| There is an old adage, write about what you | | | | in third grade or in high school or college? What |
| know. Who do you know better than yourself? | | | | was your first job? What are you doing at the |
| Whether you are young parents or retired | | | | time of the writing? |
| grandparents, passing on your story to your | | | | If you married, write about meeting the person |
| children and grandchildren is a gift that will keep on | | | | you married. When, where and how did you meet |
| giving. | | | | your future spouse. Describe your wedding. Write |
| Computers make this very easy. If one of your | | | | about your spouse's family. Where were they |
| relatives is not comfortable using a computer, buy | | | | from? If your parents divorced, write about that. |
| a journal for them and ask them to write down | | | | Write about how you handled that. If your |
| their memories. A first person account of one's | | | | divorced, write about that. Did your spouse die? |
| life brings that personal touch that family trees | | | | Write about how your felt and how your life |
| and ancestral information from the computer lack. | | | | changed. |
| Write your story as just that, a true story. Start | | | | Do not use your journal to drag up everything |
| with your earliest memories. For instance, if your | | | | that you perceived to be bad, write about |
| earliest memory is when you were five, you can | | | | important milestones in your life and how they |
| write when I was five years old, I remember | | | | changed your life. That will make it more |
| sitting on the front porch every evening waiting | | | | interesting. If you have children and grandchildren, |
| for my father to come home from work or, for | | | | write about how you felt when you learned you |
| instance, when I was five I broke my arm, or I | | | | were about to become a parent, a grandparent. |
| remember my first day of Kindergarten. Describe | | | | Write about each child, their personalities, their |
| your home when you were five. What job did | | | | accomplishments, etc. |
| your father have? Was your mother working, if | | | | If you are young, keep your history active. Write |
| yes, what did she do? Did you have siblings? | | | | down everything that affects you and your |
| What were their names, how old were they | | | | family. Write about births, deaths, |
| when you were five? Did you have a pet? Did | | | | accomplishments, milestones. Be sure to include |
| your parents divorce? How did you feel about | | | | dates and locations. Ask parents or siblings for |
| that? Let your readers know where you were | | | | their memories and add them to your journal. You |
| born, were you still living in the same city you | | | | will be creating a living document that your siblings, |
| were born in? Write about your grandparents, | | | | children, and grandchildren can add to and keep |
| aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. What were there | | | | current. If you are a senior, pass your journal |
| names? Where were they born? What stories do | | | | onto your children and grandchildren. They can |
| you remember about your extended family? If | | | | update it as a "living" document to be passed |
| your family owned a car(s), what make, what | | | | from generation to generation. If you are not |
| year was the car(s)? | | | | comfortable with word processing on a computer, |
| If you have family photos that are pre-digital, | | | | believe me one of your family members will |
| check the backs of photos to see if there is any | | | | computerize your journal. |
| family history them. Old photos can provide a | | | | In this age of e-mails, Twitter, tweets, etc. we |
| wealth of information. | | | | may overlook our roots, who we are, how we |
| Once you determine your earliest memory, the | | | | came to be the person we are. By keeping a |
| rest will flow. Write about grade school, high | | | | written or computerized journal to pass along, we |
| school, college. Include the names and cities of the | | | | can ensure that future generations will know their |
| schools you attended. Who was your best friend | | | | roots. |