Legends

The dictionary defines legend as “a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.” This is an adequate definition of the word, as far as it goes, and it will serve our purposes. There is—however—an other definition of legend, or at least an other use of the word. In the world of espionage, legend is the term used to refer to the false identity or biography assumed by a spy. Because this mask must resist any and all attempts to penetrate it, it must contain exquisitely crafted and supported details. It must be as real as it possibly can be.

I wanted to bring in both of these ideas, right from the beginning, because they each will serve to support my thesis: we all of us, every moment of every day, consciously and unconsciously create our own legends.

Take a moment and ask yourself if there is something “everyone” knows about you. Is it, to pick a random example, that you embody the color blue? I don’t just mean that you like it, I mean that you are it. You always have something blue on. You decorate in blue. You drive a blue car. You have blue hair and blue tattoos. Assuming, for a moment, that all of this is true, there are two ways that it becomes legend.

The first way is for your blueness to become so popularly and widely known that other people begin to tell stories about you. As repetition increases and spreads the tale it grows in stature, taking on a life of its own. Soon there will be new additions that bear only a slight relationship to reality. All of this, together, has moved from simple reality and into legend. This process aligns with the traditional definition of legend. It assumes a historical root, but from there has grown into something far bigger and more complex. Soon, like any good legend, elements will creep in that are larger than life. You’re writing a book about blue. Your love of blue stems from amorous childhood adventures with a babysitter who always wore blue. And so on.

The second way is quite similar to the first, but for one thing: what if it isn’t all true? (Note: I’m tired of talking about blue at this point, so we’re going to put it away and seek other examples.) What if, like the spy, you have set out to create your own legend for some reason? Perhaps you wish to be known for something. “Man, that Aaron sure does love whiskey.” Perhaps you want to misdirect attention away from your true self. “Aaron’s a really cynical and sarcastic person.” Perhaps for a combination of these reasons, perhaps for some other reason entirely. Like the spy’s legend there is probably a core of truth to yours. This helps you to own (or remember) it. Like the spy’s legend there must be enough truth to yours for you to reasonably sustain it. The spy may claim to be a birder in order to spend time observing naval docks, but her or she will need to know enough about birds not to be caught out. You may claim to be very sarcastic, but if you never demonstrate proficiency you will not be believed. From this point—if properly created and supported—your legend should become self-sustaining, just like a natural one.

You may have read this last paragraph, asking yourself how any of it is different than simply lying. In a way it may not be. I believe, though, that the difference is in the intent. Why you have set out to create your legend matters more than the simple idea of speaking truth or lie. Ultimately the “what” of your legend is of much less importance than the “why”, and all of this pays tribute to the greater question of who defines your legend. Whether your legend is one hundred percent genuine or one hundred percent created, the most important thing is this question: “does your legend serve you or do you serve it?” If the former—congratulations. If the latter, well, you have some work to do. Begin by asking yourself what your legend is (or legends are). If you are introspection-challenged locate an introvert and ask for their help. Their powers of observation will serve you well in this pursuit of understanding.

Your life and your legends are your own. Own them. Craft them. Determine the story you wish to tell through them. Like legends we are all stories in the process of being told. Who do you trust to tell your story better than you? Take control and be the legendary figure you wish to be.