"Write My Life Story, Why?"

write my life story, how to get started

It was surprising to me to talk with an avid genealogist who couldn't see the value in writing her own life story.  "Write my life story, why?" she said.  I was puzzled.  Why wouldn't a genealogist see the value in her own life story?  Instead she was focused on uncovering the lives of her deceased relatives.

The future of genealogy is going to be the possibility of really knowing at least a brief biography of every relative.  In theory, there is no reason why the future is not right NOW. It starts with YOU.

What would your relatives 100 years from now want to know about you?  Just think....what do you wish you knew about your relatives from 100 ago?   If you could go back in time, you would want to know what their childhood was like, what kind of work they did, how did they feel about major historical events (and how were they affected), and what could they share about the family and the love in their lives.  This is a good basis for the beginnings of your own personal history.  You'll want to share about the people, places, and life/historical events that really made a difference to you. 

Start to think about your own genealogy record as something that requires more than just birth, marriage, and death dates.  Fill in the gaps for future genealogists in your family by telling and sharing at least a short biography (like the "About Me" inside www.lifebio.org or create a whole "Biography" that shares many more details. It certainly makes it easier when you aren't just staring at a blank sheet of paper or blank computer screen---guiding biography questions can help.  You can even create a Legacy Book that will be treasured by your family for years to come.

There is no time like the present and no better gift to the future.  Give future genealogists a break!  Tell your story and fill in their unanswered questions 100 years from now.

Beth Sanders
Founder & CEO
LifeBio.com
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Let us know at www.lifebio.org if we can help you get started in either a special journal with guiding questions or using the online system (it instantly creates a ready-to-print biography) or LifeBio's new app that video records your life.