It is such a great opportunity to be able to leave a cherished legacy behind and have your familyremembered always. It is important to share the fondest memories before they fade away, and toleave a wonderful account of your life to loved ones. By discussing one’s life story and answeringsome basic yet interesting questions, you can help loved ones understand you better and get a clearerpicture of the life that you lived.

Professional personal historian Dan Curtis believes that it is truly important for every person topreserve their memories. You may not even be able to appreciate at this time just how much one’schildren or other family members would value such information. A person’s life can be assembled intoa story with many chapters, and each person’s life in some ways will shape the lives of the onessurrounding them. Many people very much treasure the simple memories and stories that are passeddown by the older generations.They can play a large part in creating one’s identity and influencing theway that they live their life.

It can be very difficult to lose a loved one, especially if you do not feel like you have had a chance toreally get to know that person on a deeper level. Perhaps you didn’t get to spend much time togetherand discuss their life story. No one would want to leave friends and family behind without capturingmemories that they can cherish for many generations.

Everyone who is living has the opportunity to get those stories down and have them recorded.Anything from basic genealogical information like names and locations of loved ones to more intimatestories ranging from serious, to sad, to humorous can be written down and saved for one’s children,grandchildren, and beyond. Each person alive is living out a unique existence in many ways and onlythey can tell their story best.

When you choose to record these memories and stories, you can use your real voice and that can berelayed through the written word. Putting down captions to photographs and sharing the details abouta specific situation or event can go a really long way to encouraging family and keeping traditions alive. So many people never do have the chance to know things about the relatives who came beforethem and laid the framework for their family.

Not only could the information shared be entertaining, interesting, and insightful, it can also besomething that loved ones can learn from. In some ways, you can paint the picture of yourself that youwant others to see. Your legacy can be preserved.

By researching the “how-to’s” or working with someone who has experience in the area ofinterviewing, documenting, and preserving, you will be able to have a book or a video that capturesthe essence of who you are. This includes personal beliefs, hopes and dreams, and the lessons thatyou have learned are there to be shared. Having your family remembered always presents somethingwonderful to do not only for others, but also for yourself. And this makes a wonderful and meaningfulgift for generations to come…

Check out some of these websites for wonderful information on preserving your family memories:

http://dancurtis.ca (Lots of wonderful information) http://dancurtis.ca/2011/01/26/the-50-best-life-story-questions 50 Best Life Story Questions

http://www.ahamoment.com/about It’s a moment of clarity, a defining moment where you gain real wisdom – wisdom you can use tochange your life.Whether big or small, funny or sad, they can be surprising and inspiring. Each one isunique, deeply personal, and we think, worth sharing. http://www.patmcnees.com/telling_your_story_29161.htm#bookmark18 Everyone has a story to tell but many of us need help telling it — or finding the time to record, collect,and edit the stories of other family members. Once we overcome shyness or modesty, however, wealmost all enjoy reminiscing. As the years advance, a “life review” is particularly rewarding, but at anyage it can be a great pleasure and an amazing source of insights. If you’re one of the youngermembers of your family, take my word for it: Get those stories now — before memories fade, andwhile people are still alive.