Having Family Trees

Posted on by andrew

Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Why should we create Family Trees?

The decision to create family trees will take you on an exciting journey through time. You will begin your journey at the beginning of your life as a time traveler. Review your birth record again and make a note of the details of your birth, including the location, the date, the names of your parents, and include the maiden-name of your mother. Afterward, you should record information about your residences, education, marriage, and children. Then, you should begin researching the lives of your parents further back in time. Making a family tree can be a wonderful experience for you to share with your children, parents and grandparents, and if you are extremely fortunate, with your great-grandparents.

What is a Family Tree?

A family tree represents a person’s lineage in the form of a tree, showing relationships with common ancestors. At the bottom of the family tree, you are represented, as well as your current generation and immediate family. Following this, the line would be branched upwards and outwards to represent your parents, their respective family trees, and other distant and close relatives as you continue to research the origins of your family tree. 

Benefits of having Family Trees for Children

  1. help children understand where they came from

It is common for children to be unaware of where their families originated from or to have no cultural connection to their ancestral homelands. While this may not come as a shock, children deserve to have the opportunity to feel a close connection to a country, culture, ethnicity, and town. Identifying one’s cultural identity can provide insight into everything from one’s family name to one’s ethnic makeup to one’s food preferences. Children need to understand their family tree to feel part of a larger culture.

  1. Build their self-discovery

It is human nature for children to desire to know who they are and where they come from to feel a sense of belonging. Family trees can be used to gain a deeper understanding of their ancestors by tracing their roots back through generations to establish a frame of reference for their current lives in a broader historical and geographical context. It will also strengthen their self-identify, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of their families’ past, the family line responsible for their births, and who their ancestors were.

  1. Allow children to become interested in their family history

A family tree can help children in gaining an understanding of their family’s past. It is common for children not to recognize the names of their grandparents after a generation or two. But a family tree can provide them with valuable information regarding their ancestors. As a result, they may become curious about the notable people in their family history and what they accomplished. Through these conversations, children can learn more about their current family members and where they reside. 

  1. Create a legacy for loved ones

You can pay tribute to family members by building a family tree in their honor, and you can leave a legacy that will benefit your children and their future generations. If loved ones have passed away, a family tree will allow children to commemorate the times they spent with them and remember the important role that they played in their family’s history.

  1. Encourage children to bond with their relatives

Children may discover they share similar traits and personalities with their aunts, uncles, and cousins through the creation of a family tree. They will be able to relate better to their relatives if they are aware of where they fit into the chart. Children will also be able to establish connections with their relatives. Being able to form meaningful connections with relatives is integral to living a happy and fulfilling life.

  1. Encourage children to stay connected with their families

Being connected to their families helps them maintain a sense of groundedness throughout the years. A family tree is an excellent method for fostering family connections in your children. Besides learning names and relationships between people from the past, your children can also gain valuable insight into their desire to stay connected.

  1. Make children more empathetic and resilient

When children are taught about the terrible tragedies their ancestors experienced, they are more likely to be courageous when they are facing life challenges. As a result, your children will develop compassion by understanding the shortcomings of their relatives, which will enable them to be more compassionate individuals.

  1. Learn about their family medical history

Learning about their family tree will also enable them to understand their families’ medical history. So many diseases and conditions are passed down genetically, so knowing their genetic risks are always beneficial.

A family tree can assist in connecting you with the members of your family, even the ones you may not have known to exist, or who you may have lost contact with over the years. There is a possibility that your family still lives in the area even though you are unaware of their existence.

 

—

 

Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.

Leaving a Legacy that Matters

Posted on by andrew

Ugochi Guchy Kalu (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

The concept of generativity and narcissism can make legacy seem either selfish or selfless. Since legacy is not neutral, I’d completely agree to define legacy as self-centered if only one is focused on achieving a reputation, name, infrastructures or just financial wealth. Legacy is inescapable as we will all leave behind something when we are gone. The most important question is; How do we build the kind of legacy we want to be remembered for? 

