When to talk to groups about life story writing one of the things people say is that are not old enough to start. I guess they think this is a task for people who live to be 90 should start doing. I am really always in shock about that statement. I answer if we knew or had an appointment with death we could start a few months earlier to complete our stories but since we don’t we better start now.
My father died of a brain tumor right after he retired.He had a great life but more importantly, he had great stories. Those stories are now buried with him. He had no idea that he would get sick and die a few months later. Most of us don’t. If had had known that he was about to die he might have taken the time to write his memoir. He would have taken the time to document the family history with the genealogy chart that he proudly presented to my sister and me. But like the rest of us, he did not know so the stories are lost forever.
No matter what age you are you can start to write about what has happened in your up bringing and with your family. The stories that you write from your heart can start at any time and you do not need to be very old to write them down. You can journal and keep it up for decades. As long as you can still talk, which means that your are recording your story, for those who can not see any more, your story can be recorded for your love ones.
When we are young we don’t think that when we get old we may not be able to hear or see as well. Some adults will get Alzheimer’s and then they can not remember the stories. The young think life will continue the same way forever. Some young people are buried in cemeteries too.
So what age do I start my stories….what ever your age is now!
Everyone has a story to tell. Some may be better than others but with a good writer/story teller some part of everyone’s life is of interest to someone else. You have some great inspirational phrases. My husband keeps urging me to write a satirical memoir and I’m not inclined to do so but, maybe if I jot a few things down every day it might become something. I really never gave it much thought until now. Thanks.