Memoirs and More: A Guide for Seniors Looking to Create a Lasting Legacy

Children sitting on grandpa's lap with grand pushing the wheelchair

There are probably stories about family, traditions, events, vacations and life lessons that you have shared throughout your life. Your stories have become part of your family traditions, and sharing them with your children and grandchildren helps build connections. Today’s technology allows you to share your stories with future generations in new, engaging ways. If you are considering leaving behind a legacy by writing a memoir, here are some suggestions to consider.

Questions to Help You Get Started

When writing a memoir, it is important to start with some questions. This will allow you to choose the right format and help decide which stories to share.

What do you want to pass along?

Are there stories about specific life moments?
Do you want your children and grandchildren to know who their second cousins are?
Do you have a family story about immigration you want to tell?
Are there significant family milestones and landmarks like a family farm, first house or family-owned businesses?
Who are these stories intended for? Friends? Children? Grandchildren?

How do you want to share your stories?

Do you want to record a video or audio?
Do you want to collect and preserve old records or letters and have them read it themselves?
Do you want to create a scrapbook?
Do you have family photos you want to digitize and share?
Do you want to write a memoir?
Do you want to build a family genealogy site with historical information?

Making a Video or Audio Recording

In today’s era of short-format videos and podcasts, a suitable method to pass on your family stories to younger generations is by making a video or audio recording.

Getting Started

You can use a video camera, your phone or your computer. If you use a video camera or phone, ensure it allows transferring your video or audio files to a computer.

Use Story Prompts

Items such as old family photos and documents, jewelry, clothing, furniture or personal items –and details you can use in your story – will help create a picture. Consider recording a conversation between you and a friend or family member from your generation.

Organize Your Project

Label your recordings by topics, photo names, date of events or other categories. If you have photos, store a digital copy in the same folder on your computer as the matching audio or video files. Ensure the recording date is included. There are also free online transcription services; however, check for accuracy by listening to the recordings while reading along.

Writing a Memoir

If writing suits you, here are some memoir writing tips to help you tell a story that will engage any reader:

Memoir or Autobiography?

An autobiography is the story of your entire life, but a memoir might focus on a single story or relationship from your life. Sometimes a shorter format is less intimidating.

Who’s Your Audience?

Ensure you have a clear direction of what story you want to tell and its purpose. Some people write memoirs to pass on their wisdom or as a legacy piece for friends and family. Thinking about who will read your work may direct how you tell the story.

Find Your Focus

Choose specific experiences from your life that form a central theme. The narrower the focus, the more your memoir will resonate. Some questions to consider include:

What event set you on a journey?
What obstacles did you encounter?
Who helped you along the way?
What lessons were learned?
How were you changed?

Other Options for Your Legacy Project

If writing a book or recording a video isn’t what you think of when it comes to leaving behind a legacy, here are some other creative ideas:

Make a Family Tree

To anticipate your children and grandchildren’s family history questions, create a visual representation of your family tree and document what you know about each person.

Pass Down Family Recipes

Collect family recipes into a book. Include a photo of the dish, notes about the holidays or occasions when it was served, and the family member who made it.

Organize Family Photos

Label your pictures. This ensures they remain identifiable even if taken out of the album or frame.

Display Family Treasures

Keep objects and images visible to remind you of important events and moments. You can also create a memory box of special treasures. Use the items in the box when recounting family memories.

Build a Legacy for Generations

If you’re someone who speaks better with their hands, why not build or repair a piece of heirloom furniture that shows off your skills and abilities.

Make a Charitable Contribution

Philanthropic endeavors create a legacy that can touch hundreds of people for years to come. And it sets a great example for your family on the power of giving back. Or, if you want to provide a financial legacy for your family, Regency Oaks offers contract options that refund a portion of your entrance fee to you or your heirs.

Write Your Next Chapter at Regency Oaks

At Regency Oaks, we offer various ways to help you share your story. We provide everything from writing clubs to neighbors skilled in ancestry research. Utilize our arts and crafts studio to organize your photo albums or our state-of-the-art woodworking shop to create something they’ll treasure for years to come. Most importantly, you will make friends while leaving behind a legacy. To learn more about what we have to offer or to see our amenities for yourself, use our Community Assistant chat feature or contact us here.