The Power of Family Storytelling
Creating a Family Legacy
Retirement is often the best opportunity you’ll have for transforming intangible thoughts into lasting, written words. Unfortunately, not all families tell their stories, and they miss out on a valuable opportunity. When you bring those stories to life, you give present and future generations a moment to immerse themselves in your family’s culture and become part of their history. This is what we mean by family legacy.
Have you thought about telling your story through a family legacy? This journey will help you learn more about yourself and your past. Once your exploration is complete, you might see yourself and your past in a new light. Your words will entertain and educate future generations, as they learn more about you and your family through personal storytelling. They’ll better understand where they came from, the struggles you and your family faced, and the triumphs.
Why Write a Family Legacy?
The memories you hold dear will one day disappear due to the relentless march of time. Once those memories fade, they’re lost to posterity. Don’t let that happen. Put them down on paper.
Concerned that you’re not a great writer? Authenticity, not flawless writing, will inspire future readers. Tell it in your own words and from the heart. Writing a family legacy reveals aspects of yourself that may surprise you. It will help you learn more about yourself and understand why you are who you are.
What to Include in Your Family Legacy
- Your family’s values, customs, rituals, and beliefs, and how they affected your life.
- Stories about your interaction with family members, including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Bring them to life! Weave a story about what it was like to spend holidays together as a family.
- Lessons you learned from growing up in your family and what different family members taught you about life.
- Special outings, vacations, and trips you took as a family. Add some humor by talking about amusing experiences. A family legacy shouldn’t always be serious; it should entertain too.
- What it was like growing up in your community. Talk about friends, neighbors, and the pets you had.
- Your favorite memory with another member of your family, such as your grandparents.
Ready to Write Your Own Family Story?
Writing a legacy is simpler with technology too. In the past, you might have written a legacy by hand or with a typewriter. Today, you can record your thoughts during free moments and store them on your computer until the project is complete. Depending on what stage of retirement you are in, you may have more or less time to devote, but getting started is the most important step.