Writing
Your Story
Keeping track of your personal history is
something that a lot of people find intimidating. There are many roadblocks to getting it done:
“I don’t know what to write. I don’t have
time to do it right now. I don’t know
how to do it, and no one even cares if I do it or not” are some of the excuses
I have heard over and over. But I’m here
to tell you today that every single one of those roadblocks is very easy to
overcome!
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| You CAN write your story! |
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First
roadblock: “I don’t know what to write.”
Finding things to write about is intimidating. Do you record the main events of life or
little things? How much in detail do I
need to go? I have found that it really
takes a little bit of both the big stuff and the small stuff. I recommend starting big and then going
small—write a basic timeline of your life, record the dates of important
events, then start filling in with smaller events and every day things. There are also journaling prompts in books
and all over the internet (like the This is Me Challenge!).
Second
roadblock: “I don’t have time to do it right now.”
This is one excuse I hear a lot from people,
but really, it’s a matter of priorities.
Instead of watching TV, take a half an hour to record something from
your past or something that happened that day. (Or you can even do it while watching TV if
you are a good multi-tasker.) If you
don’t even have time to watch TV, you can still record just one little thing in
5 minutes if you commit to just doing it.
Often we think that we need to do some elaborate writing that will take
hours to edit and perfect. I personally
think that even making a small list on a sticky note and putting it in a
notebook with others like it is just as great of a way as writing a whole
diatribe! And don’t forget that you can
record your personal history along with your family! Get the whole family involved. Set aside time each week to all work on
it. Doing this together will not only
bring you closer to one another, but will create the time needed to accomplish
your goal!
Third
roadblock: “I don’t know how to do it.”
Like I already mentioned, I like to focus on
the fact that how you do it, is not as important as just doing it. Here is a list of many different ways I’ve
thought of to record your history.
-Use the
computer and a word processing program. You can make one file folder
(mine is labeled “Personal History”), and save each topic individually in your
folder, or you can make one long document with all your history. You can
add pictures when you want to as well using this method.
-Start
your own personal history blog (that you can make private or public, depending
on who you want to see it), and write your history. Blogs are great because you can not only
write, but you can post a video, add pictures or even scrapbook layouts.
-Make a
scrapbook layout (digital or traditional) about a specific topic about you.
-Write it
in a journal—an age-old solution, but still a good one! Plus, those who someday read it, will get to
see your handwriting and mistakes you made—making you more real!
-Take (or
find) pictures from your past that make you smile. Put them together in a photo album. You
can save one of the slots to hand write about the pictures on that page on a
4x6 piece of paper (acid free to keep from destroying the picture on the other
side of it), or you can make a 4x6 answer on your computer in a photo editing
program, and print it off with your other pictures!
-Make a
video. You can do this by either taking pictures and adding music to it
(like a slide show), or by using your video camera and record yourself talking about
you.
-Make an
audio file of you talking about your history. You could do it in the car
on the way to work, while getting ready for the day, in one of your favorite
locations, or while you're sitting in bed.
-Write a
poem about an aspect of your life. Some
people are very talented in this area!
-Make a
digital photo collage or album through an online site. Add to it regularly.
-Focus on
one topic and make a list of things about you concerning that topic.
-Create a
table in a word processing program.
Choose one topic and fill it in with what you did in the past, what you
are doing in the present, and what you hope to do in the future.
-Publish
a photo book through an online site, with old pictures and stories about them. This is great because you can make multiple
books in one easy click of a button!
-Draw
some things about you. For example you
can draw your favorite foods. (This would be especially fun for younger
children to do!)
-Do it
together as a family! Set aside a specific day every week to get
together. Think of a topic and everyone
can record about themselves in one of the ways above.
-Interview
your parents, grandparents, or other close family members or friends, and have
them tell you stories about them. This
would be so cool for you and your family to have when they pass away!
Fourth
roadblock: “No one even cares.”
This is so
untrue! Everyone has a story. EVERYONE!
Record what makes you, YOU! There
is only one you, and you are loved by so many people. You possess unique talents, habits, and
quirks that no one else has. You think
and feel differently. You say and do
things that no one else would do. Share
those things that make you unique!
It would be a tragedy to not leave anything
behind for your friends and family to remember the real you by. Help your family remember who you really are
now, and who you were in your younger years by recording your history before
it’s too late. With a little bit of
determination, time, and thought you can overcome those roadblocks and record
your story before you know it!
*Note: This was a
post I wrote as a contributor at the Mormon Woman blog a few months
ago. I forgot that I'd never shared it on here and thought that maybe
some of you would like to read it and share it with those you love who
need convincing to write their stories!*
