James Van Der Beek and the Art of Creating a Legacy
A few weeks back, James Van Der Beek died. He played a lot of roles over the last thirty years, but he was obviously most famous for his role as Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek.
This morning, I was listening to his co-star, Joshua Jackson talk about him. I noticed something interesting. When most celebrities die, people discuss their legacy in terms of their business portfolio. Such and such was amazing in this role or that. She produced eight Grammy-winning records. His comedy act sold out arenas around the globe. That sort of thing.
The memorials for James Van Der Beek were different.
I’ve heard a lot of people talk about him over the last several weeks. Like Joshua Jackson, they all have one thing in common.
They talk about what a good man he was.
For most people, our legacy matters quite a lot to us. Knowing that we will all eventually die, we seek immortality in one fashion or another. We wonder what we will leave behind.
For some people, that means working their life away, all so one day it will say “CEO of something or other” on their obituary. Or whatever it is you’re reaching for. And look, that matters to a degree. We need money to survive and hopefully thrive.
But in the end, what do you want people to say about you when you’re gone?
James Van Der Beek was very famous. For a generation of us, he was infamous. But in the blink of an eye, he and his work will be forgotten. That’s the joke. Fame on any level is largely fleeting. Whatever accolades you receive in life, end with that life.
But being a better son, brother, friend, father, husband… the good you put out into the world and into your loved ones… the lives you touch… that carries on, even when the memory of you fades.
I have ambitions. Things I want to achieve before my race is run. But when I do go… when I’m laying in a pine box, it won’t matter if you liked my images on Instagram.
And I hope people remember me as a good man.
#jamesvanderbeek #dawsonscreek #fame #career #legacy #life #death #obituary
