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October 29, 2024 Leave a Comment

Starting Small – Why “Micro” Family History Projects are Perfect for Beginners

Are you intrigued by your family’s history but daunted by the task of documenting it all? You’re not alone! Writing a full family history can seem overwhelming, but there’s no need to tackle it all at once. Instead, think small; consider capturing one person, one event, or one era at a time. Taking “micro” steps can be the key to unlocking your family’s story. By focusing on one manageable project at a time, your small stories can create a compelling, layered narrative over time.

I’ll give you an example based on my own experience. My initial goal was to write the story of my parent’s early life, their courtship and their marriage as a single project. Both of my parents have been deceased for more than 20 years, but I had a stack of letters, some photos, a few newspapers, and historic books on my hometown where my parents met, married, and raised their family. I didn’t want their story to go untold, and now we siblings were the older generation, the grownups, I felt it was our responsibility to do something about it.

With a burst of enthusiasm, I applied for my dad’s service record and paid the requisite fee. It arrived in due course. Although scanty, it proved to be invaluable when supplemented with additional research into the Royal Marines and the Second World War, the details of the ships that dad served on, and a few photographs.

I drafted a rough outline to guide my writing project, shared my intentions with my siblings who live on different continents, and immersed myself in the task. By the time I had written the first two chapters I realised:

a) The boundaries of my project were way too big if I was going to do their stories justice.

I needed to split the massive project into separate smaller projects to make it manageable for me as the writer, and engaging for the family as the readers.

b) Whilst I had a lot of information, I was missing vital data.

I would need to do additional research and reach out to extended family overseas to find out if they were privy to information that I was unaware of.

c) I had not factored in the emotional impact of my learning journey, not only on me but on my siblings, our children and our grandchildren.

Author Elizabeth St John said that writing a family history can be a profound emotional journey for the writer and this certainly was the case for me. Writing my dad’s story was a labour of love, and a treasure for our family.

With the benefit of hindsight, I have huge respect for anyone who takes the time to research and document their family story for perpetuity. These stories are not only valuable for our family, but these stories are also valuable to historians of the future.

If you feel ready to start capturing the essence of your family’s history, try tackling it one “micro bite” at a time. It works. If you need a hand, reach out. I’d be happy to help. Community workshops and one-on-one professional personal support tailored to your needs is available.

Angela Robertson is a writer, inspirational speaker, and workshop facilitator. Her non-fiction books are available in paperback, Kindle, and eBook formats from online bookstores. Amazon.com: Angela Robertson: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

October 19, 2024 Leave a Comment

Capture Your Life Story and Enhance Your Wellbeing

Working with individuals, groups and communities I encourage men and women to broaden their perspective on ageing, continually expand their horizons, take advantage of the opportunities around them, and channel their energy into activities that matter. Every day I get to meet and interview awesome people of all ages and stages, from wildly different backgrounds that have a wealth of experiences and perspectives on life. My fascination with people and their stories is one of the reasons why I write, and why I encourage and support others to capture their memories and family histories for themselves, their whanau, friends, and for future generations.

Documenting your life story needn’t be a solitary endeavour; it can be an opportunity to strengthen your social connections. In my popular series of Write Your Story Community Workshops, participants meet weekly in a supportive fun environment. As part of the learning experience, they are guided through every step of the writing journey, from concept to completion, and everyone is encouraged to share their stories. By sharing your experiences, you create bridges with others who may have similar stories to tell. In this way a ‘Write Your Story’ project becomes a catalyst for community engagement, fostering a sense of belonging and enhancing social wellbeing. I appreciate that some don’t want to attend workshops but still require support to get started and maintain momentum with their project in the comfort of their own home. In these circumstances I provide professional one-on-one support and encouragement tailored to meet the individual’s specific needs.

We all have a unique life story filled with lessons, triumphs, challenges, and growth. Capturing that story, through whatever means, goes beyond simply recalling and documenting your memories. The process can also foster a deeper connection to our sense of well-being. Reflecting on your personal journey has the power to improve your mental, emotional, social, and even physical health. I believe that the process of writing your life story taps into every dimension of well-being. We’ll explore four of these dimensions here.

Mental Well-being: Gaining Clarity and Insight

Writing about your life helps provide a sense of purpose and brings clarity to your thoughts and experiences. As you reflect on your past, you may begin to see patterns in your decisions, relationships, and habits. This type of reflection promotes self-awareness and encourages problem-solving, which often gives you a clearer understanding of who you are. For many, writing becomes a way to process difficult moments, making sense of complex emotions and life events. By organizing your memories and thoughts, you may find a greater sense of peace and mental clarity.