A few years ago, I encountered a communal narcissist whose legacy was somewhat controversial as many people had varying opinions about the real intentions behind all his deeds. While everyone abroad sang his praises and nearly built an altar of worship in his name, his community, family and close friends felt entirely the opposite. His family had no good thing to say about him, there was no record of his goodness towards the people that mattered. Indeed, he was a narcissist whose legacy was self centered and intended for public approval rather than doing good just for the sake of it. 

Dr Clarke was a well known great man who amassed wealth through his numerous business conglomerates. He became so popular that two out of five billboards and business magazines had his face or business logo on them. No tour to his home town would be complete without a visit to his palatial mansion whose architectural design is magnificent. As popular and as rich in wealth as he was, sadly, there was no significant impact he made towards humanity. His staff would always describe him as a tyrant, who would demean anyone beneath him. He never offered scholarships, never participated in communal development projects nor reached out to his immediate family. Strange how people who are farther away idolized him as a generous philanthropist. 

Dr Clarke passed away a few years ago and no one attended his funeral except for a few business colleagues and strangers from abroad. His tribute was empty as no one had any good memory of him. His funeral was nothing less than ordinary for a man of his status. It was indeed a regretful and historically sad day as family, friends, staff, recounted their personal bitter experiences and thought that his death was a good riddance.

Converse to this event, I recalled when Brother Stanley from my Mum’s hometown passed. The entire village was thrown into mourning, everyone was sad, wailed, screamed their lungs out in protest. Some blamed God for taking him away while some painfully offered to die in his stead if that were possible. I could not understand what he did to merit such a show of love from everyone, he was neither rich nor influential. It was during his funeral that I gained clarity of what his life represented. 

Stanley had no material riches, but he was rich in love and kindness. He was a gift that kept giving. He helped the elderly in farm activities for free, was a son to all the widows, gave free lessons to the teenagers at the local school, rebuilt fallen fireplaces, gave free rides to school children at the back of his motorbike and would single handedly sandfill potholes on the major roads to allow motorist easy access. Such and more were the testaments of people in their tribute to him. It was magical to see the entire community declare a mandatory mourning holiday that no one objected to. His life was a mirror that pointed out the inadequacies of others just by a quick glance. There were simply no words to describe his character that would do justice to how much of an impact he made in the shortest period he lived. 

He was sent off to the great beyond in the most honorable way possible, his funeral was a solemn assembly that translated into a moment of sober reflection for many, myself included. It was at that moment that I clearly understood the true meaning of selflessness and true service to humanity. 

I dare say that the richest legacies aren’t triumphant biographies, palaces or inscriptions on buildings, they are rather the inscriptions of love inside the hearts of those we have served. In the final analysis, nobody really cares about the extent of your status, prestige or material wealth, they care about your contributions and impact to their lives, because legacy lives through people and not just through results. Your positive impacts will ripple far beyond generations if we cared about living lives of higher purpose.

There are numerous people whose legacies and contributions to the society have been nothing but selfless, sacrificial, endearing, hope-bound and empowering. These people ideally understood what it means to give back without expectations. Public acceptance and praises were not the motivations behind their acts. These people understood necessities, inventions, development, growth, progression and were inspired by doing good. Their hallmark is often to be remembered for the positive outcome of their decisions rather than the gratifications and awards that followed. These are great philanthropists, educators, inventors, leaders, coaches, spiritual enlighteners, presidents, freedom fighters, abolitionists, mentors and change agitators. Indeed, the greatest legacy anyone could have, is a life that was lived in fulfillment of purpose and one that points towards positive reinforcement. 

My name is Ugochi Guchy Kalu, I believe that we are but footsteps in the sands of time, to be washed away. In the meantime, let us serve with detachment!

 

—

 

My name is Ugochi Guchy Kalu, I have lived in a bubble and also experienced real life hurt. I pulled through the toughest times through acceptance and a positive outlook. Stay positive, pals!

A Familial Legacy

Posted on by andrew

Andreza Gonçalves (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer.

