Often when watching the news, I will hear commentators talking about "important" people and their legacy. These important people, like Presidents Clinton and Bush, apparently spend a lot of time worrying about their legacy and what people in the future will think about their presidency. Typically, when I hear these reports I more or less blow them off. I can't figure out why these people worry about such trivial stuff.

Last night I heard the word legacy used in a different context and it got me thinking. Specifically, I began to wonder what my legacy would be. Not really in the eyes of society, but in the eyes of my family. What would my kids think of me 5, 10, 15 years from now?

I believe I have raised my kids correctly, but I, like most people, am not perfect. What if I did or said something wrong to them as they were growing up? Would this come back to haunt me in the future? Would my grandkids one day be told that I wasn't a good person? What if they didn't want to hangout with me simply because I did or said something wrong to their parent when they were a child?

Now, this might not bother some people, but it definitely would drive me nuts. What I realized isthere's no way for me to make past mistakes go away, but I can be the best person possibleeveryday and shouldn't have anything to worry about in regards to my legacy. My kids are more than capable to get past the mistakes I may have made as a younger man, but only if I show them everydayjust what kind of person I am. I will continue to make mistakes, but as long as they understand I am being the best I can be, then they will continue to love me and maybe one day might even allow me to hangout with their kids.

As with most parents, this is very important to me.We all need to ensure we are doing the best we can when dealing with our families. We need them to see we love them and that although we periodically make mistakes, we are always working from a place where we are trying to do what we believe is best.

I now understand why "important" people worry about their legacy. I would say parents are the most "important" people in a child's life; therefore, we all need to worry about our legacy as well. My proudest achievement in life will be the day when I know my kids look back at their life and know they had a dad who loved them and always did the best he could.

What's your legacy?

To read my other thoughts, please visit my blog at: www.advice-smoke-and-mirrors.blogspot.com