Emotional Well-being: Healing Through Expression

Putting your feelings into words can be incredibly therapeutic. Revisiting both joyful and painful experiences allows you to process unresolved emotions and even heal old wounds. Writing about these moments provides emotional release, helping you to work through feelings that may have been repressed or unspoken. This emotional catharsis can reduce anxiety and lead to emotional growth, resulting in greater resilience and balance.

Social Well-being: Strengthening Connections – this is a biggie

The process of documenting your life story can be a powerful tool for building deeper connections with others. Sharing your journey—whether in conversations with loved ones or with others within the Write Your Story community helps build and develop relationships and foster empathy and understanding. By opening up and sharing your experiences, you may inspire others to reflect on their own lives and experiences, creating a strong sense of community. Sharing your story can also strengthen family bonds, allowing future generations to understand their heritage and appreciate the experiences that shaped you.

Physical Well-being: Reducing Stress Through Creativity

Surprisingly, the process of writing your life story can even benefit your physical health. Engaging in creative activities like writing has been shown to lower stress levels and reduce cortisol, the hormone associated with stress. This mindful act of reflection helps you slow down and relax, promoting better sleep, reducing tension, and improving overall well-being. In short, writing can serve as a form of meditation, bringing calmness to both the mind and body.

In Summary

Capturing your life story is more than just preserving memories—it’s a journey into deeper self-awareness that touches every part of your well-being. Through reflection, healing, connection, and creative expression, writing your story can enhance your mental, emotional, social, and physical health. If you start documenting your journey today, and you’ll not only create a meaningful legacy but also nurture your holistic well-being.

Capturing your life story is a creative and rewarding project and you get to choose what’s included, and what will remain a mystery. The act of writing is like food for the soul. Your experiences, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned deserve to be celebrated, preserved, and shared. After all, these experiences and the people you met along the way helped shape you into the person you are today.

Life is short. Don’t let your stories go untold. Start today. If you need a hand reach out. With professional personalized support you’ll be amazed how quickly your story will take shape.

June 25, 2024 Leave a Comment

Capture Your Travel Stories – Preserve Your Globetrotting Experiences

Travel stories are like hidden treasures waiting to be shared. But sadly, the memories fade into oblivion if we don’t take the time to reflect on our adventures and document the untold stories. Yes, we may collate our photos, either digitally or in photograph albums, but without the narrative – the who, what, why, when, where and how, the stories and the feelings associated with them, are lost. Documenting your travel stories helps to preserve your unique experiences; the characters you met along the way, the joyful moments, the mishaps, the adventures, the tastes and smells, the scenery and the impact these had on you at the time. In essence, capturing these memories gives the writer a sense of fulfilment achievement that can be cherished for a lifetime.

There are four basic components to consider if you are keen to capture your travel stories.

The Planning Phase
The Reality of the Trip – the adventure
Reflection on the Trip – what you’ll document.
Tips on Structuring Your Travel Story

The Planning Phase

Most of us spend considerable time planning the details for our trips. This includes but is not limited to:

Who we’ll travel with
Where we’ll go and why
What we’ll do on route and when we get to our destination
When we’ll go on this trip and why
Transport options/choices
Accommodation
Budget
Luggage – what we’ll take with us and what we’ll bring back
Travel insurance

If travelling with others there are likely to be countless discussions to refine the details. What is the story behind your trip? Reflecting on the planning stage, what were your expectations once you’d made the arrangements?

The Reality of the Trip – the adventure

What took place? Refer to the memorabilia you would have collated along the way e.g., postcards, maps, tickets, photos etc. Chart your experience.

Reflection on the Trip – what you’ll document

Be selective when choosing what you’ll write about. Consider the plan versus the reality of the trip. Focus on the highlights, the enjoyable moments, the mishaps, and the unexpected. What was interesting, funny, frightening, surprising? Include geographical details, the customs the practices, and the historical background if relevant. Incorporate your personal insights – what you experienced, how you felt, lessons learned, and the impact your travel adventure and the characters you met along the way have had on you. Bring your story to life with colourful examples, dialogue, photos and other pertinent memorabilia.

Tips on Structuring Your Travel Story

Like structuring a speech, a story can be divided into three distinct parts.