As the years pass by, humanity becomes more and more worried about productivity. People nowadays live in a frenetic state, often attempting to accomplish something significant in order to be recognized in some way and make a lot of money. Moreover, the internet and social media have also greatly increased the need that individuals have for doing incredible things and being in the spotlight.

Many human beings tend to believe that wealth and social status on the internet are the best they can do to be remembered; however, what is not told (or maybe it is told but not taken seriously enough), is that it doesn’t matter how good you have been at work or how many likes you have had on social media; one day almost everybody might be forgotten. I, for instance, know almost nothing about my great-great-grandmother. Right now, I am not even sure of her name.

This story about being forgettable can seem a little bit morbid or even sad; nevertheless, this is not how it should be. Even in this situation, where I cannot remember my great-great-grandmother’s name, I am sure that some of the customs I have today came from her. It may sound too subtle for some people, but it is not, and I have a good enough argument for that.

Without my family’s ancestors, my grandmother would not exist, neither my mom, nor myself. Current usage originated somewhere unknown and was passed down to me at some point in my life. The sum of many people’s ideas and thoughts contributed to who I am today. 

Having a family may sound too simple to a portion of the population, but it is nothing less than the human species’ continuation and evolution. Imagine: if everyone who was born had to start from the bottom, then humanity would never evolve in numerous aspects. 

As a result, the incredible impact someone may have over centuries becomes apparent, and things like your job or Instagram account seem to have less purpose or significance since what remains is the understanding and worldview you passed onto future generations.

The Cambridge dictionary itself defines the word “legacy” as “a situation that has developed as a result of past actions and decisions.” It’s incredible to consider that humanity is composed of shards of individual behaviors left over the centuries. It fills people with purpose and motivation to do their best for others as their small contribution to a whole lineage that is about to come. 

Okay, but what about those who have no blood relatives? Aren’t they going to be able to leave a meaningful legacy? In fact, causing an impact on others who may exist after you is not necessarily related to blood lineage. Here and there, it is possible to have friends who are like family and whom we can directly influence with our choices, behaviors, and discoveries. How many of us have already been impacted by a neighbor or a colleague? Almost everybody I know can affirm having known a confident person who they didn’t share genetics with but who had a pretty relevant impact on their lives.

So, leaving a legacy goes beyond sharing DNA. A legacy comes to life when we see a safe space in people who are important to us and start to make them a home, where we share our best intentions and teach what we have learned throughout our existence. This type of inheritance emerges from a choice and is more likely to be eternal than material goods, which can be spent in the blink of an eye and can disappear like a cloud of smoke.

All in all, when our existence comes to an end, the most valuable things we might leave behind are those that can be remembered from the bottom of someone’s heart. The good news is that, unlike in the past, future generations will be able to put a face to the construction of who they are in old photographs. For that to happen, we just need to decide to leave behind something worth being remarkable. 

—

Andreza is a Brazilian lawyer, passionate about volunteering, and who wants to cause a good impact in the world. Andreza loves her family, her dog, and traveling. She lives in Brazil and expects you to be touched positively by her words.

What does it mean to leave a lasting legacy?

Posted on by andrew

Faizah Latif (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

“To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every individual should strive towards creating a meaningful life in the hopes of leaving behind a lasting legacy, as this is the sign of a life well-lived. To make a mark in a positive way for others is an accomplishment. Since every individual develops their unique personality, skills, and lifestyle, the manner in which someone leaves behind a legacy can look different for each person. The important factor is to embody your true authentic self in the work that you do. Which special qualities and quirks do you embrace about yourself? 

Self development is the process of discovering your talents and experimenting with different hobbies in order to achieve greater heights. In the process, you learn the areas in which you excel and you are constantly in the pursuit of finding your true potential. Life is not meant to be lived in a stagnant state, and the more we are willing to place ourselves out of our comfort zones, the more we truly begin to live. There are many ways to contribute towards self development, and it depends on you and where your interests lie. This can range from community work, writing, cooking, sports, meditation, journalling, reading, or travelling to name a few. In the process of self development, one is always trying to find ways to better themselves and to keep learning and growing. You would not find someone passionate about self development that is comfortable in the state that they are in, because they are on a mission to continuously improve themselves.

