by Rachael Rifkin Holidays that gather family members together are great opportunities for family storytelling. Everyone is already there. All you have to do is steer the conversation in the right direction. With Mother’s Day coming up this month, here are some suggestions to get the story sharing started. Some simple and easy memory-making…
Several weeks ago, I had a call with a man who has become inundated with too much information. “I have boxes and boxes of memories,” he said. “My mom saved everything when I was growing up—tests from grade school, yearbooks, certificates, art projects, soccer trophies—I’ve got it all.” He sighed. “My wife says I should…
A few weeks ago, I came home and there was a beautiful vase of roses sitting on my porch with a delightful note from an admirer. I took them inside and put them on the table. Within a few days, they started to show signs of drooping, so, I cut the stems, changed out the…
How My Grandfather’s Memoir Changed My Life Growing up, I knew my grandfather had written a Korean War memoir, but I wasn’t particularly interested in reading it. I assumed it was boring, filled with war talk and little else. I didn’t think of it for years, until he passed away and we were cleaning…
by Matthew Roser Are Stories Alive? A living entity is defined as something possessing the capacity for “growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.” With such a broad definition, celebrated British author Neil Gaiman was prompted to muse about the idea that stories are living: “Do stories grow? Pretty obviously — anybody who…
Daniel Burrus, New York Times bestseller and one of the world’s leading futurists on global trends and innovation, shares his thoughts about how to create a legacy of impact. To Daniel, a great legacy revolves around collecting and sharing a portfolio of unforgettable memories. He offers sound advice only gained through years of experience and…
I remember telling my friend, who is a well-known author, that I was a little nervous to publish my memoir. “It’s so personal,” I said. “Do I really want to put myself there like that?” She said, “It’s all worth it. Somewhere, some woman is going through hell and you have a chance to help…
