5 SIMPLE WAYS TO HONOR YOUR FAMILY HISTORY

A Labor of Love

"Aw, remember that one? Remember when we went camping, and it rained for ten days? I remember we had to sleep in the car!"

"Look how cute she was!" Followed immediately with, "Actually, how cute she still is."

Sigh. "I loved that dress you made for me, Mom. Do we still have it?"

Earlier this year, I scanned nearly one thousand photos as a gift for Mother's Day. It was a labor of love—a gift for my mom, my mother-in-law, and surprisingly, for myself.

We bought my parents a digital photo frame for Christmas. The 12" by 12" frame viewership surpasses the big screen TV viewership during many visits.

Stories of our family history have become the focus of our time and conversations together.

Even as a personal and family history professional, though, it is hard to find enough time to document my own family's history.

It's all about intention. As my former employer used to say, "What gets attended to gets done."

October is Family History Month. Let’s intentionally share our stories and preserve some of our history this month. Are you ready to accept the challenge?

Check out my suggestions for preserving your family history below.

Want to create a Life Story Heirloom™?
Check out the workshops offered in
my Life Story School today.

5 Steps to Start Preserving Your Family History

1 Scan and label 5 old photos. Who is in each photo? When was the photo taken? What event does the photo memorialize?

2 Write the names of 5 people in your family tree. When was each person's birth date, death date, and marriage date? Try to start with five people and see how far you can go!

3 Choose one of your most treasured possessions. Share the story of why you value the item. Who would you like to be the steward of the item when you no longer can care for the item?

4 Tell a story about an ancestor who has passed. Record it on your phone or write it on paper for your family.

5 Write 5 words that represent the way you want to be remembered. Tape the note to your bathroom mirror and read it each morning.

Bonus! Host or arrange a meal to honor and remember a loved one(s) who has passed away.

Disclaimer

This publication is based upon personal experience, research, and education. Although the author has made every reasonable attempt to achieve complete accuracy of the content in this article, the author and Sunday Dinner Stories assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, or inaccurate information. For privacy reasons, some names may have been changed or omitted. The content is not intended to replace common sense, legal, medical, or other professional advice; it is meant to encourage, inspire, educate, and inform the reader. That means you should consult with your attorney, doctors, and other professionals if you have any concern about implementing our advice. But we hope you'll consider us your memoir professionals and will consult us for all your storytelling needs!

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© 2021 Michelle Beckman, Sunday Dinner Stories, All rights reserved internationally.
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