Without Legacy

Iron Mike Tyson was recently interviewed by some 13-year old content creator and was asked what seems a pretty basic question. But, Tyson's reply was labelled "bizarre" by the media. No - it was brilliant.

“After such a successful career, what type of legacy would you like to leave behind when it’s all said and done?”
_Jazzy

“I don’t know, I don’t believe in the word legacy. I just think that’s another word for ego. Legacy doesn’t mean nothing. That’s just some word everybody grabbed onto. Someone said that word and now it’s used every five seconds. It means absolutely nothing to me. I’m just passing through. I’m going to die and it’s going to be over. Who cares about legacy after that. People think ‘I’ve got a big ego so when I die I want people to think I’m this, I’m great’. No that means nothing, we’re just dead, we’re dust, we’re absolutely nothing. Our legacy is nothing." _Mike Tyson

My man.

Legacy is something I have often thought about, but very much in a similar way to Tyson. Not all the time though, because occasionally I get caught in the trap that it matters. But, it really doesn't, past in the sense of the word where it is what is left for others in a will and testament. For instance, I would like my daughter to inherit some value from me, a house, some money, some crypto. But, that is not what most people really consider with legacy, because often when it is talked about, it is in the context of same famous person, some sports star, business mogul, royalty.

Legacy isn't for the normal person.

Which is why I think that I liked Mike Tyson's response so much, because after all he has done in his life, all the ups, the downs, the achievements, the failures - his response to legacy was one that a normal person should consider.

“Can you really imagine someone saying, ‘I want my legacy to be this’ You’re dead! Do I really want to think about you? Who the fuck cares about me when I’m gone? My kids maybe, or my grandkids. Who cares.”
_Mike Tyson

Exactly. Who cares. Outside of immediate family, no one really is going to give a fuck unless you are someone who is incredibly famous. And then, "your" legacy is actually their belief systems that what you did mattered, even if they don't know you. Some people in the past might have incredible legacies that people remember and revere, but does it mean that they were good people?

Who knows?

Their family. And maybe some friends, because they are the only real people who are going to have enough consistent interactions, enough access "behind the scenes" to be able to judge the character outside of the actions they are known for. It reminds me of that Ricky Gervais quote,

Your reputation is what strangers think you're like.

The legacy that 13- year old was asking about, was one for the face of strangers, not family. She is young, but I think that people far older than her would be thinking much along the same lines, which is where she has got her understanding of legacy from. Legacy is something that we create so that people we don't know will revere us. Yet, most of us are so far from doing anything that is really worthy of being remembered.

What are the top three things you would be remembered for right now?

• Good father
• Hard worker
• Troubled

I haven't changed the world. And other than the good father, I think both family and the less familiar with me would agree to the last two. Even people who haven't met me on Hive, would likely accept hard-working and messed up as two traits. These aren't really legacies though, are they?

The only real legacy I have to provide the "strangers" is here on the blockchain. My writing. It might not be much, and there might be a lot of crap in the mass of words, but I reckon that if someone were to actually trawl it, there would actually be a fait bit of insight into many areas. I am not saying all would be gold, but there might be a few nuggets and a diamond or two to discover.

Not much.

But, let's face it, it is probably more than most. That isn't a disparaging comment, but more a commentary on what most of us do with our lives. Which is, not much consideration of what we leave for others. Instead of worrying ourselves with legacy, we are concerned with more important matters, like paying the bills and putting food on the table. The majority of us are trying to make ends meet, to survive, and perhaps extract some miniscule amounts of joy from what can otherwise be a hard life.

Legacy is a luxury.

I don't have the luxury to plan a legacy, but I do have the possibility to create one as I go, on Hive. Spending some time writing each day brings me some personal value for my head and heart, and hopefully some for the people who read and interact here also. But, for my daughter it will be a place that she can come to and read my thoughts, even if I am not around. And of course, there is the chance to earn a bit along the way, which will hopefully provide some more tangible benefits for my family at some point. That would provide something memorable.

But for me?

Who cares.

Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]