At a certain point, it was easy to turn my back on a 20 plus year career that made me a good living. The challenge was to rediscover myself and figure out what I wanted to do next. What did I want to do with the rest of my life that would feel worthy and produce an income to support my family and allow for all the dreams we had. At 44 years, it felt like the halftime of my “working” life and I wanted to be thoughtful about how I was going to spend the next 20 plus years of my life.  I’ve consumed all forms of media, including podcasts, e-books, audio books, actual books, magazines, newsletters, blogs, webinars, and social media for the purpose of determining my direction and next steps.

This made me think HARD about legacy. I’m proud of my parents for moving to the US from Colombia to start a life and raise two boys in a land of opportunity (I’m patriotic, but I’m convinced now that ANY land is a land of opportunity). Their legacy will be the future generations created by their union that achieve success because of the circumstances created by their decision to move to a foreign land away from their family. I want my children to benefit and succeed because of the decisions I’ve made and the opportunities I may be able to create. I want to leave this earth with the knowledge that I’ve left my world better than I found it (a personal mantra that has become our family’s mantra) and my plans for the next phase will prioritize this mantra.

“What is a legacy? It’s planting a seed in a garden you never get to see.”

“Hamilton”, the musical

It’s a difficult time for the USA. At least it seems this way to me because of the choices we have for the next leader of our country. How is it possible to have such limited (and terrible) choices? What evolution of politics created such a lack of talent to properly lead our country? How did we, as a country, lose our way so badly that policy makers have simply become puppets and slaves to outright greed and corruption? How did we create a government that is dictated by corporate interests at the expense of the individual. I never thought of myself as a revolutionary, but maybe it’s time for a revolution. Where have all the good men and women gone? I personally know they are out there, but they have either taken a page from the Howard Roark playbook and have withdrawn or simply discounted the idea that public service, policy making and politics is possible for anyone with virtue and integrity. What a shame.

Today, I listened to Tony Robbins during a podcast interview with Lewis Howes. He mentioned the quote from Hamilton above and it made me think about the seeds I will plant in the garden I’ll never get to see. My time as an expat is soon coming to an end and I think about what I’ve done to leave the world I found here in Costa Rica better than I found it. I sincerely hope there is at least one who thinks I have. At the very least, I know that our family is better because of our experiences over the last year. I look forward to the next chapter the begins later this year, but I’m still mindful of each day I have, wherever I am, to leave it better than I found it.

FURTHER READING

19 “Hamilton” Quotes For The 2016 Presidential Candidates – The Odyssey

Excerpt:

“The lyrics of this show are igniting and inspiring beyond measure. Raw integrity and passion seem to be key ingredients lacking in the 2016 presidential candidates and I think its time we deserve to see it. Each candidate could learn a thing or two from the musical whose power comes from the drive of the Founding Fathers and their desire to sacrifice everything to build and run a nation. But since some members may never see the show (Donald Trump), here’s a neat little list of quotes the candidates can take to heart before opening their mouths in future debates (or, God forbid, run the country).”

1. “Talk less. Smile more.”

2. “If you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for?”

3. “I got a lot of brains, but no polish!”

4. “And when I meet Thomas Jefferson… I’ma compel him to include women in the sequel. Work!”

5. “I will lay down my life if it sets us free.”

6. “I may not live to see our glory but I will gladly join the fight.”

7. “Immigrants: we get the job done.”

Are you reading this, Mr. Trump?

8. “But we’ll never be truly free until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me.”

9. “Are we a nation of states? What’s the state of our nation?”

10. “Look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now.”

11. “You have no control: who lives, who dies, who tells your story?”

12. “Love doesn’t discriminate.”

13. “Death doesn’t discriminate.”

14. “Dying is easy, young man. Living is harder.”

15. “What is a legacy? It’s planting a seed in a garden you never get to see.”

16. “America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me, you let me make a difference. A place where even orphan immigrants can leave their fingerprints and rise up.”

Again, Mr. Trump.

17. “History has its eyes on you.”

18. “Winning was easy, young man. Governing is harder.”

19. “If I say goodbye, the nation learns how to move on. It outlives me when I’m gone.”

If the candidates of the 2016 presidential elections could be half as admirable as the original Founding Fathers of America then maybe our country stands a chance at making a comeback.