Don't You Forget About Me (a creative Lexi post)

Well, Readers,

As you know, I have a little brother who isn't very little (he towers over me!). His heart is big, and he's extremely intelligent. And one day, I guess he was thinking about what happens when he loses me in the future. So he has a notebook full of notes from my Philosophy in Literature class, Spanish class, etc. that he found and decided to keep. Why would he do so?

He wanted to remember my handwriting.

Yep. Simple, but so moving. I'm the same way when it comes to cards and such. I love my grandparents' handwriting; it's gorgeous! So I do understand. However, that notebook of mine talks a lot about depression and such as we focused on "tragedy" the entire effing semester, and I don't want him reading that to remember me. I mean, one philosopher came to the conclusion that I want to leave behind something better.

So I did what I'm a huge fan of; I'm writing him a quote book. It's already full of funny, inspiring, wise, stupid, etc. quotes, and I'm only about a third of the way through. My mom (the only other person who knows besides Ash, and now y'all) suggested to give him it for Christmas, but I believe that it needs to be for no reason at all. I think that when I'm finished with it, I'll wrap it and leave it for him with a note on how I want him to remember me, and how I'm going to forever see and remember him. (I've also been working on another for my future child for a year now, and have made two or three for myself before.)

Heavenly looking, huh? (Not my pic. Just perfect for this post.)

This is a good gift for anybody. I recommend that not only you leave precious memories, photos, stories, and letters behind for your siblings, but also to leave something that's tailored for them, something that takes time. Even just filling on lined page in a journal full of quotes or a letter or whatever and then letting them fill in the rest, it'll stay special for them. This is just as important as being an example they should look up to, as well as their best friend and protector.

Remember that your siblings are the only link you will have to your parents and childhood in the future. They will be the ones who understand and love you forever.

If your sibling is horrible to you or chose to no longer be part of your family, or you're an only child, please remember that your best friends can be your siblings. Even pets can be. Love is what unites a family, not blood. Ashley is my sister: my soul mate (I believe that BFFs are your true soul mates), soul sister, and best friend who will also be my link to my past. (My dogs will always spark memories as well, even if not verbally.)

Ask your favorite authority figures/adults to write you letters for a gift, while including a copy of their favorite book (new or used), plus a note inside on why it's their favorite, and they'll be the most meaningful gifts ever.

Christmas is coming up, so think about that as gifts for family and friends, as well.

Just remember that every choice you make leaves a legacy behind you as you go about in life. Leave the world with a life fully lived, love bursting through your heart, and a great legacy left behind you. You're important to others, whether you believe it or not. So be the person you'd wish you had, learn from others' mistakes, and just try to leave behind a legacy that you are proud of.

And remember, it's as simple as writing "I love you" on a napkin.

Be your beautiful selves, you guys!!!

As you know, Ash and I love you all!!!


XOXO,
Lexi


Think about it: What legacy do you want to leave behind? How do you want to be remembered? Write your thoughts below!

Challenge: A Secret Book, Tragedy, and Leaving a Legacy (a Sunday post by Lexi)

Dear Readers,

Today, I'm writing in a secret book.

See, my little brother is 17, and he has such a sweet heart (but still acts a 17-year-old guy, of course, lol). We're extremely close; I was his "other parent" in a way. I still try to teach him by my walk in life, and he still comes in my room sometimes and watches TV at night with me. Or he'll not want to go to a place if I'm not. I do the same things, and even interpret for he and our mother when they are in a place in an argument where they're not getting eachother. (He speaks "Lexi," lol.)

One day a few months ago, my mom came to my room with this notebook that I had written in for my semester's classes, and she asked if I needed it. It was just a small turquoise notebook that held notes for my last semester in college, including Spanish IV and Philosophy of Literature. I glanced through it, and said no, I didn't, and asked why. My little brother wanted to keep it, she told me, so that when I'm gone, he can remember what my writing looked like. This was completely out of the blue, you guys. He does this. It seems that he'll be quiet and not say things unless he's thought them through. I don't know why he's already thinking about when I'm gone, but I knew in my heart that this was very important to him. So I told her that he can definitely keep it.

Then, I remembered: the focus of the philosophy course was "tragedy." Yeah, as a chica with depression and anxiety, I was not enthused when the professor told us that we were going to be studying it. What sucked worse is when I realized he meant the entire damn semester. I didn't want my little brother reading notes I had to take on lectures that included one philosopher's view that nobody is worth a thing and that the best thing we can do is to kill ourselves. That's not something I needed him to ever even glance at. I don't want him to know about these things, or think that any of the arguments for giving up on life were real.

In the end, I let him keep it. However, I began (yet another) quote book. I love writing these, and have been working on one for my future kids for a few years. (It's a big, huge book. Not my best idea, lol.) My mom found a notebook with a cover that says "Do small things with great love," and it's this perfectly sized, lined notebook. I'm going to fill the entire thing up with inspiring, funny, insightful, etc. quotes.

This is how I want him to remember me. I want him to see funny things, and wonder why I picked certain ones especially for him. Was it a joke? a silly thing? something that does or eventually will be applied in his life? I want him to remember me through these things. In the end, I'll write a letter in it for him, one that tells him the truths that I can never seem to verbalize, like: he's the reason I'm still alive; I love him as if he were my kid, and I'm scared I won't love my children as much as I love him; and that he is an astounding person, and I'll never turn my back on him, no matter what.

I want him to know these things before I'm gone. I want him to know that he's always been the most important person in my life, even before he was born. He is brilliant, and his own person, and ready to debate everybody on everything, etc. But he should know these things before I'm gone from this earth. And it's making me wonder what else I haven't said to people, things that they should know -- how much I love them, how much I care, how strong they are, how beautiful, etc. All those things we think but never say.

So here's the challenge...

Tell at least one person the truths that they should know, the things you think but never express in the correct way or context. Try your best. Do it through words, actions, letters, etc. Let the people who changed your life know that they did, and how they did it.

Try it out, and let us know how it goes in the comments or through our contact page.


Love,

Alexis