Flourishing Life Society
  • Flourishing Life Society
    • Flourishing Favorites
    • Articles by Year Published
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Psychology Definitions
  • Psychology of Wellness
    • Psychology of Emotions >
      • Emotional Data Base
    • Psychology Article Archive
  • Personal Development
    • Health and Fitness
    • Personal Development >
      • Personal Development Archive N-Z
  • Flourishing Relationships
Home | Flourishing Relationships | Legacy of Love

Legacy of Love

Building a Legacy of Love

BY: T. Franklin Murphy | June 2013 (edited January 31, 2022)
We create our legacy throughout the never-ending flow of small moments. Those who neglect important relationships, failing to contribute to the kindness, experience a hardening of the heart and loneliness.
Stock Adobe Royalty Free Images
We create a legacy of love through continual small acts of compassion and kindness.
Yesterday, I conversed with a homeless man. Intoxicated and frustrated, he called me vile names. He mocked me, threatened my family, and spat at me. He wore urine stained clothing and had no food in his tummy; he appeared miserable. His meanness, I quickly forgave, knowing his story is deeper and more complex than I could draw from our momentary contact. After nearly two decades of policing a major city, I have learned not to take interactions personally. His physical and mental condition, however, gave me great sorrow. Pain and loneliness were his daily companions.

A few hours after this unpleasant encounter, I was dispatched to the home of an 88-year-old man that passed away during the night. During my time in this house, family and friends continuously flowed through the door, lingered in the room, saying goodbyes. Over several hours, dozens of friends and relatives flooded the small rooms of this modest home. Over the course of this man’s long life, he built a legacy of love. I felt as if I stood on hallow ground.

Life Is a Complex Blend of Choices and fate

 Neither the life of this recently deceased father (grandfather and friend) or the life of the struggling alcoholic were the expression of a single act. Their lives were composed of many proceeding days, choices and interactions. Our acts of kindness, or meanness, slowly create our legacy. 

We build the essence of our being through relationships. Do we hate the world and in return the world hates us, or do we love the world and in return the world loves us?

One man died surrounded by friends and family, each with cherished memories of closeness; the other, sadly, will most likely die a lonely hermit. His meanness drives others from his life. In an odd play of fate and autonomy our lives are formed. In psychology, this is referred to as reciprocal determinism. Our actions impact our environment and our environment impacts our actions. Around and around we go slowly becoming.

Every Act of Kindness Matters When Building A Legacy

​The independent forces that influenced the development of these two different men remain unknown to the casual observer. We can, and should, show compassion to both men. However, I do know that the seemingly small paths we take early in life largely determines the circumstances surrounding us later in life. Each act of kindness reverberates through our destines, forming or destroying our legacy.
       “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson   
​I want to be surrounded by those I love. I hope my children, friends, and family will gather with warm memories when my journey ends. This is what I want. I try to let these desires determine my behavior so I can leave a legacy of love. 
 
Are you building your legacy of love or something else?
Please support Flourishing Life Society with a social media share or by visiting a link:
Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Email
T. Franklin Murphy
T. Franklin Murphy
Wellness. Writer. Researcher.
​T. Franklin Murphy has a degree in psychology. He tirelessly researches scientific findings that contribute to wellness. In 2010, he began publishing his findings.

Index:

Flourishing in Life
  • Personal Development
  • Addiction Recovery
  • Wellness 
Psychology of Wellness
  • Emotions​
  • Personality
  • Defense Mechanisms
Flourishing Relationships
  • Intimate/Romance
  • Parent/Child
  • Society
Health and Fitness
Research
About Flourishing Life
A wave of pop psychology, suggesting happiness is paramount,often neglects the importance of others. We can improve the feeling states. But science is clear, rich and fulfilling lives include healthy connections with others.
Psychology Definitions Data Base Link
Wellness Links:
External Link. How to Criticize with Kindness
Psychology Today. Revenge Is Its Own Punishment
Well and Good. Are Intimate Friendships and Romantic Relationships Different at All?
External Link: Disagreeing Takes up a Lot of Brain Real Estate
External Link. keep your relationship healthy and happy
External Link. why you should discipline your child
External Link: Neuroscientists Find Thin Line Between Love and Hate
External Link. Spark My Development. 12 Tips For An Effective Communication Strategy

​Other Flourishing Life Society articles of interest on this topic:

When we expertly greet our child's emotions with empathy, acceptance and reciprocation, the child develops a positive relationship with their own feelings--a major contribution to healthy living.
Relationships are complicated and can't be forced. Many fear connection.
Picture
Example of Kindness. A Flourishing Life Society article link
A Flourishing Life Society article link. Help Yourself. Accepting Responsibility. Making a Change.
The strength of our nation and world will come from more open-mindedness. When we blame, shun, or attack others because of differences, everyone loses. We live in fear and bigoted hate.
Flourishing Life Society article link for Social Desirability Bias
A Flourishing Life Society article image link. Saving a Relationship with thoughts
I'm Okay; You're Okay. Normal Ups and Downs. A Flourishing Life Society Link
Flourishing Life Society article link. Being a Good Dad
A Flourishing Life Society article link. How to Reduce Implicit Bias
Flourishing Life Society article link. Being true to ourselves.
Internal Link: Judge, Judge, Judging-  Undetected emotions interject, powerfully influencing action. A flow of energy creates impressions that guide future responses and we judge.
Picture
Some concepts of forgiveness cross into smug self-righteousness, others create personal harm by ignoring lessons that shouldn’t be forgotten. But moving forward from injury by abandoning grudges serves us and society well.
Mixed in with the beauty are some sorrows. When we are well-connected, occasionally, along with the joys are some tears.
A Flourishing Life Society article link. Legacy of Love
Picture
Flourishing Life Society
  • Human Flourishing
  • Psychology of Wellness
  • Flourishing Relationships
  • Psychology Definitions​
  • Privacy Policy
​Other Links
  • About US
  • Companion Site​
  • Most Popular Articles
  • Psychology Topics A-z
Articles:
  • New Articles​
  • Last year's Publications​
  • External Psychology Links​
​Favorite Topics:
  • Mental Illness Archive
  • Personality Archive
  • Personal Development
  • Psychology of Emotions
News Letter

    New Article Updates

Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Flourishing Life Society
    • Flourishing Favorites
    • Articles by Year Published
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Psychology Definitions
  • Psychology of Wellness
    • Psychology of Emotions >
      • Emotional Data Base
    • Psychology Article Archive
  • Personal Development
    • Health and Fitness
    • Personal Development >
      • Personal Development Archive N-Z
  • Flourishing Relationships