What is a Legacy?

When you look up the definition it says "a gift by will especially of money or other personal property : bequest".

Now what does that mean? Well, there are many ways you can take it such as your grandmother passes down her best pearl necklace or her hope chest full of hand sewn quilts. These heirlooms are a piece of her legacy that she has passed down to you. Now what you do with them is up to you, because they may not mean as much to you physically, but they bring back memories of your time together. The touch of the fabric or the smell may awaken a memory from your childhood. The thing is a photograph can do the same thing. When you see, smell, or touch something it brings back a rush of memories and that is how you remember a loved ones legacy and pass the memory down to future generations. For as long as you have memories to share their legacy lives on.

You see for me I lost many loved ones when I was little and what I remember about them mainly when I see something or do something they used to do. I love to share with my children about those I have lost but I don't have the photographs to share with them so they can't put a face to the name. When I see red flannel or a red down vest it reminds me of an aunt who I miss dearly, but her legacy lives on in my memory even without the physical items.

You may be thinking, what does having pictures done have to do with saving ones legacy?

I want you to take a moment and imagine being 5 years old and your life is turned upside down and you are whisked away to a new home and the only thing you have to hold onto is a picture. You are scared and you don't know why this is happening but this photograph is of someone that makes you feel safe. Being 5 your mind is too young to truly remember small details as time passes. With time you begin to forget eye color, hair, expressions, smells, etc. But then you pull out this small photograph that you were handed of your loved one. The photograph has captured the details of their expression for you and when you see that picture it reminds you of the love that person had for you, the food they used to make, the way the smelled when you cuddled up beside them when you were sick, and the stories they told you about their childhood. It reminds you of the happy times and reminds you of your safety. With that simple photograph of a moment saved you are able to remember their legacy and it lives on through you because you are able to recall all that information by just holding a picture.

Growing up I didn't have pictures of loved ones to hold onto and this is why I want others to have the pictures that will help them hold onto their loved ones. Not on a digital device but in print. Each day is a gift to create memories with loved ones but one day all we will have is a photograph to share with loved ones who didn't get to know those we lost. We never know when our day will come to say good bye so leaving a physical memory for loved ones to hold onto is so important. They don't care how we look, they care about how we make them feel! I mean a photograph doesn't even have to have a face but a simple moment that is spent together can spark a memory. I love being able to sit down and say remember when.... to my children when talking about my sister and bringing out a photo album is even better. What does your family have that holds a memory of your legacy that they can pass down to keep your memory alive?