One of the most wonderful things about getting older is having the time and wisdom to reflect on our lives and pass along our stories! Stories are so very important and story telling is central to every family and community. As a matter of fact, I believe that when storytelling dies out, so does the family and the community. What you have experienced matters! It matters to your children, grandchildren and lots of other people as well. I can't tell you how many times, as a woman in midlife, I have just kicked myself because I did not ask questions of older family members when I had the chance. Maybe you have felt that as well.

Well now is your chance to give a gift to your children! Write the stories of your life! It is helpful to remember that memoir and history are not exactly the same thing. Memory is a wily thing and people rarely remember things in exactly the same way. That is not important! What is important in collecting your stories is giving voice to how you experienced things. Memoir is not just about what happened but also about what happened means to you. It is also helpful to remember that it is your memoir and you can include and exclude whatever you choose. Don't just write about the high old times though. That would give such a one-dimensional look at your life. After all, it is often in times of conflict, failure and stress that we learn wisdom.

So if you would like to start a memoir here is a way to begin.

• Take a notebook and draw a circle and divide it into quarters or make a chart with four columns.
• Let each column or segment represent one quarter of your life in years.
• Let your mind wander over the years and jot down any significant experiences you remember from those years. What were the formative events? What was going on in your family? What was going on in the world?
• Choose one memory and write about it in detail letting your mind skip to other memories and details that it naturally will. Jot it all down. You can edit later.
• Then choose another event and repeat the process.

If you are still stumped go to Memoir Starters ( in the Journal section of this site) for a new prompt each week. Answer the question and begin to keep a notebook of the stories by date. Before long you will have reconstructed a wonderful story book of your life.