For those who enjoy live theatre, like myself, the past year has been far from ideal. The theatre community has spent the last eleven months searching for ways to get a small taste of the live theatre experience in a world where we can’t be physically together.
For me, this started with attending some virtual productions and exploring the cast recordings of several older shows. However, as time went on, I found myself coming back to the shows that have influenced my life over the years, specifically my favorite show, Hamilton.
Hamilton is a contemporary musical that tells the story of one of America’s forgotten founding fathers and first treasury secretary, Alexander Hamilton. For the past six years the cultural sensation has wowed audiences across the globe and has generated over one billion dollars in revenue.
While there are many motifs that consistently draw me back to the show, one of my favorites is the theme of legacy. From the beginning of Act I all the way to the end of Act II, Alexander Hamilton stops at nothing to establish and mold his legacy. Towards the end of the show, when Hamilton is staring death in the face, he delivers one of the most memorable lines of the show, “Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”
Although legacy was a motivator for Alexander Hamilton his whole life, he didn’t think about what that actually meant until the end of his life, like many of us. The show then comes to an end with a heart wrenching final number about how Alexander Hamilton’s wife, Eliza, carried on his story even after he died at a young age. With teary eyes, the curtain falls with the reminder that the seeds we plant are going to grow and produce fruit in a garden we never get to see.
Most people interpret this musical masterpiece as a reminder that we have no control over who tells our story when we are gone. While I agree that there is some truth to that, it is imperative that we take it one step further.
While you may not have any control over which of the seeds in your garden sprout into flowers, you do have control over which seeds you plant.
Whether we like it or not, we are all planting seeds in our garden every day. For some people it is the lessons and values they are instilling in their kids, for some it is the way they treat the people around them, and for others it is the financial foundation that they are leaving for future generations.
What is your garden going to look like one hundred years from now? What kind of seeds have you planted in the last year? Future generations will reap the harvest, but only you can decide what seeds are planted.
At PYA Waltman our values-based financial planning process helps us learn who you are as a person first so that we can understand your entire life picture and the legacy you want to leave. The trustworthy relationships that we create with clients allow us to walk alongside them as they plant seeds in their garden.
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant” – Robert Lewis Stevenson
The opinions expressed are those of PYAW’s Investment Team. The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Forward looking statements cannot be guaranteed.
PYA Waltman Capital, LLC (“PYAW”) is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about PYAW’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request. PYA-20-60
