Mini #5 Melinda Glass

There’s an inherent desire in all living things on earth to reproduce. Passing along your genes ensures the “circle of life” will continue and your species won’t die out. I believe humans also have the desire to pass along a “legacy” by reproducing, but being the mentally advanced creatures that we are, we find other ways to leave legacies, and other motives for doing so.

While having children may be the most popular way to leave a legacy, there are many other ways to be remembered after you pass away. Some people leave a financial legacy for their family, others decide to use their popularity or fame to be remembered by their loved ones. Anything from one’s reputation as the best basketball player to ever play at their high school, to one’s achievements in the field of brain surgery can satisfy the desire to leave a legacy.

But why do we feel the need to leave a legacy in the first place? The biggest factor that contributes to the desire to leave a legacy is fear of death. The ability to pass along you genes, or create a name for yourself ensures there will still be a part of you who exists even after you’re gone. When faced with the idea of no longer existing on the earth, many people become terrified. Despite religious beliefs, there is no one who knows with 100 percent certainty what happens to you after you pass away. It is because of this uncertainty that people feel the need to leave a legacy behind.

With the exception narcissists, who want to leave legacies because the world needs to know how WONDERFUL they are, I think the desire to be remembered is normal. No one wants to be forgotten, especially if it turns out there is no life after death.