What Will They Say in the End?
I was at a funeral two weeks ago. The pastor of the church recapped the life of the deceased, sharing stories about what a wonderful mother, wife and grandmother she was. He spoke of her sharp wit and her generous nature.
When the funeral was over, I started thinking about the things that people say about us in the end. What do they remember most when we are no longer here?
In the past two weeks, Betty White, Desmond Tutu and John Madden all passed away. These were three icons, all of whom made their unique mark on the world. I did some research to find out what people remembered most about each of them.
Betty White was primarily known for her comedic talent. She had been married four times, had no children of her own, had a wildly successful career, and died three weeks shy of her 100th birthday. She was quick with a humorous response to just about anything: When asked in an interview about her beauty secrets, White told the reporter she believes strongly that people should get 8 hours of sleep each night to look good, or 9 hours if they are ugly! White was an optimist and tried to see the positive side of any situation. What many people did not know about her was her passion for animals and her love of U.S. forests. From a young age, she dreamed of becoming a forest ranger. However, women were not offered this type of job in the 1940’s. In 2010 (at 88 years old) the U.S. Forest Service made Betty White’s bucket list dream come true. During a ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. White was named an honorary forest ranger, and presented a badge and a ranger's hat. Smokey Bear was even on-hand to give her a hug. Just about every news station has been flooded this past week with stories of how loved and admired Betty White was, and the profound mark that the Golden Girl left on so many.
Desmond Tutu was a powerful force for non-violence in South Africa. He was a leader in the South African Council of Churches, and fought for Black South African people’s freedom. His passion for his cause earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. He called himself a teacher, not a politician— yet accomplished so much politically in his lifetime. Tutu’s philosophy was one of Ubuntu, which is a Nguni Bantu term meaning humanity— or often translated as "I am because we are." He believed in a universal bond that connected all of humanity. Tutu suffered from tuberculosis as a child, and decided he wanted to become a doctor at a young age. However, his parents couldn’t afford the cost of the schooling, so he became a teacher instead. Desmond Tutu was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Obama in 2009. He died at age 90 after dedicating his entire life to important humanitarian causes.
John Madden was a coach, a teacher and a legend in the world of football. As head of the Oakland (now LA) Raiders, Madden and his team won 103 games and a Super Bowl. He retired at the young age of 42 and pivoted to being a sports announcer. People loved him and tuned into games just to hear his unique approach as a commentator. This resulted in a successful career, an induction into the Football Hall of Fame, and winning 16 Emmys. What was unique about Madden was that he took football seriously, but never himself. He kept the crowd entertained while always finding ways to teach the fundamentals of the game. People said he made understanding football easy. This year, ESPN created a 90-minute documentary called “All Madden.” Madden and his wife and two sons watched the show together on Christmas Day. When the show ended, Madden asked the boys for their honest feedback about it. Both kids said they loved it. And when they asked their dad what he thought about the documentary, Madden said his only criticism was that it should have been longer! John Madden died last week at age 85— the day after celebrating his 62nd wedding anniversary to his wife Virginia.
What do Betty White, Desmond Tutu and John Madden— three seemingly very different people— all have in common? They certainly lived long, accomplished lives. They were dedicated to their passions. They inspired others. They made a difference in the world, each in their own way. And they are all considered legends.
What do you have in common with these icons? What could you have in common with these people some day?
As you think about your own life, what is it that you are working on? What is your passion? Do people distinctly know this about you?
If you had an opportunity right now to focus on your ultimate legacy, what would you do? Would you continue on your current path? Or is it time to pivot?
As you begin this new year, perhaps this presents an opportunity to define what you want to be known for… and then get to work— with gusto— making it happen!
This Week’s Resources
All Madden
In case you missed Fox’s showing of the All Madden documentary, you can stream it on Peacock, ESPN+ and Tubi. Click here for more info: All Madden Documentary
Make a Difference Now
Honda created an electric car they call Shogo. Shogo is a Japanese word that means soaring into the future. But this is not a car for me or you. It’s custom-designed for pediatric hospitals so that kids can “drive” through the hospital to their appointments and treatment. The tiny cars have cup holders, a center horn with different sounds the children can pick from, and a customizable license plate slot to display the name of each driver. The car is easy to get in and out of, and has a metal rack system on the back of it designed to hold various pumps and devices children need while they’re in the hospital. More than anything, it’s designed to bring joy and to reduce stress for children with serious medical issues: honda shogo car
What’s On Your Bucket List?
Betty White’s Bucket List Dream of becoming a forest ranger came true in 2010. Perhaps this will inspire you to dust off your own bucket list and get intentional about checking some items off! Read here for the endearing story: forest ranger betty white
Disclosure: Securities and investment advisory services offered through registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC. The Jamrog Group is not a subsidiary of MML Investors Services, or its affiliated companies. Supervisory Office: 330 Whitney Ave. Suite 600 Holyoke, MA 01040 Telephone: (413) 539-2000.