Leaving Your Legacy
Write a personal history: This may seem an impossible task but just think of what your grandchildren will have. Something to be treasured all of their life. Plus they will come to really know you and what is was like when you were young. You may think that as a Grand parent I have told them so many stories but they won't remember those stories unless you write them down. Just think, all of your stories and pictures can be handed down to future generations.
You may feel like your life isn't that interesting, but who knows what future posterity will learn from just reading about you. As a grandparent you could even recruit your grandchildren to assist you with this process. For instance, they could record you telling about yourself, or the stories that come to mind and then they can help you get them put on the computer. We have wonderful technology these days to help make it easier. But if you don't feel comfortable with this, have them write it down for you or you can do it yourself.
". . . what the next generation will value most is not what we owned, but the evidence of who we were and the tales of how we loved. In the end, it's the family stories that are worth the storage."
- Ellen Goodman, The Boston Globe
Start With Basic Info
First, just start by writing down the basic information about you. For instance, where you were born, what your house looked like, any siblings at the time, what your parents names were and what they were like. You could even take it a step further and write down what events were happening on the day you were born.
For example, was the country at war, what was happening around the world, who was popular in the music industry, just about anything that is of interest to you. This may take a little research but just think of how much you could learn in the process. The internet is a wonderful resource to help with this. Remember this is about you and what your interests are and how you feel about things.
Rewards
Writing a personal history can be rewarding to you and to your posterity, a study by Dr. James Pennebaker of the University of Texas showed many benefits of writing a personal history, lowering blood pressure was one of them.
Family is one of the most wonderful gifts of life. Yet being a grandparent is the best part of being in a family. Grandchildren love you unconditionally and I know that being a grandparent can be rewarding in so many ways. So, get up and go! Start today and leave your legacy behind!
Time Magazine featured personal histories in its November 11, 2002 issue. Wrote author Sarah Stich:
"It's a human need to want to leave something behind: experiences, values, feelings that may not have been fully expressed. But a concrete legacy is only one of the benefits of creating a personal history. Experts agree that reviewing and assessing one's life also has emotional and physical benefits."
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