The Introduction. This is where you set the scene providing a sense of time, place, situation, and where you determine the focus of your story.
The Body of Your Story (the content). This is where you share your adventures, your personal experiences. The reality of the trip based on your personal insights, reflections and reactions. Capture the essence of your unique experiences using examples and photos. Be sure to eliminate irrelevant and unnecessary information so the narrative is engaging and doesn’t read like a train timetable.
The Conclusion. Conclude with a summary of the highlights of trip, reflections on the lessons learned, and key takeaways – what you’d do the same or differently next time around.

Documenting your travel stories helps to preserve memories of your globetrotting experiences that can be cherished for a lifetime. The purposeful process provides an opportunity to recount the sights, sounds, and the adventures you encountered. It also creates a huge sense of perspective and personal achievement and enables you to share your travel experiences with family, friends and the wider community.

Life is short. Don’t let your travel experiences go untold.

May 22, 2024 Leave a Comment

Why Write Your Travel Story?

We’ve just experienced the trip of a lifetime. After a year of planning the details with family overseas, and only weeks before the departure date, my husband had a minor stroke. The incident happened out of the blue. It was a huge shock. In a moment our lives had changed. We began to take stock of our situation, reflect on our lifestyle, and reprioritise our goals. Luckily, my husband made a good recovery, and eventually we were given medical clearance to travel. When the departure date finally arrived, we set off on our 30,000 kilometre ambitious expedition to visit places we’d previously only dreamed about.

We’ve always found that travel opens the door to new experiences, cultures, and personal growth. As our family is spread across the globe, it’s not possible to spend time with them as often and for as long as we’d like. Wherever we go, each journey is unique, filled with moments of discovery, challenges, and joy. Like many, we take lots of photos, purchase maps, and collect memorabilia. We enjoy soaking up the historical context, traditions, experimenting with local cuisine, and have learned to roll with, and in retrospect, enjoy the unexpected and unplanned events that make the trip unique. But if these memories and mementoes are not organised into a coherent whole, are these boxed up souvenirs and the faded memories enough to savour the experience over time? No. I don’t believe this is the case.

Writing your travel story can be a rewarding way to preserve these memories. It’s an opportunity to recount the sights, sounds, adventures, and the emotions associated with them. It allows you to process your experiences, understand the impact of your journey, and recognize the lessons learned. This introspection can lead to greater self-awareness, and a deeper appreciation of your adventures, and the people who shared these experiences with you. This is especially so in our case. Given the shocking diagnosis, we are so grateful to have been able to make this trip.

Writing your travel story is a rewarding endeavour that allows you to relive your adventures and capture a snapshot of the world as you experienced it. It’s an opportunity to express yourself creatively, connect with a community, and leave a legacy for family and future generations. Don’t leave it until it is too late. Take the plunge and start writing your travel story today!

March 1, 2024 Leave a Comment

Celebrating Community and Creativity: A Recap of Our Book Launch Event

We all get the collywobbles when we put our creative work out there into the wider world. In the lead up to a book launch event, it’s common for authors to question one’s own ability. When the event actually takes place, it’s evident that our stories really do matter – they matter to us, and they matter to our whanau and friends. For many, the compilation of stories in Memories of the Royal Family A Kiwi Collection is even more special as it contributes to our community’s social heritage and illustrates the diversity within our population.

I was thrilled with the turn-out at the community book launch event as family members, friends, neighbours, councillors and staff from the Kāpiti Coast District Council, fellow writers, and book enthusiasts gathered to meet the contributors, connect with one another, and generally join in the fun over morning tea. The buzz in the room was a testament to the power of storytelling, and the strength of our community. It was clear that this collection of stories holds a special place in the hearts of many and generated lively discussion at the tables. It was inspiring to see the outpouring of support from the community, especially when our Mayor Janet Holborow led the impromptu rendition of ‘God Save the King’. It was a reminder than when we come together as a community we can achieve incredible things.

The journey from concept to publication of this book has been a labour of love. Seeing this collection of stories in the hands of the contributors, and other readers was a dream come true. It is a reminder that every story matters, and that our voices have the power to inspire, educate and unite us. A couple of people remarked that this publication, which includes intimate family photos and original newspaper cuttings lovingly preserved in scrapbooks by our community, was collector’s item!

