Sometimes while out in nature, perhaps in the mountains going for a hike, we may see a sign that says “leave no trace” so we remember not to leave any trash, food or other litter behind. That’s very important for our safety, the safety of others, and to keep nature beautiful as we found it.
In our lives, we do leave a trace, often more than we realize. We create memories with people and with ourselves. We share joyful moments and leave a choice of memories behind of laughing, smiling, and having a good time. When someone is hurting you empathize and have compassion and leave a trace of warmth and goodness, often supporting them in ways we don’t even realize at the time. Little words that we say can leave a trace behind that can have an impact long after we are gone. We are creating our legacy day by day; decades before we die.
Taking time to look back at our lives and see who has left an impact that has brought us to where we are today can be good for our souls, hearts, and minds. Looking back, we may remember people that may not have even known how powerful they were in our lives, either through relationships or a short encounter. Taking time to remember can be helpful and strengthen us, even if we find unpleasant memories we can still learn and grow. We may even find it’s time to get a helping hand with some unpleasant, hurtful experiences in our lives that could be holding us back, creating walls within, and not allowing us to be fully present for a variety of reasons.
Today could be a good day to begin an inner exploration of our personal history. We may want to journal what we feel, see and think. We may find pain, unresolved issues, or we may find great joy. Beginning to look at our personal history often begins a journey that can bring us to new places and give us new opportunities to grow and find clarity, healing, and hope.
We may find it’s time to embrace the serenity prayer:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can, and
The wisdom to know the difference.
The power of that prayer, that way of life, the way of thinking expressed in that prayer, can make a huge difference in our lives. Keeping it where we can see it and be reminded can help us internalize those words and let them work for us. Doing this can help us as we are creating a legacy that will live far beyond ourselves. We are leaving a trace and we want it to be a good one.
Someday, there will be people who do this very exercise, and we will come to their mind and their heart. We will be the ones who are remembered. We really want to be careful to leave good memories. We want to be remembered in ways that will bring joy and strengthen people.
We won’t be perfect, we will surely make mistakes and stumble along the way, but this too will be part of a good memory because people who know us will remember that even when we failed, messed up, got lost, depressed or anxious, we still found a way to get up and keep going. We want people to remember the authenticity and vulnerability in our lives so that they too can feel strong and encouraged and able to keep going.
While out in nature we certainly want to “leave no trace,” but as we travel through life, we can realize that we are definitely are leaving a trace behind, and this is good. We get to make choices, we can find help when we need it, we can take our journey wherever we want it to go and leave a trace for others to use as guidepost in their own personal journey through life.
Accepting these truths and the realities of the lasting power in our lives can be a humbling thing. When we look back at the power that a teacher had in our lives, or a relative, or even a stranger, it’s so interesting.
Now, keep in mind that you may be that person one day or someone else.
We are likely that person now for someone who we may not even realize is watching us closely, using our life as a lamp post to guide them out of darkness, perhaps give them some hope. No one is an island. We each impact others purposefully, accidentally, consciously, and unconsciously. We each matter a great deal in this life, perhaps more than we even realize.
Taking the time to look back at our own lives and the people who have impacted us can help us become more aware of our own impact in the lives of others. This really is a small world. Our touch, through words and actions, makes a difference.
We often notice others and we are often noticed ourselves. Sometimes the greatest power we have is very silent. The little “normal” and “natural” things and ways of being. Like our choices, big and small, impact what we see and often beyond what we see. When we think about this it can be very humbling. We are more powerful than we realize. We can begin to see what a beautiful world we live in and how many wonderful people are right near us as we become more alert and aware.
We can change our perspective of life as we see how many little things and experiences help us met our needs. In leaving no trace we can see how we are interconnected. How we are meeting the needs for power, love and belonging, possibly even staying alive. As we learn to identify our needs in our daily lives, we can be grateful at all we are doing that is right and helpful. Nothing to take for granted. What a delightful way to live our lives.
Yes, it is impossible for us to “leave no trace” in our everyday lives. As we learn, grow, be and become, meeting our needs, and helping others too we will increase our strength, joy and peace. Enjoying the journey and being aware of what we’re leaving behind is very important.
We are leaving a trace, let’s make it a helpful one. A trace we can look back and smile at too.
With eyes and heart wide open….Let’s go for it!
Please note:
All of our blogs are intended for educational purposes only. These are not intended as “advice” or any form of therapeutic intervention. Please contact your doctor, school counselor, local mental health office or hospital for help with individual problems or concerns. You may also call 988 to speak with a person about self-harm thoughts.
