Articles About Writing and
Preserving Your Life Story

Discover more ways to preserve memories, share stories and pass on family history

Journal Writing Reflection
All productive writers tell us that regular writing sessions are essential. I best practice this by writing in my journal. If you are working on a memoir, keeping a journal allows you to read about your thoughts, emotions and life happenings from various times in your life.

Your Legacy of Love
Our mortality is a fact. Preparing for it is a good idea. Not dwelling on it, but preparing for it. How will you prepare your legacy of love?

Personal History Passion
Your past, including the history of your parents, grandparents and the rest of the “family tree” is a rich source waiting to be discovered. If you don’t already know the stories that make up your family history you are missing out on a vital part of your story.

Writing My Life Story
A growing number of people have decided to write a life story, autobiography, memoir or personal history. And more are thinking about it. But writing my life story was not a decision I arrived at overnight. Tips on writing your autobiography or memoir.

Prepare Your Story 
When you make a decision to preserve a story or personal history you begin a journey. Like all journeys there is some necessary preparation. Let me offer a few basic life story preparation steps.

Heart of Your Story  
When you make the decision to tell your life story you are faced with a big task, because ultimately you need to get to the heart of your story. Here’s what I recommend first. Get to know yourself. I mean, find out who you really are.

The Right Questions
Consider the right questions. Personal history is indeed a process. As the information is uncovered that makes up your story you will be constantly reflecting on it. Who am I? Where am I from? What matters most?

Your Memoir and the Larger World
History takes place every day. Significant events in our lives are happening. Considering them in the context of historical events adds depth to our stories. It gives others an opportunity to relate their lives, experiences and feelings through the perspective you offer in your memoir.

Ray Bradbury Vision on Creativity
Ray Bradbury, whether you know it or not, you are part of my story and I thank you for your gift which you've shared with so many others. Your imagination was fired and you helped us climb into your worlds with the memories you shared

Ten Good Life Story Interview Starters
Getting people to talk about their lives requires consideration, tact and some good questions. Having some good starter questions can help you get the “gold” of a good life story.

Under the Hood
What do you want out of life? How have the years and experiences shaped you? Have you started writing any of it down? Get "under the hood" of your life experiences. A good personal historian can be like an excellent mechanic.

Alzheimer's and Personal History
Doing life review and preserving your personal history can be beneficial on many levels, including your health. But many mistakenly believe that those with dementia or early stage Alzheimer’s are incapable of contributing to the preservation of their life story. For those afflicted the process of life reminiscing does become more challenging. There is, however, help to preserve personal history for those suffering from early Alzheimer’s and dementia.

May Is Personal History Awareness Month 
The month of May is set aside by personal historians as the month to generate awareness about the importance of personal history. The Association of Personal Historians (APH) officially recognizes this month and encourages people to do something to preserve their personal and/or family history.

Seeing Life through the Eyes of a Baseball Fan 
Having a passion for something – art, music or baseball – can be a good thing. My love of the great American pastime has never waned. I often think about life events as they are framed by summer and baseball. It’s a lens through which I see life and I’m often comforted by contemplating life while watching a game.

Christmas Memories - Past, Present and Future
We all have Christmas memories. As a youngster one of my first recollections of tinsel, lights and presents was in Florida. If we treasure those memories and record them to share with others on the Christmases yet to come we will discover that the Christmas past, present and future all exist together. 

Blink and You Might Miss Something
“Don’t Blink”, a song sung by country music superstar Kenny Chesney, tells the story of a man who has just turned 102 and is interviewed about the secret to life.  There's a valuable lesson in this song.

The Journey of Journaling
The importance of keeping a journal for personal and spiritual growth. Journaling is truly a great tool. In our journey through life we need to spend time reflecting on our days and considering the implications of the events in our lives.

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Your Life Changing Event
Something has happened in your life that is shaping everything you are and do. It could be marriage, birth of your child, death of a loved one, a career change or an epiphany brought on by unusual circumstances.

Opening Death's Door
When a close family member or friend dies we grieve, but we also honor their memory. This is about being with my mother when she passed away.

Your Family Newsletter
Each of our lives plays out in moments worth remembering. A family newsletter can be just the thing to document those days and sharing it with your family can be a treat. Included are links to some online resources.

Striking a Chord for Memory: An Article on How Songs Help You Write Your Life Story
You have experienced this many times in your life. A song comes on the radio or stereo and you are instantly transported back in time. For some people the memories resurrected from a well-loved song are so powerful that your senses participate.

Memories for the Merry Month of May
May is springtime and when nature is showing her colors and plants are coming back to life it's a great time to be outdoors and to enjoy life. It's also a grand time to start new projects (there's a reason "spring cleaning" is a popular expression), so why not celebrate your desire to preserve personal history?

Ethical Wills - Why You Should Have One
The things that are most important to us in our life journey shape and influence us everyday. The need to be in touch with these values and communicate them to others has spawned a growing trend of writing Ethical Wills.

The Gift of Surprises
Surprises can come in many new and unexpected ways. The very nature of a surprise can result in sudden realizations that things are not always the way they seem. The good news is that surprises, either pleasant or otherwise, are necessary for our continued growth.

Leader Values
The values leaders demonstrate - courage, decisiveness and humility among them - contribute greatly to a families' legacy.

The Power of Lists
Just about everyone makes lists. Lists can be great building blocks for crafting your life story.

Let Us Play
There is time for work and play and finding the right balance is key to having a fulfilling life. You must make time for play.

The Finish Line 
Running a marathon is also a lot like life. You don’t sprint through life; you are in it for the long run and the goal at the finish line is to have lived well.

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