I have discussed why it is important to tell your story and that now is the time to begin. As with any project, it is best to have a plan.

One of the first things I learned in journalism classes is that a story should contain the five W’s: Who, What, When, Where and Why. Hopefully you’ve been convinced of the Why, so let’s start with the Who.

Who do you envision as the audience for your family history or memoir project? Are you creating it for your children or grandchildren? Will it be a gift for a parent, grandparent or other relative? Do you have stories you want to share with friends? Perhaps you believe the story would interest a broad audience and have hopes to publish and market it. Or is your focus narrower and you want to reflect upon your own life?

Once you have decided on the audience, think about What you could create that would be most engaging and accessible for your audience. For my mother, I began with a slideshow which included photos from her life and audio from her children, sharing what she meant to us and how we were inspired by her. I saved it on a DVD since she was in her 80’s and did not use a computer, cell phone or other electronic device. She loved it, as did the family.

I soon realized, however, that she didn’t know how to operate her DVD player and could only enjoy it when someone visited. I changed tactics and put together a memory book. It included photos with captions and text boxes which provided details beyond what the photos could convey. I used Shutterfly to design and print the book, although there are other publishing services. The book was a more meaningful gift for her because she could pick it up and browse through the memories when she was alone and feeling nostalgic. As her dementia worsened, the book also served as a tool to help her remember the special people, places and events of her life.

The What and When can be grouped together. Will your project cover a person or family chronologically, focusing on key events along the journey? Or do you want to focus on a particular time or event? Will you limit the project to childhood, a love story, parenting, a career, travel, a hobby, retirement or an event that changed your life? A theme could be used, such as overcoming adversity, people who influenced you, or lessons learned.

With a plan for what story you want to share, who you want to share it with, and the best way to present it, you will be ready to begin!

For more information about our services, visit our website or send an email to: yourstoryproductions@gmail.com

www.yourstory-productions.com

The response has been the same since I started talking to people about my passion for helping people tell their life stories. I am met with genuine interest. “I really should do that, when I have some time to pull out those boxes of old photos,” many people say. Or “I’m going to talk to my mom about that. We would love to hear more about her experiences growing up, and about her parents and grandparents.” Then they go on with their busy lives and store that thought deep in their internal “to do list”.

Then I meet the people who sigh and say, ” I wish I had taken the time to let my grandmother tell me about her life. I have her photo albums, but I don’t even know who some of the people are or what they were doing. I lost the stories when she died.”

If only Grandma had some help with adding names and caption information in her albums. If only someone had taken the time to record her while she shared stories from her past and explained why she took the time to put particular photos in the album. If only you knew more about the important milestones in her life, the people and events who influenced her, and the things she learned in life that could help you and your children.

Our lives are busy, and we prioritize the “musts” over the “shoulds”. We procrastinate, and sometimes lose track of time until we realize that opportunities have been lost. If only you had someone who could help you with the “shoulds”. Someone who could guide you through small, manageable steps to accomplish, and motivate you, to tell and preserve your stories and those of your family.

My mission through this blog is to move your life story to the top of your “to do list”. I also resolve to move this blog to the top of mine, and to post more regularly with motivation and helpful tips.

Let’s start with May! Next Sunday is Mother’s Day. If you plan to see or talk with your mom, tell her that you are interested in hearing more about her life and the old family stories. Plant the seed. She may resist at first, but she may also be grateful for your interest.

If you no longer have a mother in your life, look through a few photos of her. Record a few thoughts about how the photos make you feel. Do you hear her voice? What is she trying to tell you?

If you are a mother, and the family gifts you with a little “me time”, spend a few minutes to be introspective. What do you want your children and their children to know about the things you value? How can you make sure that they will remember?

For more information about our services, visit our website or send an email to: yourstoryproductions@gmail.com

www.yourstory-productions.com

Reflecting on your life is a gift you give to yourself. You can relive moments of joy with the people you have loved. Some memories may be painful, but time creates appreciation for how you overcame those challenges. Disappointments and regret can be balanced with achievements and satisfaction. There is pride in tallying your successes and realizing the positive impact you have had on the lives of others. In looking back, you may also find new ways to move forward to enhance your story and how you will be remembered.

The next step is telling your story. Have you ever looked through old photos left by a lost family member and been frustrated because there was no narrative to go with them? As you look at a photo do you ask, “Who is this? What are they doing? Where are they? Why? What were they feeling?” Do you wonder about the history of your family, the traits that you or your children may have acquired, the background for your traditions and the meaning behind mementos? If you had an hour to talk with a deceased family member again, what are the important questions you would ask?

Many people of all ages are taking DNA tests and putting together family trees. We can find names, relationships, nationalities, photos, and even occupations for our ancestors. What Ancestry.com and similar services do not provide, however, are the personalities and values behind those names on the family tree.

Do you think your life isn’t all that memorable? Think again. Even the details of your day-to-day life will be fascinating to someone in the future, when so much will change. You don’t need to be a celebrity to have an interesting story.

Telling your story now, while you can, will be a gift to your children, grandchildren and future generations. Be warned that they may not fully appreciate it at first. Our interest in the past seems to grow stronger as we age. I recall some of the tales my grandparents shared when I was young but wish I had paid more attention. If only there had been a way to save them until I was ready! So don’t be disappointed if family members don’t share your current excitement and feel confident that the time will come when the story you create becomes a treasured heirloom.

For more information about our services, visit our website or send an email to: yourstoryproductions@gmail.com

https://www.yourstory-productions.com/