Reflecting on the event I am filled with gratitude for everyone who played a part in making it a success and loved the way in which people got into the spirit of the celebration and dressed up for the occasion. So many people have been involved in addition to the contributors who shared their personal stories. Kāpiti Coast District Council, who administer the local Creative Communities Fund, awarded the grant that contributed to the cost of the design and print of the book for the people that feature in it. Numerous individuals shared their Royal Family memorabilia on the display table at the event for others to enjoy. Family and friends helped me to organise, cater and bring the celebratory event to life, and of course there were people who remained behind afterwards and helped to clean up. Whether it was spreading the word, lending a helping hand, or simply showing up with enthusiasm, the community support made all the difference 😊

Looking ahead, I’m excited to see where this Kiwi collection of stories takes us. Whether it’s sparking meaningful conversations, inspiring others to share their own stories, or fostering community connection and engagement, we know the impact will be far-reaching. Huge thanks go to everyone who have been part of this incredible journey. Ngā mihi nui.

In the coming weeks and months, we’re committed to creating opportunities for our community to engage with the book and with each other in meaningful ways. This will include author talks for libraries, book clubs, service clubs, and community events in various locations in New Zealand. We’ll also continue to offer the popular series of Write Your Story community workshops for men and women who are inspired to capture their own memories for their families and friends.

Copies of Memories of the Royal Family A Kiwi Collection are available from your favourite bookstores in paperback, kindle and e.book formats. Copies can also be purchased directly from the author and at in person events. For more information email Kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

February 20, 2024 Leave a Comment

Memories of the Royal Family – A Kiwi Collection

Step into a world where history meets heartwarming memories of the monarchy and the impact they had on our lives. Memories of the Royal Family – A Kiwi Collection, is a captivating treasure trove of stories, anecdotes and musings, as seen through the eyes and cherished memories of the Kiwi community. In addition to the stories, this book contains intimate family photos, memorabilia, and original newspaper cuttings lovingly preserved by the contributors. From the poignant to the humourous, these shared moments are a testament to the diversity within our population, and the enduring fascination, admiration, and affection for the Royal Family in Aotearoa. References to radio broadcasts, and original film footage used in New Zealand, provide a deep appreciation of the traditions and social norms of the era.

Memories of the Royal Family – A Kiwi Collection is a touching reminder that history is not just about the past – it’s a living breathing story that continues to shape our lives into the future. Copies are available from online bookstores in paperback, kindle and e.book formats.

The content of this book makes a significant contribution to our social history, and as such is regarded by some as a collector’s item. We gratefully acknowledge the contribution provided by the Kāpiti Coast District Council, who administer the Creative New Zealand Scheme that supports arts and cultural activities taking place within a local area. Sincere thanks are extended to everyone to helped to bring this project to fruition.

Ngā mihi nui, Angela Robertson.

December 28, 2023 1 Comment

Frank’s Way a Remarkable Life Story that Deserves to Shine.

It all started with a phone call.

“My brother-in-law Frank Hocken, now in his 80’s, has led an incredible life. He and my sister Lee are very successful entrepreneurs, and through their business interests have achieved so much together. They were instrumental in retaining and developing Twizel – the South Island town that was constructed as the base for the largest hydro project ever undertaken in New Zealand. Post the project, the temporary town was going to be discarded – demolished. It made no sense. Frank and Lee could see the potential. They took risks, garnered support, challenged the Council and eventually won the case to retain and develop the town. Since then, the town that was close to being destroyed, has been transformed whilst still retaining its charm. The population has grown and given its location, surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes, it’s a destination of choice for thousands of holiday makers year-round. You’ll have to go and see for yourself. Frank is an amazing storyteller and it’s so important their story is captured for family and friends”.

We met Frank and Lee Hocken a few weeks later. His sister-in-law was spot on when she said Frank was a great storyteller. Handing over a box of notes, some newspaper cuttings and a couple of books we chatted about his early life. Intrigued, we agreed to read the notes and consider the project. It soon became apparent that Frank and Lee’s story was astonishing. Frank was a force to be reckoned with in business, most notably, but not limited to property and community development. It was evident that Frank and Lee’s family, achievements, and business interests, were not restricted to Twizel. Their story, their legacy, would need to be preserved, documented, and read to be believed.

Franks Way – The Story of Frank and Lee Hocken, is an inspirational story of hard work, adversity, and determination. With our one-on-one support and guidance, we had the privilege of capturing this couple’s life journey from their humble origins in rural New Zealand. They met each other on the other side of the world and returned to New Zealand to start a new life together. Their story is full of interesting accounts of family life, business success and failures, and includes their role in the history of the retention of Twizel, the small hydro town that refused to die. While they have business interests all over New Zealand, Twizel has remained central to their family life and business for more than 30 years.

