WEEKEND-ENGAGEMENT TOPICS: WEEK 304/Celebrating the Legacy

Greetings, dear readers of Weekend Experiences. How's your weekend going? Here in Andalusia, the sky is pretty cloudy, there's a dust storm blowing in from Africa, and it's a bit chilly. The weather isn't great, but on the bright side, I'm happy because I texted my hairdresser to make an appointment—I really need a haircut—and he said I can come in today. Well, once again, @galenkp offers us interesting topics to write about. All of them are interesting.

This weekend, the topics seems to be centered on significance—on the importance of personal and historical legacies. It’s an important topic to reflect on in a world that seems chaotic, full of wars and conflicts—and yet, at the same time, frivolous and vulgar. We all have the ability to reach millions of people with just a single click. The important question is whether we want to be visible—and for what purpose. I'm going to write on the following topic:

When people think about their personal legacy, a large percentage of them probably think of their children and consider leaving them a material or immaterial legacy. Especially if they have only one son or daughter, they want them to have a good life. But for those of us who haven’t had children, these kinds of thoughts don’t even cross our minds. The meaning of our presence in the world and the legacy we can leave behind isn’t tied to being a mother or father. This can become a serious concern for those who are. In the topic proposed by @galenkp, it says “How would you like people to celebrate your life after you die?” I really like that perspective because the question focuses on the celebration, rather than the legacy. A celebration is a joyful, positive memory. It does not refer to a moral or professional obligation. Right.

There are many ways to be in the world. There are public and private ways, joyful and sad ways, generous and selfish ways, positive and malicious ways. There is a bit of everything on this planet we call home. Each person chooses the way of life that suits them best, the one in which they feel most at ease. And that can change over time. In my youth, I was introspective and prone to sadness. As I reached maturity, due to my profession as a teacher and writer, I became a public figure—more outgoing, self-assured, and cheerful. The way we are and the way others remember us can change, depending on the context and the moment we’re in.

The person I am today loves to celebrate life and enjoy it. I love sharing with my loved ones all the good things life has to offer. I enjoy supporting and being there for others. Whenever I have the chance to make someone else happy, I do so gladly, and it brings me great satisfaction. For me, emotional connections with people are important. I feel good about myself and the people around me. I like to share what I know. That’s how I’d like to be remembered when I’m no longer here. I’d like to be remembered and celebrated as a positive, generous, and creative person.

Since the early 1990s, I have taught courses in writing and literature. I have helped people of all ages who want to learn to write. I have taught courses at universities and cultural centers, and I have also provided one-on-one guidance to individuals who want to publish a book, helping them edit, organize, and navigate the entire publishing process. It is a truly rewarding experience, especially when they publish a book for the first time. It is one of the main legacies I will leave behind when I am no longer here—those stories, poems, and books that were made possible thanks to my support.

When I arrived in Spain, I was fortunate enough to adapt easily to this new cultural environment—both in my field, literature, and in a new field for me, music. At first, I spent time with older people, my contemporaries. I joined a book club, started a creative writing workshop here, and joined the flamenco choir. I don’t know yet if I’ll be able to make a mark here as an educator for the younger generations. But I’d like to think that, over time, I’ll also be able to leave my mark in this new environment. For now, I’ve managed to inspire my students in the Creative Writing Workshop—who are my peers—to write, and that makes me happy.

Since my native language is not English, I have had to rely on the Deepl.com platform to translate this article into English.