On Documenting Life

I used to be terrible at documenting life.  I probably have a dozen journals in a shoebox somewhere under my childhood bed at my parents’ house.  The best books were ones I was required to keep for school.  The worst ones seemed to be the ones I only wrote in when I was confused or upset.

Have you ever found a successful way to document life?

Digital cameras started making it so much easier.  We’re more generous with snapping pictures and capturing memories.  Take this photo of my grandma and me for instance.

Since we posed for that picture when I was a college sophomore, the two of us and my dad have both been working like crazy to document life.  I interviewed my grandma on NPR’s StoryCorps when the organization was in town the day before we celebrated her 90th birthday a few years ago.  Members of StoryCorps drive around the United States in these little recording studio buses, inviting people to share their stories.  Over 50,000 people such as my grandma have shared life stories with family and friends like me.

I loved listening to her tell stories about my grandfather and her childhood.  Then we got our very own copy of the cd.  The original file is stored in the National Archives in Washington DC.  (cool, huh?!)  My grandma and I even practiced some interview questions over ice cream at her house the day before.

But the problem was my grandma couldn’t remember it all.

My dad asked my grandma to sit down and write the story of her college experience,which included her meeting my grandfather.  You can imagine she really struggled.

My dad turned to me and said, “Katie, please write about what college was like for you.  [That's when I had met my husband, too.]  One day, it would be so nice for future generations to read.”

I know he was wishing he could read more about his own parents.  That’s when I began changing, adapting, and growing in the approach I take to documenting life.

It’s amazing how much we grow through life, and it’s now so important to record those ideas.

Why?

Maybe nobody wants to dig into your story today.  They will.  Your kids and grandkids will wonder what your life was like.  My great-great-grandfather dictated his stories to my great-grandmother.  Talk about a fascinating collection to read today!

(This photo is of my great-great-grandparents!)

When people share their stories, they get this amazing sense of joy.  After all, that’s why so many love to blog today!  That’s also why so many older people love telling stories of the past.  We get this little piece of validation in life.

I promise.  One day, those ideas will be like gold to future generations.

But don’t wait to tell them.

Since that day my grandma and I participated in NPR’s StoryCorps, my dad, my grandma, and I have become hugely involved in documenting family history and family experiences.  My dad researches and tries to capture people as they were.  I work to capture people as they are today.  And my grandma works hard to remember.

So when I talk about journaling and introduce you to the products I am creating, you’ll know why I think documenting life is so important.  I’m frequently talking about decluttering and living with less on Making This Home.  Though when it comes to Your Story, a pile of journals or typed up pages under the bed or on your bookshelf are worth more than gold.

That’s why I create books with writing prompts instead of blank pages.  I want to help people bring out those stories and those passions for life.

Things in your life might seem boring or uninteresting to you today.  Perhaps that’s what my great-great-grandfather thought, too.  Writing these things down is an incredible way to clarify your ideas for yourself, too.  I’ve learned so much about myself and overcome so many fears (such as learning to fly an airplane!) through these writing prompt journals.

Preserve your story. That’s all I can say.  If you want to do it through some of the writing prompt journals in my shop, well I’d be more than touched to help with your story.