Monthly inspirational column is written by Evelyn M. Bingham, a retired entrepreneur and former owner of the first black-owned hotel on Mackinaw Island in Michigan. 
 
PREVIEW:
     With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Celebrations nearly upon us, I began thinking about legacies, and how we can all leave one, even without a monetary fortune!
    What will your legacy be? What will live on after you’re gone? By living your best life you will be creating a legacy to be proud of.
     A writer doesn’t dream of riches and fame, though these things are nice.  A true writer longs to leave behind a piece of them, something that withstands the test of time and is passed down for generations.  This also applies to each of us, for we all possess gifts and talents unique to us alone!  Our days are numbered.  One of the primary goals of our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions alone but in the quality of our lives.  “Immortality is to live your life doing good things, and leaving your mark behind”.
     President Barack Obama once described a legacy as running in a relay race, “I saw myself as a relay runner. I would take the baton and I would run my leg of the race, and then I’d pass the baton to someone else, each generation tries to make progress knowing that what we do is not going to be perfect, but hopefully effective enough for the world to have gotten a little bit better.  As each of us contributes our best, we leave fewer roadblocks and hurdles for future generations, and more goals and achievements to aspire to!  Once a person knows what they want their legacy to be, they can start building it by living how you want to be remembered. It will allow you to make better use of your time and other resources and will influence your day-to-day decisions in a positive way. Once you have gained clarity on what you want your legacy to be, it can give your life meaning and purpose and will enable you to allow the legacy that you’re building to determine how you show up each day, living your life as if you matter.