Why Preserving Stories is Worthwhile

When we commit to writing about our lives or helping loved ones record their memories, we don’t have to wait decades into the future to reap the benefits. The advantages are immediate—deeper conversations with loved ones, greater understanding about where we come from, a changed perspective about what’s important in life, strengthened ties between generations, and profound feelings of gratitude.

Before you begin, you don’t have to know exactly what you’re going to do with the stories you gather, how you’re going to organize them, or how you’ll share them. The most important thing is just to start—and to start now.

How to Start Now

Try these tips to help you get started preserving your personal and family stories in simple but meaningful ways.

1. Just start somewhere. Begin with what’s inspiring you right now. There’s no rule that says you have to start at birth and record your life story chronologically.

2. Capture now, organize later.Write or record stories in the moment, or when the memory first arises. You can decide what to do with your captured stories later.

3. Establish a routine. Set aside 30 minutes every Sunday for personal journaling, or schedule a regular monthly interview with your grandparents. Just be consistent.

4. Use prompts to spark memories. Don’t know what to write about? Rely on insightful writing prompts and questions, like those found in the #52stories project.

5. Make it conversational. Skip the formalities. Whether you’re writing your story or interviewing someone else, encourage authentic voices to shine through. Be real.

Tip: Whether you’re gathering stories about yourself or a loved one, upload them as Memories to the person’s profile on FamilySearch.org, a permanent and free archive that aims to create the world’s largest genealogical database. You can even add audio files and pictures. For mobile access, try the FamilySearch Memories app and the FamilySearch Family Tree app.