legacy

Legacy

mikemjensen Life's Truths Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

I ran into some ex-coworkers this evening.

We said hello, fist bumped, and asked how each was doing. We talked a little about what we had been up to, what we had seen of each other on Facebook.

Leaving, my old boss, the one I worked for directly, said, “You can come back anytime. Really.”Burning_Bridges_Logo

I know some people fantasize of leaving in a blaze of glory, with a one finger, salute, and a good piece of their mind. It might feel immediately satisfying to do so, but that’s not my style.

I take pride in the fact that I left on my terms and in a way that I could always return if I needed or wanted. The fact that I hear this same invitation when I run into the other members of that management team means more to me than any bridge-burning parting expression.

Legacy is not how many people you can put behind you, but is how many people who are willing to back you up.

 

Post 3-110

June 9, 1878

mikemjensen Porter Rockwell, Writing Tags: , , , Leave a comment

IMG_20150609_160415_400Hey Kids,

Riding home, I had the thought to stop by the Salt Lake City Cemetery and see my old buddy Porter Rockwell. I’m in a spot where the storyline of my work in progress about him is not working for me, something is wrong. A visit with my main character seemed a good idea; see what he thought about it.

It had been a little while, at least the other side of the winter, since I last stopped. I never know what I’ll find there. I’ve seen empty bottles from someone sharing a six-pack, coins, and a guitar pick. There’s a picture on the internet of someone leaving a .45 caliber cartridge at least once. Often, there’s flowers and the grass in that spot is worn out. Obviously, I’m not the only one who visits.

I should’ve already known this, but when I looked at the headstone, it was 137 years to the day that he passed. June 9, 1878. I try not to be spooky but it seemed an odd coincidence.

IMG_20150609_160437_391137 years after I die, I doubt anyone will be visiting my grave.

And that’s where the reality of what I’m doing hit.

He’s not just a character in my book, Porter Rockwell represents something to a lot of people. Even after 137 years.

It’s not just his rebellious spirit. It’s not just his bad assedness. It’s not just his loyalty. And it’s not just his Wild West Marshalling stories. It’s all of it put together. And that is what’s not setting right with me. In my story, I’m not maintaining the whole man. Even in fiction, he’s larger than life.

I think in my first book I got it right. But somewhere in the “artistic license” of the sophomore project, I strayed from what he means to me, and strayed from his 137 year-old legacy. I strayed from the reason people share a beer with him, share their music, bring him flowers, and leave him bullets. I missed the mark the straight-shooting, dead-eyed, gun slinger had set.

In the spirit of the man, I need to redo it, stretch higher, and dig deeper. This work is not just for and about me, it’s about Porter and for the people who, like me, still find inspiration and strength from a man that has long since moved on.

Thanks Porter. You’re still amazing.

 

Day 106

 

Lasting Impressions

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids!

I saw in my email today that the University of Utah placed third in the World Cup Quidditch Championship.

They beat out schools like UCLA and Arizona in the Western Regionals to get to the World Cup. I didn’t know that Quidditch actually existed, let alone as a completive sport on the University level.

Quidditch, as anyone would know by now, is the sport played at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter book and movie series. The players fly around on brooms trying to put a misshaped ball called a Quaffle through a series of elevated circles, while dodging other balls called Bludgers, and while two specialized players chase a Golden Snitch.

To make it possible for muggles to play, some elements have been changed.

quidditch

My point is not to explain Quidditch, or to make light of the fact that near-gown-ups are playing a make believe game, ignoring the fact that the game is essentially impossible. My point is that sometime during their time before college, these students were touched enough by something they thought was wonderful and they still want to be part of it.

Harry Potter resonated with millions of people. Tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions. JK Rowling didn’t just write a book, she touched people. She made a difference in their lives. She brought them a joy and a feeling that they don’t want to let go.

What can we do to touch people. Write a world class best selling book series that inspires kids of all ages to read? Sure. How about just be nice to people? Smile. Say thank you. Hold a door open. Support a fund raiser for that little kid at the door. Do something nice for someone else.

You’ll never know how much something will mean to someone else. What impression you might make. But if you did something nice everyday for someone else, you might find that your legacy might be a nicer you.

And that’s better than winning First at the World Cup of Quidditch.

Well, almost.

Day 17