A Sobering Thought of our Temporality

In all likelihood, your children's grandchildren will not know your name if you do not take steps to preserve your memories and lessons.

Drawing Out Wisdom From Parents

A very wise and insightful piece as in the New York Times a few days ago. Thanks to Legacy Consultant Jody Murphy for bringing it to my attention. Writer Anne Roark describes the major insights from Henry Alford's new book How to Live: A Search for Wisdom From Old People.

The article articulates the satisfactions that accrue to all who undertake the preservation of life stories and lessons. It even has some handy "how to advice" on managing interviews.

A final word if you’re still reluctant to start the interviewing. Mr. Alford says that people are “repositories of knowledge” and the elderly “the keepers of wisdom,” and he cites an old African saying: “The death of an old person is like the burning of a library.” Many people have complicated relationships with parents, but all of us love libraries.

Life Stories: Children Find Meaning in Old Family Stories

There was a great column in today's Wall Street Journal by Sue Shellenbarger entitled Life Stories: Children Find Meaning in Old Family Tales. It very nicely reminded us how children listen and learn from the tales of our family members even when we think they are not paying attention. Shellenbarger cites research from Emory University that children aged 14-16 had a lower rate of depression, anxiety and acting out of frustration or anger when they were able to "retell their parents' stories."

This is a fantastic reminder of the importance of our mission. . . now with research to prove what we already intuitively know.