Take a minute and look into the future with me. What would it feel like for you and your family to have a lot of your memories and stories collected, available for reading, and discovering something very precious about your family for maybe the first time? Whether those memories are written down or recorded some other way, they will forever be a part of your family’s legacy. What’s holding you back from getting started?

I’ve discovered that there are 3 pretty common reasons why someone just can’t seem to get started collecting their family’s stories. See if you see yourself in these.

No. 1: It feels like nobody in your family cares to hear your stories

If you are over the age of 40, then you have probably experienced the annoying eye roll of a child (especially the ones that are adults) when you excitedly say “Oh, that reminds me of the time….” and then unwrap what you believe to be a delightful story of something from your past. Right? Of course, it matters not that you have patiently listened to every last story that they have shared about the funniest TikTok they have ever seen, a movie they know you wouldn’t want to watch but still tell you the entire, intricate plot, and on and on.

But I digress from the main point here. The reason for collecting your family stories isn’t to please your appreciative family. It’s more simple than that. Collecting and recording family stories serves two important purposes. For now, it gives you an important outlet for reflecting, celebrating, laughing and even grieving. Your stores ARE important.

The second purpose is that someday – yes, it really will happen – your family will be happy and grateful that you took the time to record your family history as you lived it and heard about it from your own parents.

No. 2: You’re convinced that you don’t write well

Does this describe you? You believe that you can’t possibly write well enough for someone else to read what you have written. You’re embarrassed. And, the last thing you want to do is to try to learn how to write well.

True story. I actually enjoyed high school for lots of reasons, but the one class that made me feel stupid was English. Why, you ask? Because I was totally intimidated by writing assignments. I never, ever felt competent to write anything. I knew the grammar rules pretty well, but it was the creative side of it that had me afraid of being laughed at if asked to read my assignment out loud. I tell you this because if you knew me in high school you probably didn’t know this about me. I actually graduated at the top of my class, so I guess I made A’s in those English classes. But I still was convinced that I was incompetent.

In the 1980s I had an opportunity to write feature articles for an antiques and collectibles newspaper in middle Georgia. Needing a second income for my young family, I jumped right into it and discovered that outside of the English classroom – writing was actually fun! When the motivation wasn’t to achieve and get a good grade, but instead to tell a story about something interesting, I found the secret to easy and enjoyable writing. Storytelling.

Here’s the best part for you! Writing your family stories only requires that you tell the story. And, it’s your story after all, so nobody has the right to judge your writing style, expect perfect grammar, or make you read it out loud in front of giggly teenagers.

No. 3: You can’t find the time to write

The truth is that almost everybody believes they don’t have time to steal some personal time for themselves and gather their memories. You probably feel the same way. But I believe the value of collecting your family stories is worth investing the time and energy. When you consider the end result, it becomes easier to get started and begin the process.

Rose and Bird Studio is committed to making collecting your family stories as easy and painless as possible. We’re passionate about finding easy ways for you to get started with what can be a very rewarding process of bringing together family stories – from your parents and grandparents as well as from your own life’s experiences.

Important: Some people, myself included, have had traumas in life. If you need help with those difficult memories, don’t hesitate to reach out to a licensed professional counselor through your church or a therapy practice in your community. You can find someone at this link.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” – Mother Teresa