Memory & storytelling
Exploring your family history: 26 questions to ask your parents
Here are 26 questions to help your parents share their stories, experiences, and wisdom.
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Memoir and family story guides
Practical prompts, writing advice, and family-history ideas to help you preserve the stories you’ll wish you had asked for.
Writing tips
Enhancing your life stories: 7 writing tips and techniques
Here are seven techniques that can transform your life stories from simple recollections into engaging narratives.
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Memory & storytelling
25 best questions to ask your grandparents
Here are 25 questions to help your grandparents share their stories, experiences, and wisdom.
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Memory & storytelling
51 best questions to ask family members
Whether you’re sitting down with a parent, grandparent, sibling, or another relative, these questions are designed to help start warm, meaningful conversations.
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Writing tips
9 common mistakes people make when writing a memoir
In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common mistakes people make when writing a memoir, and how to avoid them so the process feels simpler, more enjoyable, and more meaningful.
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Life story books+1Additional topics: Start your memoir
Memoir writing services: What are your options?
The truth is, there are several very different options available, each with its own trade-offs in cost, effort, and quality. Understanding these options is the first step toward choosing the right path for you (or a loved one).
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Memory & storytelling+1Additional topics: Start your memoir
50 questions to help you remember your life story
These questions are designed to help gently unlock those memories, without pressure, and without needing to answer them all at once.
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Writing tips+1Additional topics: Start your memoir
What should you include in a memoir? (Real examples & ideas)
One of the most common questions people ask when starting a memoir is simple: “What should I actually include?” If you’re unsure where to begin, here are some of the most meaningful things people often include in their memoir.
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Start your memoir
How to start writing your memoir (even if you don’t know where to begin)
Most people don’t struggle to remember their life, they struggle to know where to start. The truth is, almost everyone feels this way at the beginning. And the good news? You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a simple way to begin.
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How to write a memoir
Memoir writing is a powerful tool for expressing yourself, sharing your story, and influencing the world. Yet, memoir writing can also evoke feelings of trepidation: “Is my life story truly worth sharing?” “Am I interest
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Memory & storytelling
7 reasons people don't tell their life stories
If someone in your family is hesitant to tell their story, these are some of the most common reasons why, and how to gently overcome them.
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Memory & storytelling
Aphantasia: What it is, a simple test and surprising benefits
If you're wondering whether you might have aphantasia, here's what it is, how to test for it, and some of the surprising ways it can affect everyday life.
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Memory & storytelling
What is a family legacy? Meaning, examples, and how to create one
A family legacy is the collection of stories, values, traditions, memories, and life lessons passed down from one generation to the next.
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Memory & storytelling
Memoir vs. Autobiography: Understanding the key differences
Both memoirs and autobiographies preserve memories, experiences, and life lessons for future generations. The main difference lies in how those stories are told.
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Life story books
Create a life story book for Father’s Day
If you're looking for a gift that's personal, lasting, and genuinely meaningful, consider helping your dad preserve his stories, experiences, and life lessons in a life story book.
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Memory & storytelling+1Additional topics: Start your memoir
16 reasons to write your memoir
Your story does not need to be dramatic to matter. It simply needs to be yours. Here are 16 reasons to write your memoir.
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Life story books
Create a life story book for Mother’s Day
If you're looking for something more meaningful, consider giving your mom the opportunity to preserve her stories, memories, and life experiences in a beautiful life story book.
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Start your memoir+1Additional topics: Writing tips
4 memoir ideas to help you start your life story
If you want to write your memoir but feel stuck, here are four simple ideas to help you get started.
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Writing tips+1Additional topics: Memory & storytelling
How to bring a memory to life
Whether you're writing a memoir, recording family stories, or simply reflecting on your life, learning how to bring a memory to life can transform a brief recollection into a rich and meaningful story.
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Memory & storytelling
10 questions to ask yourself for a happier life
Asking thoughtful questions can help you better understand yourself, appreciate how far you've come, and identify what truly matters moving forward. Here are 10 questions worth reflecting on.
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Writing tips
How to start journaling: 7 tips for beginners
A few simple habits can make the process easier, more enjoyable, and more rewarding.
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Memory & storytelling
How to record your vacation stories
By writing down your memories, saving photographs, and capturing small details while they are still fresh, you can create a richer record of your travels to share with family and revisit in the future. Here are some simple tips to help you record your vacation stories.
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The importance of recording your military stories and how My Stories Matter can help
You have unique experiences and stories worth sharing and preserving as a military member. These stories can provide valuable insights and lessons for future generations and can also serve as a way to connect with others
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The importance of recording your parent's life stories: How My Stories Matter can help
Recording your parent's life stories is a meaningful way to preserve their memories and experiences for the long term. You can revisit those memories anytime and share your parent's experiences with others. But with so m
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Preserve your grandparents’ memories on My Stories Matter
As our grandparent's age, it's essential to ensure their memories are preserved for future generations. Our grandparents have a wealth of knowledge and experiences, and their memories can give us a unique glimpse into th
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Life story books
How to create a life stories book
Whether you're creating a book for yourself, a parent, or a grandparent, these seven steps will help you create a life story book your family will treasure.
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Memory & storytelling
The top 5 regrets of the dying (and how to avoid them)
While every life is unique, the lessons are surprisingly universal. Here are the five most common regrets people expressed, and what we can learn from them today.
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Memory & storytelling
4 surprising facts about storytelling
Here are four fascinating facts about storytelling and why it continues to shape how we connect with others.
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Memory & storytelling
The many cognitive benefits of journaling
Whether you're writing about your day, recording family memories, or reflecting on the past, journaling can support your wellbeing and help preserve the stories that matter. Here are five benefits of journaling.
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Memory & storytelling
6 ways to reduce memory loss (and it has little to do with age)
While no one can remember everything, research suggests there are several things we can do to support brain health and keep our memories sharper for longer.
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Memory & storytelling+1Additional topics: Writing tips
How to relive memories: 8 ways to reconnect with the past
Whether you're trying to remember a special holiday, reconnect with a loved one, or simply preserve important life experiences, these techniques can help.
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Memory & storytelling
8 creative ways to keep the memory of a loved one alive
Keeping a loved one’s memory alive is about continuing to honour the love, stories, moments, and influence they brought into your life. Here are eight meaningful ways to remember someone special.
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Start your memoir+1Additional topics: Writing tips
How to write an autobiography: 7 simple steps
You don't need to be famous to write an autobiography. Some of the most meaningful autobiographies are written not for the public, but for children, grandchildren, and loved ones who want to understand the life that came before them.
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Memory & storytelling
How music triggers memories: The science behind nostalgia
Few things trigger memories as powerfully as music. A single song can unlock emotions, people, places, and experiences that seem buried deep in the past. But why does this happen, and can we use music deliberately to strengthen and preserve our memories?
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Memory & storytelling
Nostalgia goggles: Why we remember the past more fondly than it really was
Most of us have caught ourselves saying something like: "Things were simpler back then." But why does this happen? And is it actually a bad thing?
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Memory & storytelling
The surprising truth about memory and aging
Research suggests that our expectations can have a powerful influence on how well we remember. In some cases, simply believing that memory inevitably declines with age may actually make memory performance worse.
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Memory & storytelling
The Rashomon effect: The different ways an event is remembered
The same event can be remembered in different ways by different people. Each version may contain truth, but each is shaped by perspective, emotion, personality, and time. This is known as the Rashomon Effect.
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Memory & storytelling
Why many people get happier as they age: The happiness curve
Though many young people think that life is “all downhill from here,” research shows that the older years of our life are also our happiest.
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