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Sample
Excerpt
Excerpt
from
Your Memoirs Are Important
•
Have you ever wished you knew more about your parents’ or
grandparents’ lives or even the lives of close friends? Have you
wished that they had recorded and passed on to you the stories of
their lives?
• Have
you ever taken time to think about your own experiences, those that
made you who you are?
• When was the last time you vowed to write your own memories, yet put
aside the immediate urge, unsure of how to begin?
I f these
questions make you feel the need to take action, then this book is for
you. In Videotape Your Memoirs, we will
• examine the motives many adults have for sharing
their stories;
• explore the intrinsic values of reviewing your
life’s journey;
• encourage you to identify and retrieve the
significant, colorful, and entertaining memories of your own life;
• recommend videotaping as an easy, innovative
method of transcribing these stories;
• explain how you can capture, preserve, and share
a lasting legacy with those you love.
Why do we feel compelled to pass on the stories of our
lives? It’s human nature to want to form a meaningful link between
ourselves, those who have gone before us, and those who will follow us.
Long before the use of written language, humans kept life histories and
traditions alive through story telling. A few generations ago, families
lived close together and often spent entire lifetimes in the same
community. It was easier for people to know each other’s histories then
and to keep memories alive. Now our society has become more mobile. Family
members often no longer live in the same communities. Our lives have
become busier, with many more demands on our attention. This means there
are fewer opportunities and less time for sharing reminiscences.
A memoir is exactly what you want it to be. The only
requirement is that it describes and defines you and your experiences.
Many people find the process of recording their memoirs
therapeutic. Often, reflective sharing creates new levels of intimacy and
bonding with those you love. There are many intrinsic values in the
retelling process. An important first step in reassembling segmented
events and reconstructing the many elements of your history is to set
aside time for reflection and remembering.
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