What we didn’t know people will say about us

I remember years ago, I had gone back to my hometown to visit my family. They wanted to throw this huge party and feast to celebrate. It had been a long time since I saw my grade school friends and people that I knew.

Years, actually.

So when the time came for everyone to hang out, I was a bit embarrassed. I was super jet-lagged. The time difference was an ungodly 11 hours! So you can only imagine that by the time everyone was knocking on the door with huge bright smiles on their faces, I looked like I’ve pulled an all-nighter with a newborn.

Then there’s the case of me not remembering some friends’ names whom I haven’t seen in 20 something years! I pulled my mom to the side and asked her why she didn’t tell me who was coming. She just smiled.

Before I finished the huddle with my mom, a lady came up to me and said, “Thalia! It’s been years …”

She smiled and reached out for a handshake.

I stared at her for a few long seconds before suddenly realizing who it was. It was one of my teachers—Ms. Ani. I remembered her name.

And with her name, I remembered everything:

• The firm walk she’d take across the classroom to write notes on the board.
• The little tough-love things she did with her faces to show us that she’s disappointed.
• And even what she said when I took too long working on a problem and made the whole class miss recess, “Kid, you may not mind the consequences of your own actions. But you need to always mind the impact of your actions on other people”.

I remember her legacy.

And it took me seconds to remember it, even after decades of not seeing her or even hearing about her.

We have a clear choice every day:

1. To do everything like we are part of a machine. OR
2. To run the machine so that it can leave behind something we’re proud of.

When you feel exhausted because you have to go through the grind and put yourself out there all the time, I talk about are some questions you can ask yourself to find your north star again and get out of a rut and start living in ways that you're proud to be remembered by.

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