Thanks for these ideas! We are enjoying writing our life stories right now. It can be overwhelming at times. One of the things that has helped me was creating a Timeline. I put personal events on the left, family/other events on the right, and dropped the years down the middle. I created it on Windows Publisher, and it is an incredible tool to keep things organized. Each page is a decade of my life! I've had to tweak it to get the correct dates for everyone. We have a large family with six children all grown now. I entered all family's births, baptisms, graduations, missions, weddings, Grandchildren's births, our employment and moves, Church callings, travels, etc. It's a treasure! I just wanted to share this really fun idea! Then, write memories in your life story from the timeline! I am placing the Timeline at the beginning of my life story. Adding photos on other pages is also very important for a meaningful life history. And, always remember to put names, dates, place, and a little short description to go with them. A scrapbook with photos and no notations is practically useless for a life story.
Oscar Muñoz JrAugust 1, 2019
For me, writing a journal is very therapeutic. It allows me to “drain” so to speak all of the emotions, thoughts, and feelings that I might be experiencing on a daily basis. It is a personal form of expression, that allows me to better myself in thought and indeed. I started writing a journal back in the 1980s after I was baptized. I remember reading once that President Kimball said, just paraphrasing, that we should write and not hide any of our feelings as we journalize . Joseph F Smith also taught that we should not journalize from memory. I have often wondered who will read my journals? The generational gaps that exists, especially in the modern-day era of baby boomers, millennials, generation XYZ, all points to the hearts of the children turning to the fathers, at least I would hope in my own lifetime, haha. I have written 22 journals, 2 1/2 Book of Mormon journals, and have over six photo albums. “Nothing is ever wasted,“ as the missionaries say, and all I know is that for myself journalizing my life and my experiences have drawn me closer to the Savior Jesus Christ.
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Carol AnnAugust 1, 2019
Thanks for these ideas! We are enjoying writing our life stories right now. It can be overwhelming at times. One of the things that has helped me was creating a Timeline. I put personal events on the left, family/other events on the right, and dropped the years down the middle. I created it on Windows Publisher, and it is an incredible tool to keep things organized. Each page is a decade of my life! I've had to tweak it to get the correct dates for everyone. We have a large family with six children all grown now. I entered all family's births, baptisms, graduations, missions, weddings, Grandchildren's births, our employment and moves, Church callings, travels, etc. It's a treasure! I just wanted to share this really fun idea! Then, write memories in your life story from the timeline! I am placing the Timeline at the beginning of my life story. Adding photos on other pages is also very important for a meaningful life history. And, always remember to put names, dates, place, and a little short description to go with them. A scrapbook with photos and no notations is practically useless for a life story.
Oscar Muñoz JrAugust 1, 2019
For me, writing a journal is very therapeutic. It allows me to “drain” so to speak all of the emotions, thoughts, and feelings that I might be experiencing on a daily basis. It is a personal form of expression, that allows me to better myself in thought and indeed. I started writing a journal back in the 1980s after I was baptized. I remember reading once that President Kimball said, just paraphrasing, that we should write and not hide any of our feelings as we journalize . Joseph F Smith also taught that we should not journalize from memory. I have often wondered who will read my journals? The generational gaps that exists, especially in the modern-day era of baby boomers, millennials, generation XYZ, all points to the hearts of the children turning to the fathers, at least I would hope in my own lifetime, haha. I have written 22 journals, 2 1/2 Book of Mormon journals, and have over six photo albums. “Nothing is ever wasted,“ as the missionaries say, and all I know is that for myself journalizing my life and my experiences have drawn me closer to the Savior Jesus Christ.
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