I’m occasionally asked to speak to groups of people who are interested in personal history. I speak to people from many walks of life. One thing I find compelling is that today’s seniors are so very modest about their lives. Bear in mind, these are the people Tom Brokaw calls “The Greatest Generation.”
When I talk about the value of telling their life story, so often the reaction is “Oh my life isn’t interesting enough”. Well no one expects you to be a great adventurer or a renowned inventor. Your life is interesting because people know you, love you, and care about the experiences that made you who you are.
Think of your grandparents or great grandparents. They probably led fairly unremarkable lives to the standards of the day. But, wouldn’t you love to know the details of their stories? Be it exciting, mundane, or just different from your life, … you want to know.
Tell your story. If your parents are living, capture theirs. Don’t accept their objection that their lives aren’t intresting enough. THEIR story is worth telling, and YOU want to know!
