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Where were you last week when you got the news about Michael Jackson?
I was on the phone talking with a friend who suddenly said, 'the news is flashing something on the screen about Michael Jackson." We never forget where we were when we first heard shocking news. Like 911 or JFK.
Someone's death wakes us in ways that we can't soon forget.
Michael Jackson's legacy
Michael Jackson will long be remembered as the king of pop, an unbelievable singer, dancer and performer and an unusual personality, to say the least. That's his legacy, for better or worse.
I choose to dwell on the memory of his music and the awesome dance steps he left behind. I am glad I will be able to continue to enjoy them even now. I really wish I'd had the chance to see him perform live when he was at his peak.
What's It Got to Do With the Midlife Transition?
So, what does this have to do with baby boomers and the Midlife Transition? What's it got to do with You? Well, everything. I believe it is times like this that cause us all to consider what legacy we want to leave behind. It's what Midlife is about at its best. I know that it is a question I continually ask myself.
I am just past midlife by a bit, and I still have a long list of personal and professional accomplishments that I am tending to. Michael's story reminds me that the legacy we leave is a combination of both what we do and how we live our lives- both clearly midlife questions.
What will you leave behind?
Are you thinking seriously about the legacy you will leave? Are you clear about what you need to do and who you need to be to make that a reality?
Daring to Be Bold
As a musician, Michael Jackson was surprisingly deliberate and proactive.I learned the other day that while he was a member of the Jackson 5 he told several close friends that he wanted to break out on his own and become the biggest entertainer of all time.
Some might call that ego. But I prefer to think of it as simply an honest assessment of the gifts he'd been given and a compelling vision for his life and what he might be able to do with those gifts.
So he chose at that time to anger his brothers and leave the Jackson 5. He began working with Quincy Jones. And of course the result was "Thriller," the biggest-selling album of all time!
As a singer, dancer, and songwriter, Jackson gave us all an incredible gift worthy of the endless replays that have been taking place on television and radio.
But here's the question: What if he had never decided to pursue his dream? What if he had never left the his brothers and the safety of that group?
What if he had listened to his family, friends, and even all the well-intentioned logical voices that said, "Don't be so risky. Don't be so selfish. Who are you to think you can be phenomenally successful on your own?"
What kind of legacy would he have left then?
We'd probably barely remember him.
What About YOU?
More importantly, what kind of legacy will you leave and what actions do you need to make your dreams come true? Oliver Wendall Holmes said, "Most people go to their graves with their music still inside them."
What is the thing you know deep down you are being called to do?
Whatever it is, get started today.
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