The beautiful thing about creating your own lasting legacy is that you can select traits that you admire from your loved ones that you look up to and infuse them into your own life. In embodying different traits and still enmeshing your own personality, you are developing your own personalized life journey that can inspire others. Our loved ones that have passed have shared with us their gems as they left a lasting legacy, and it is up to us to discover those gems and their meaning. My maternal grandfather passed away two months ago, and he left behind the beautiful trait of generosity, as he was always giving to others in need and was fair to everyone. After his passing, this is a trait that I am trying to embody in my own life. Besides those in our lives that have passed away, we can also be inspired by role models that have shaped our lives in a positive way. By examining their positive traits, we are cultivating a healthy habit of focusing on the good in others, while simultaneously challenging ourselves to adopt those specific traits into our own lives.

Another area to implement and focus on when it comes to a lasting legacy is to share your life story with others. Whether this is through writing, speaking, or community involvement, finding a way to share what you’ve learned in life leaves a huge impact in the world. We are all composed of various struggles in our journeys that have made us stronger. In turn, we can give back to others and share the lessons we’ve learned so that others can benefit, and the community can be stronger together. Perhaps there is a trip that changed your perspective in life, as travelling derives many benefits in terms of growth. Or, you have gone through a challenge in your life that you did not think you could surmount, and you found the light at the end of the tunnel. Individuals are greatly inspired by those that have fallen down but had the courage to come back up even stronger than before. 

Essentially, creating a lasting legacy involves the ability to truly live life to its fullest and experience all the ups and downs that come our way. A lasting memory of someone is preserved in the way that they carry themselves and handle the hurdles they are presented with. If life were easy, we wouldn’t grow or have anything to learn from. Further, we would not have anything to educate others on. The final question is: how do you plan to leave a lasting legacy?

—

Faizah is an aspiring social worker, currently in the process of completing her Master in Social Work (MSW) degree. She enjoys self development and advocating for important causes in the community. Writing is one of Faizah’s passions, and she is honoured to share her writing on the Low Entropy platform in the hopes of providing inspiration.

The common things that develop affective memories.

Posted on by andrew

Daniel Mejía (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

The question “How do you want to be remembered?” is a question that once in our lives we have been asked or have asked ourselves. Many would like to be remembered for their achievements or for being the best at something; for leaving a legacy so that millions of people remember who they were. Others, including myself, would prefer to be remembered from the heart, by anecdotes, by places, by a few people, but to be remembered by building a bond between us.

It is death, an unpredictable phenomenon like fate, and irrepressible like time. There comes a day when our time comes for all of us, our clock stops, its hands stop moving. It is at that precise moment when we take stock of our lives when we see our entire lives pass before our very eyes. The truth is that we are too afraid of being forgotten, we worry about leaving a mark on the world when what matters is living while we still can. In this way, new stories full of details are developed that, at some point and after our leave, could lead to memories of us in life. All those unforgettable moments of happiness, sadness, love, and dedication that had remained latent in our memory.

And also, think about what will become of all those memories. Will we still be remembered as we were? Will our memory remain in the minds of our loved ones? I want to think that it will. And that is, in my perception, the main difference between leaving a legacy and developing intimate memories with your loved ones. While a person with a great legacy can be remembered for their works and achievements in life, we can develop memories through things as simple as words made up with your partner, or a song that was heard on the radio while traveling with the family, or a specific place, like the one you visited with your siblings many years ago. The difference between leaving a legacy and being intimately remembered is the involvement of your senses in the process of remembering.

