Chapters

Long stories are told in chapters. Each chapter tells a part of the story but moves the story forward in its own way. A chapter can be a story by itself, complete with its own arc. But it ties to a greater whole, weaving together its arc with the fabric of an entire story. Much like books are divided into chapters, so too do we see this in the story of a life. Whether that life is of a business, a celebrity, a family member, or our own, we naturally tell these stories a chapter at a time. The early years, the main story, and the final chapters, all are part of how we view the world.

Unlike a book, the chapters of our lives are not aligned with the other stories being told. A new business’s first chapters are written by a person in the middle of their own story. A baby’s first chapter is celebrated by its parents, but also grandparents and great grandparents, who are reaching the closing parts of their own narrative. The story of each of us is aligned with our own tale but touches upon different chapters of all of those around us. Like the arc of a chapter in its book, our life is a thread woven into the fabric of our family and our society. And like a thread, not only does it have its own beginning and end, but it too tugs upon and influences those around it.

Those twists and pulls and tugs upon the fabric around us are the legacy we leave behind. We have the opportunity to use our story to build up and grow others’ stories. We have the opportunity to influence the greater whole for the greater good. We can tell a story greater than our own by how we treat others and how we teach others. A legacy is not a memory, it is a reflection. It is not what people will say about you later, but the impression you leave with them. It is not a list of accomplishments, but the changes you made to those around you. In those changes, in those impressions, in those reflections, others will still see you.

All things’ final chapter gets written, but it does not end. A book has a last page, with no more story. But the stories we’ve built throughout our lives, through our actions, and through those we influence continue on through others. We each have our own chapters, but we do not end.

My "Week in Review" newsletter will resume next week.