With a nudge from a sibling, Frank and Lee bravely took up the challenge and invested the time to preserve their living legacy.

Working at their own pace, and in their own way, they initially compiled their story for family, friends, and future generations. It’s an enduring finished product that they are proud to share with others. But clearly their documented story is bigger than that; Franks Way – The Story of Frank and Lee Hocken is a significant accomplishment.

Their story shows how they and their family have shaped our environment, and in so doing, they have made an enormous contribution to New Zealand’s social and cultural heritage.

Your story matters. It’s a gift to be treasured. Don’t let it go untold. We appreciate everyone’s story if different. For example, it could be a collection of memories, a career or business story, a family history, a travel adventure, or a spiritual journey. Whatever it is take the first step towards preserving your story for your loved ones. Documenting it doesn’t need to be a laborious solitary experience. One-on-one personalised, confidential support, tailored to your needs, is available every step of the way – from concept to completion. This includes project initiation, guidance on structure, writing structure, writing assistance, and final presentation including publishing options for those that are keen to take this step. Schedule your complimentary consultation today to get started on your legacy project.

Email me at Kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

Testimonials

“I am so very, very grateful for all the amazing work you have done – how you assisted me through the whole process to share my story, compile my chapters, and helped me to advertise and launch my book ‘The Ever-Widening Circles’. I am overwhelmed with praise. Thank you.” – Marg Schrader

“Angela was willing to help us put our stories together. I am very grateful for all her help over the months of meeting together, typing up my handwritten notes, inserting my photos, and compiling the chapters for printing.” – Andy Higham ‘My Thoughts…My Life’

Angela Robertson is a writer, inspirational speaker and workshop facilitator. Her own non-fiction books are available in paperback, Kindle and eBook formats from online bookstores. Amazon.com: Angela Robertson: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

December 16, 2023 Leave a Comment

The Spirit of Gratitude

With the festive season upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and the joyous memories that make this time so special. In the spirit of gratitude and sharing and creating lasting moments with the important people in your life, here are some heartwarming ideas to help you savour, capture, and cherish the happiness of times past. Writing has therapeutic benefits for your physical well-being. It’s not just an intellectual exercise; it’s a way to express and release emotions, reduce stress, and promote overall wellness. Give it a go and see for yourself.

If you are getting together with family and friends

Encourage everyone to jot down a few bullet points about their favourite moments from the past year. Then take turns reading and reminiscing about the shared joy.
Organise a festive photo scavenger hunt. Create a list of holiday-themed items or activities and capture them with your camera or on your phone.
Start a writing project. Collate the memories of shared joy, the snapshots you’ve taken, add some narrative. Transform this into a cherished album (or two) and share it with your loved ones.

If you can’t get together in person

You could host a virtual gathering with friends or family to share your favourite memories. Whether it’s a hilarious holiday mishap or a heartwarming moment, the joy of reminiscing together knows no bounds. If you document these memories afterwards, you could send everyone a copy in the mail.
Pen a heartfelt letter to a loved one, recalling shared moments and expressing gratitude. It’s a timeless gesture that will be treasured.
Start a new hobby. Compile a family/friends recipe book featuring the favourite dishes from past holiday gatherings. Include anecdotes about why each recipe is special. It’s a delightful way to preserve culinary traditions and memories. It’s also makes a great birthday or Christmas present for the future

Wellbeing matters. Express gratitude and savour, capture and cherish the happiness of times past, and notice the benefits. Let me know how you get on 😊

Dr Angela Robertson is an author, inspirational speaker, and facilitator with more than 40 years’ experience in adult and community development. She inspires and supports individuals of all ages to maximise their potential to enhance the quality of their lives, work, and relationships. Working with individuals, groups, and communities she encourages people to broaden their perspective on ageing, continually expand their horizons, take advantage of the opportunities around them, channel their energy into activities that matter. She also provides one-on-one professional support to assist families create living legacies for future generations.

December 9, 2023 Leave a Comment

Reframing Retirement – Celebrating Longevity

Globally, the population is ageing. In New Zealand, it is predicted a fifth of us will be over 65 years of age by 2034. Traditionally, when we reached 65, it was the magic age when many of us made the transition into what we call ‘Retirement’, as it’s the age at which we are entitled to universal superannuation. It’s an old model. The practice of exiting the workplace after reaching a certain age and entering the life stage we call ‘Retirement’ was introduced in the 18^th Century and was more widely adopted in the 19^th and 20^th Century.

