What Does Your Footprint Look Like?

If you have every been into hiking or camping you have probably heard the phrase “leaving your footprint” — and its generally not about what the sole of your boot or tennis shoe looks like. In that context it is usually in reference to what you leave behind when you have gone through a place. Leaving your footprint is not always considered to be a positive thing in the camping and hiking world. A common phrase might be “take only pictures, leave only footprints” but more modern ethics encourage leaving as few footprints as possible. Pack out what you bring in and avoid altering the landscape through your travel and stay.

But in other ways, leaving your footprint is considered a positive impact. It has to do with the legacy that you leave and the impression that you make on the world around you. In my lifetime I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone that made more of an impression on the world than the lady who passed from this life this past week. Dolly Parton was a one-of-a-kind. She was known for a lot of things—wigs, rhinestones, long finger nails, hit songs, among other things. In the latter years she has been known for so many good things. Her Imagination Library has given so many books to children not only in Tennessee but now all throughout the country.

Her demeanor, charm, and never-meet-a-stranger personality endeared her to people throughout the world — even if they had never met her. I’ve driven through 3 states since her passing and I’ve seen at least one billboard in every state saying goodbye to the icon. My guess is that every state in the south has at least one such billboard and maybe every state in the Union.

Much of that was because she seemed to genuinely be a good human being. She cared for people. She treated people with kindness. She refused to get drug into arguments about politics and religion. She encouraged people who were like her and people who weren’t. She was known for helping other stars to be successful. I heard stories from stars from all walks of life like Sylvester Stallone and Eminem that talked about how her words to them encouraged them and touched them in ways they didn’t expect.

Her footprint on this world was truly incredible. The lives she touched will never be known.

I’ll never have the footprint that Dolly made. You probably won’t either. Seriously not sure anyone else will either. But that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you will leave a footprint. The questions are, what kind will it be and how many people will it impact?

We all leave one. For some it isn’t much bigger than family and immediate friends. For others, it’s thousands of church members, work associates, or community connections. But truthfully, it doesn’t matter if 10 people know you, or if 100,000 people know you…make your mark…leave your footprint. But make sure it’s a good one. Be someone others can follow and imitate…someone that will take them to the positive side of eternity.

We are all leaving footprints. What will yours look like?