People will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the inspiration you left behind. — John D. Rockefeller

As we enter a new year, I’ve been thinking a lot more about clutter.  Not the sexiest topic, and not anything life-changing, but this whole concept of “out with the old, in the with new” has been at the forefront of my mind.  And so it was that I ventured into our attic, with the positive intention of tossing extraneous “stuff”.  And, believe me, there was a LOT of work to be done!

After combing through old clothes (my cherished flannel shirts from the ’90s!) and outdated electronics (my trusty Blackberry!), I finally stumbled on an old box of trophies from my youth.  I remembered how important these were to me back in the day.  I had them on careful display in my room and wouldn’t let anyone go near them.  And seeing them again brought back strong feelings.  The sense of accomplishment and pride.  The memories of great seasons with lifelong friends.  The celebration of hard work, sacrifice, and being part of something bigger than myself.  The recognition, in some small way, of a lasting legacy.  I couldn’t possibly throw them all away, right?  But on the other hand, they were busted up, faded, and collecting dust in a box in a dark corner of our attic.  Someone is going to have to throw theese away after I am gone.  And would I really miss them?

Still conflicted, I stepped outside and saw my neighbor throwing away some old junk from his garage.  Clearly, he was going through a similar process of new-year cleansing.  I told him about my conundrum with the old trophies, and he immediately understood.

“I felt the same way about my awards from work and plaques for recognition by the community.”

Ah, yes!  The endless barrage of pyrite crystal accolades!  Do they matter to anyone but us?  And who will deal with them when we are gone?

“What are you going to do with them?”

My neighbor furrowed his brow and smiled.

“My wife is going to put them all in the casket with me when I die.  Problem solved!”

Genius!  The ultimate vehicle for de-cluttering!

Of course, it was tongue-in-cheek.  But the point still resonated.  When it comes to leaving a legacy, maybe you CAN take it with you!

Inspiring Future Generations

The “Sales Excellence Winner” Crystal from 2010 may be getting long in the tooth.  The “Citizen of the Year” plaque may be in the bottom drawer of a file cabinet.  The “MVP” Trophy may have a faded nameplate.   But are they completely useless?  Have they lost all their meaning?  Awards and accolades leave clues to a life well-lived.  It is not the physical representation of the recognition.  It is the preparation, sacrifice, positive mindset, and achievement of excellence that went into the accomplishment.

Don’t these represent an opportunity to have a conversation with our children about the power of hard work.  About the long road it took to reach the top of the mountain.  About the sense of pride in leaving behind a legacy.  We shouldn’t keep them around to relive the “glory days” or amplify a time that has long slipped away.  We shouldn’t keep them around to brag or call unnecessary attention to ourselves. But isn’t there value in providing some standard of excellence?  Isn’t it possible these awards provide some ancillary motivation for others to achieve?

What We Do Leave Behind

And what about ourselves?  In difficult times, perhaps these dilapidated relics can remind us that success is still possible.  Perhaps they can inject us with the resilience we need to bounce back from a setback, a losing streak, or a feeling of hopelessness.  Perhaps they can remind us that at some point, someone cared enough to recognize us for an accomplishment.  And that goodness can point us forward toward future greatness.

I get it.  Perhaps we are getting carried away.  Perhaps these accolades represent the manifestation of clutter and detritus that need to be cleansed from our lives.  Perhaps.  But if we take them to represent motivation, if we take them to instill hope, if we take them to reveal something meaningful in our lives, isn’t that worth something?  At the end of the day, all we have is our character, our integrity, our legacy, and the positive example of a life well-lived.

And THAT is something you CAN take with you!