Page 5 - CEEM Shopping Mag October 2019

Til We Find Our Place

By Charleco Scipio Jr.

If you had asked me ten years ago, "What do you want your legacy to be?" I probably would've
told you several things. I probably would have said how I wanted to be famous. Maybe change
the world. None of that is out of the realm of possibility, but the truth is until recently I didn't
understand that question. I thought legacy was something that solely had to do with me. It
dawned on me that I am as mortal as the next man. Anything that I do for the bene t of only
myself will live and die with me. I thought I knew what legacy looked like, and I didn't. I had for-
gotten lessons one of the greatest lms has ever taught me.

This year we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of "The Lion King" with the live-action remake
directed by Jon Favreau. Being 25 myself, I grew up with this lm. Not only does this lm leave a
legacy for all those who love it, but it also teaches us what legacy truly is.

Legacy is your Footprint

I think of legacy as footprints. You take one step and leave an imprint. Your successor(s) will choose
the next one, and they will leave theirs. This aspect of legacy was shown to us in the simplest of
forms back in 1994. The most symbolic scene from "The Lion King" is Young Simba stepping into
his father's large paw print as he is asked to come by his side. As we know, he goes on to be
chastised for getting himself and his friend into harm's way because he wanted to show that he
could be brave, just like his father. Mufasa was known for being brave and strong, and Simba
wished to live up to that. In a sense, that was Mufasa's legacy. We know that by the end of the lm,
Simba will go on to live up to his father's legacy and not only ll that paw print but leave his own.

The Path Unwinding

There's a reason I like to think of legacy in terms of footprints. When I hear the song "Circle of Life,"
the line that sticks with me is: "Till we nd our place on the path unwinding." I think to myself, 'My
place on this unwinding path is my footprint; my legacy." We won't be here forever, so there is a
place in history for each of us. Where we choose to leave that mark is up to us. Mufasa left his legacy
of bravery, strength, and compassion for his son and his pride. He knew his place on the path unwinding.
Even in the small scale, taking “The Lion King” as an example. The lm has touched the hearts of so
many, across multiple generations. It has gone to have a sequel and a sequel and a half, it has gone
on to spin o into a TV show. We have grown to love and cherish these characters who taught us to
remember who we are and to have love and compassion for all beings on this circle of life. The lm
taught us the importance of family and loved ones in our life. That is “The Lion King” legacy. Anything
that is done that touches someone's heart, mends a broken one, or inspires or impacts someone's life
contributes to the legacy that you will leave.

So, what will your legacy be?