Each of us is unique. Born with our own genetic makeup. On top of that, we’re impacted by everything that happens to us. Each person, and every relationship leaves its mark, changing us in subtle ways. Every experience refines who we are. All those people, relationships, and experiences create our heritage—that which is given to us. Some of our heritage is a joy to carry throughout our years, while the memories of some people and experiences is a heavy burden. We all have things that make us smile, just as we all carry some pain. We can’t change our heritage, but we can use it. Our legacy is what we impart to others, the lessons we teach, and the ways we interact with the people around us. We can take our heritage, things we learned from others, repackage it and hand it down to others.

As an old man looking back, it’s clear that those with the greatest impact didn’t tell me—they showed me. We need teachers who can explain facts, but the most important lessons are not filled with facts. Those crucial lessons are learned by example. That’s why a lot of my time is spent with youth, and it pays great dividends. When I was working in the corporate world people would compliment me on how I conducted a meeting or solved a problem, and compliments felt nice. That doesn’t happen to me anymore. Now I walk into the room to have Jr. High students run up and hug me—I like that a lot better.