Will you be the torchbearer, leaving behind a meaningful legacy?

Two decades ago, a transformative book crossed my path—Dan Miller's "48 Days to the Work You Love".

It sparked a fire in me, leading me to new horizons in my career as I followed the directions he advised. Believing in the concepts he shared, in my role as a professor, promoted the book to my students, and taught them the concept to help them land jobs they enjoyed after graduation.

 And just a few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Dan in person and tell him how much his book mattered to me while he autographed my copy of "48 Days to the Work You Love".

 I share all this because Dan passed away just a few days ago. And one of my other favorite authors shared a portion of an email Dan had sent him to say goodbye.

 Dan knew his death was coming and took the time to impart wisdom and encouragement once again to those he loved and cared about.

 Having been posted on social media publicly, I wanted to share a portion of that message with you. Because there is something so powerful about coming to terms with our reality, and knowing that the way we lived had meaning, created value in the lives of others, and left behind a legacy.

This is how I want to be remembered. 

Which means this is how I need to live now. 

Because we create the lives we live – that’s the law of cause and effect in action.

To quote Dan once more, “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” (source: https://www.48days.com/the-48-days-story)

I have committed to making the rest of my life, the best of my life. What about you?

Here some of Dan’s last words as shared by his friend on social media.

“We’re celebrating now rather than after I’m gone. And I get to reflect on my legacy. You are part of that legacy. I don’t need to be propped up in the corner or have a monument with my name on it. My legacy is firmly imbedded in people like you that I’ve had the privilege of interacting with in the past few years. You are my legacy - you are the torchbearer of the principles I borrowed from the previous great thinkers.”

Dan’s final message is a powerful reminder: none of us start from scratch.

We may not be the first to venture down a path, but we have the chance to tread it in our own way. We have the opportunity to breathe new life into age-old wisdom and to carry forward the truths that have been passed down to us.

That’s what that last line meant, for us to be “the torchbearer of the principles I borrowed from the previous great thinkers.”

You have a calling upon you, a way God has designed you here and now in history, to live out your purpose.

 Will you rise up in 2024 and become the torchbearer and imbed your legacy in the lives of those you impact?

I am committed to evolving into my calling in a greater way than ever before in 2024. This is my year for massive change and impact.

May it be so for you too.  

Holy scripture for encouragement:

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
    No one can measure his greatness.

 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
    let them proclaim your power.

 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
    and your wonderful miracles.

 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
    I will proclaim your greatness.

Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
    they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

Psalm 145:3-7 (NLT)