A Gardener or just a Lawn-cutter?

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“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you’re there.
It doesn’t matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime.”
(Ray Bradbury “Fahrenheit 451”)

As far as I am concerned, the end of my life might be today or tomorrow, it might be in 10 or 20 years. Regardless of when it is, I am not going to think about it just yet. I am busy living and busy reading.

Bradbury1218


Don’t You Forget About Me

Imagine yourself at the end of your life. What sort of legacy will you leave? Describe the lasting effect you want to have on the world, after you’re gone.

17 thoughts on “A Gardener or just a Lawn-cutter?

  1. With every birthday I tend to think in terms of adding one more at the end…I may get older, but I don’t accept aging. At this point I think I’m up to considering living to at least 108. I guess time will tell on that, but when I finally cross that threshold I’d like to be remembered for being kind and for my sense of humor. If a few people remember that I passionately loved music, that would be nice as well! 🙂

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  2. Never gave much thought about my legacy, nor plan to anytime in the future. I’m too busy living my life, learning new things and meeting new people. If someone wants to remember me as a good and caring person, that’s a good enough legacy for me.

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  3. Living in Utah (and more and more around the world since people are getting into genealogy), legacy seems to be taking on a new meaning. We had to face that when we got our trust done (which contains our will, among other things). It made me realize the only things we left the kids were tangible crap. It didn’t reflect our values or anything like that. It made me think of legacy a little differently.

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    • I agree 100 %. Always smile when I read a prompt like this and think about your “daily downer”. I think I will start a prompt challenge. Get ready my dear, I might (for sure) throw the ball in your corner 🙂

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