We often hear the phrase “leaving a legacy.” You can leave the legacy of an estate, of
money or even a building that has been named after you. But there is also another
important legacy – a legacy of stories. Sharing stories with your kids and your grandkids
is a wonderful gift you can give to the next generation.
And this is not only for seniors. Storytelling throughout your life is a wonderful way to
create a stronger connection with your family. Sharing life stories creates a memoir of
you and your past for future generations. And it creates a stronger emotional bond
because you discover things you never knew about your loved ones, and it helps you to
grow closer.
And…when you are asking your mom or an older relative to share their stories, what a
compliment that is – because you are telling them that you honor their life, and you value
them.
A perfect example is the wonderful memory I have of my late grandmother. When I
think of my grandmother, I think of the wonderful story she would tell us as she tucked
my sister and me into bed when we stayed overnight at her house as children. She told
us that when she was a little girl, she would walk in the woods and a squirrel would
jump into her pocket to be with her on her walk. She totally made this story up, but now
I keep a little stuffed squirrel by my bedside to remember and honor her. My connection
and fondness for that story illustrates what an emotional bond stories can create with
our loved ones.
There are numerous resources that can help you become a better storyteller. There are
quite a few websites that will guide you through telling your life story. Just three are
storyworth.com, getmemowrite.com, and mylifeinabook.com. Most of them email you
questions, you respond back via email to these questions. And some of them even turn
your answers into a hardcover book.
Or, if you need less guidance and structure, you can put together your own book with
cherished photos and favorite memories of your family. One website where you can do
this is shutterfly.com.
Another resource for generational storytelling is “Tell Me Your Life Story” books. These
books help guide you through a journey of answering questions about your childhood,
your relatives, your interests, everything about you. You write the answers by hand into
the spaces provided in the books. This is a little more economical than the website-
based products.
I hope this has planted the seed to start sharing the stories of your life. Your family will
be grateful you did!