Sena found a great essay on leaving a legacy. It’s titled “Forget Me Not” written by Jonathan Clements and posted on the website HumbleDollar on February 17, 2024. I think it’s worth sharing.
The comments are still coming in. One commenter (Newsboy) wrote the one below:
“The late great author, Steven (sic) Covey, once suggested: “To live. To love. To learn. To leave a legacy – That’s what we all want.”
How appropriate it seems that a willingness to embrace the first three items on his list (live / love / learn) typically results in the “dearly departed” achieving some meaningful degree of the last one (leave a legacy).”
This reminded me that I shared Stephen Covey’s concepts with junior residents when I was the chief resident in psychiatry. He wrote many books, including The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
I took the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Signature Program many years ago. All of us who attended got the course book and the Talking Stick. Back then Covey called it the Indian Talking Stick; I guess nowadays you’d call it the Indigenous People Talking Stick. The idea was to pass the stick around and you’d have to respect the person holding it and listen carefully while they have their say until they feel understood. Only then could the stick be passed on to someone else, once again to allow them to say their piece until they are understood. There could be no interruptions.
I wonder if the Talking Stick really works. I’ve never tried it. I guess that’s the problem.
I think Covey left a legacy. I doubt that was his main goal.
Go Retire Psychiatrist 