The smell and taste of some food made by that relative, the texture of your partner’s skin, the incredible colors that are formed in a sunset view with your friends, the sound imparted by a guitar like the one your grandfather played; all the senses are related to the process of remembering, to sensory memory. All this sensory information is stored in our body for a few seconds, although the original stimulus is no longer present. The brain is capable of deciding if said sensory information is or is not relevant to be stored. And this is the wonderful thing about leaving a memory in another person; you were relevant enough in a person’s life so that their brain allowed you to be part of their sensory memory.

The mere act of being remembered is the result of a very complex process and, to me, it would be very flattering knowing that I impacted someone’s life that much, that the times we spend together can activate the process of remembering. Particularly, I proposed to myself some kind of afterlife goal to be able to cause a big smile on someone’s face by remembering them, through little life details, a specific day in which we laugh, cry, sing; that we enjoy the coincidence of coinciding in life.

We tend to worry about leaving a legacy in this world, when in fact the most precious memories, the most intimate, and that generate sensory memories, are those that happen spontaneously, effortlessly, simply by living life surrounded by the people you love. By living we will be remembered.

 

—

 

Mexican biotechnologist specialized in the reuse of natural compounds from agro-industrial waste. Passionate about science and the creation of inclusive spaces. From Mexico, he collaborates with Low Entropy as he seeks to migrate to Canada in the coming months.

Legacy; Remembering Those Who Have Left Us

Posted on by andrew

Cassandra Di Lalla (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Oh my stars, where do I even begin?!

Well, first and foremost – we have all experienced the loss of a loved one so let’s take a moment to remember the humans of the earth who have now morphed into the angels of the sky. Although our loved ones are not here in a physical form anymore, their spirits are still very much alive and floating around somewhere. Although their bodies are in a totally different realm, their souls are still singing. Despite not being right by your side with skin, bones, and a beating heart – they are instead fluttering around like a butterfly to bring you peace and tranquility, buzzing around like a bee to sweeten your day, soaring like a bird to bring you courage and strength, floating around like a cloud to bring you comfort, and popping in and out of your day-to-day life to remind you that you’re loved, cared for, and always safe.

It is not difficult to remember our loved ones because we simply cannot forget them. They have made such a huge impact on our life throughout the years and it is only right for them to receive full recognition and acknowledgement. They deserve the spotlight and they deserve the attention; their value, their worth, and their life means more than all the stars in the night sky.

It is so important that we talk positively about these individuals everyday so that we’re able to keep their spirits up and so they can feel the love, the care, and the kindness reciprocated. Emotions are eternal and feelings are forever so imagine the impact you had on them when you said “Rest Easy”. Their soul smiled knowing that you wished them well on their upcoming journey…whether their destination was to cozy up in the comfy clouds, swim up the stream to seek serenity, peacefully ponder into paradise, or head up to heaven on a hammock. 

It’s terribly heartbreaking to know, and impossible to accept that individuals who have passed cannot be loved back to life. If we as humans had that kind of power or magic in us, or the miracle to make that happen, then life would be pleasantly populated again with the people we love most. It pulls at your heartstrings to understand that sometimes there are things you cannot do in the way you once would with your loved ones because the pain is weighing heavily on you…but then you realize that all these things you used to do with them had become a tradition and so you continue…for them, for yourself, and for the both of you knowing that their legacy lives on. You also continue because they gave you the will to keep going, and to respect them is the easiest thing when you miss them wholeheartedly and endlessly. So, please keep their legacy alive by doing their favourite things, enjoying their favourite drink, eating their favourite foods, maybe even try taking up their favourite activity because somehow and somewhere they are thanking you for keeping them alive…in mind, in spirit, and in your heart. The act of simply making that kind of an attempt speaks volumes, but it also allows your loved ones to live vicariously through you and radiate beautifully through this lens called ‘life’. 

To those who have left this life and have gone on to their next life… we love you and we miss you, but you have taught us self-discipline and poise for now we know that though the reality of it all pains us wildly, we are loved by you no matter where you are. 

 

—

 

Cassandra Di Lalla lives life purposefully. She enjoys reading, writing and mental health initiatives. She’s an animal lover for life and an innovative individual always finding new ways to create.