Nowadays, there is no compulsory ‘Retirement Age’ in Aotearoa. In the 21st Century ‘Retirement’, or ‘Semi-Retirement’ as a life stage, means different things to different people. While some remain in paid work on either a full or part-time basis, many look forward to exiting the workplace and giving up the daily commute. ‘Retirement’ commences immediately after leaving the workplace. Initially we may look forward to taking a well-earned rest and spending more time with the important people in our lives. Travel may be planned, new routines are established, and we begin to focus time and energy on the activities we enjoy.

However, over time this old concept of ‘Retirement’ may not meet everyone’s expectations, intensified with the impact of the COVID pandemic. We may experience disappointment, uncertainty, a lack of purpose, poor health, financial insecurity, loneliness and/or sadness – maybe through loss of a loved one. It’s vital that if we find ourselves in this situation we shift out of this phase, develop an attitude of gratitude, and take control of our wellbeing in later life. Expressing a sense of gratitude enhances positive emotions and increases self-esteem. Give it a go. Make a long list of all the things you are grateful for and add to this list daily. Savour your experiences, life’s lessons, the people you have met along the way, and boost overall wellbeing.

It’s time to ‘Reframe Retirement’ and celebrate longevity by reminding ourselves that chronological age is just a number, not an impediment. It’s our functional age that matters. How we feel about ageing, impacts on how we age. We have so many choices on how we spend our time and a duty to ourselves to age as well as we can. We can meet new people, try new activities, visit, or invite old friends around for a meal, learn new skills, share our experiences, document our memories or family history, volunteer or take on a significant project at any age. It’s up to each of us to make the most of our extended lifespans. After all, life is a gift for us to enjoy, and later life can be even more fulfilling than what has gone before.

Go well and enjoy the adventure.

Dr. Angela Robertson is the author of six books, an inspirational speaker, and workshop facilitator with a wealth of experience in maximising individual and collective potential. Through her writing and speaking engagements she encourages people, regardless of their age and stage, to continually expand their horizons, leverage their strengths, and channel their energy into activities that matter. Her books are available from online stores in paperback, e-book and kindle formats.

https://books2read.com/Embracing-Life-On-Our-Own-Terms

November 18, 2023 Leave a Comment

Emotional Wellbeing: Unlocking Joy Through Your Story

Did you know that it’s possible to unleash the power of joy and strengthen your wellbeing by embarking on a ‘Write Your Story’ project? Your life is a tapestry of emotions—joyful moments, triumphs, and challenges overcome. Writing your story allows you to revisit and celebrate the positive emotions that have coloured your journey. Reflecting on and capturing your happy memories, family history, career/business story, travel adventures or spiritual journey brings both joy and a sense of meaning and fulfillment.

Documenting your story also provides the opportunity to strengthen relationships with family, friends and the wider community that will be cherished for a lifetime. Your narrative can be a source of inspiration, reminding you, and others, of the happiness you’ve experienced and fosters positive emotional wellbeing.

Writing has therapeutic benefits for your physical wellbeing. It’s not just an intellectual exercise; it’s a way to express and release emotions, reduce stress and promote overall wellness. As you embark on your ‘Write Your Story’ project, consider the physical wellbeing advantages—a healthier mind contributing to a healthier body.

Completing your life story is a significant accomplishment. It’s not just words on a page; it’s a testament to your resilience, growth, and the legacy you’re leaving behind. In the first instance, all you need is an open mind, a notebook and pen, and a commitment to your project. Make a list of the topics you’d like to include, then pick the one that appeals the most to you and start writing. Don’t be tempted to edit your work, just write. Don’t let perfection get in the way of getting the job done. You can revise, polish and format your script at a later date.

Documenting your life story needn’t be a solitary endeavor; it can be an opportunity to strengthen your social connections. In my popular series of ‘Write Your Story’ community workshops, men and women meet weekly in a supportive fun environment. As part of the learning experience, I guide participants through every step of the writing journey, from concept to completion, and everyone is encouraged to share their stories. By sharing your experiences, you create bridges to others who may have similar stories to tell. In this way a ‘Write Your Story’ project becomes a catalyst for community engagement, fostering a sense of belonging and enhancing social wellbeing. For those that prefer to work on their own, I also offer professional one-on-one support and encouragement.

It’s never too late to begin documenting your incredible life journey. Your story deserves to shine, and it makes the perfect gift for the special people in your life. Why not start your legacy project today, celebrate your journey, and leave a lasting impact.

Reach out if you need a hand, I’d be happy to help.