Life Story Lady

The Best Gift You Can Give - Your Stories!

Well, you knew I was going to say that, didn't you? But I truly believe that sharing your memoirs with your children, grandchildren, and all generations to follow, is one of the best gifts you can give. A volume of your stories will last far longer than a tie, a sweater, or a doodad that needs to be dusted.

It will be treasured, handed down, read and reread. You will be remembered. When your great-grandchildren come across a picture of you, they won't say "Who's that lady?" They'll say "That's my great-grandma - the lady in the book!"

And yes - you can still get this done before Christmas or any upcoming holiday!

Start simple. Write out your top five life experiences - just one each day. Add a picture to go with each, or just pictures of you at different stages of your life. Make a simple cover and have it bound at a copy shop. Or put them in a 3-ring binder, with a note that says "To be continued."

When you present the stories - whether it be Christmas, another holiday, a birthday, or a special anniversary - watch as the book is passed around and read with interest. You will be inspired and encouraged to add more to it!

To capture the stories of your parents, grandparents, or others you love, give them a copy of the book "Write Your Life Story in 28 Days", or better yet - give them a gift certificate to have the story written for them.

For a gift certificate, or other life-writing gift ideas, email me at deedees@lifestorylady.com

Whatever holiday you're celebrating this season, enjoy time with your family... and share the stories!

 

 

Your Life Story in Photographs

I've just spent the last seven weeks traveling; some business, mostly pleasure and visiting family. And I've got a couple hundred photos to show for it. Many will probably be deleted, but many are also treasures that I'll want to put in an album. In the past, I would do well to add a date, the event, and the names of the people in the photos. But now, I write a story, or at least a detailed description of the event or scene.

For instance, I'll describe how it felt to come around a curve on a hiking path in Ireland, only to see the bay and villages spread before me several miles off. We had been hiking in the rain, in soggy fields, cold and wet, but to see that beautiful scene open up before us, made it all worthwhile.

The hot Irish coffee in the pub on the way back to our B&B warmed our souls, as well as our bodies. To just write the date and place next to those photos would be such an injustice. But to tell the story of the day, the weather, the people, the effort involved, those are what will bring the photos to life.

You can do this with older photos too. Especially when you're having trouble thinking of topics to write about, just go through your photos, old or recent, and choose a few that bring back good memories. Then write a story about the time, place, people, event, and especially your reactions to it all. You'll be surprised at the memories that will come flooding back as you look through the photos of your life. And you'll enjoy writing those stories!