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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Have you ever wondered how some people turn their seemingly ordinary life stories into mesmerizing tales that captivate readers from start to finish? </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">I was once baffled by the same question. These writers seem to have a magical ability to recall and weave their past into narratives so vividly that it feels like watching a movie. The secret, I discovered, isn't in having a photographic memory but in mastering a few creative writing techniques.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Whether you're capturing memories for yourself or you want to preserve your legacy by writing a book for your family, enhancing your storytelling can transform your narratives from simple recounts to compelling sagas.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Here, I'll share insights and tips that will not only make your writing more engaging but will also help you see your life stories through a new, captivating lens.</b></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">1. Embrace Fictional Techniques</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Autobiographical writing shares much in common with fiction writing.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Even in non-fiction, elements common to fiction—characters, settings, and events—play crucial roles. Incorporating these elements can transform your narratives, making them more vivid and engaging.</b></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">2. Add Dialog</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Dialogue brings your stories to life.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">For a long while, I resisted the idea of adding dialog. I can't remember the exact words someone spoke years ago. Making up dialog seemed like cheating. However, there is a very good reason why published authors do this all the time. Dialogue brings the story to life. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">It's less about recalling exact words and more about capturing the spirit of conversations. Reflect on how people sounded and what they might have said. Any added dialog must be faithful to the person; it must be true to what you or they would have likely said in that situation. Also, it must be in the ‘voice’ of the person. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">For example, my mother was a non-native English-speaking immigrant. She had a unique way of speaking English, including certain catchphrases. If I'm writing words that she might have spoken, I don't correct them to perfect English because that's not how she spoke. I want my kids to "hear" her voice as I remember it.</b></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">3. Enrich with Details</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Details create a believable and immersive world for your readers. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">I remember wrestling with the dilemma of injecting details into my life stories, especially when those memories were as clear as fog. In a Creative Writing class at Stanford, I learned that enriching your stories with carefully chosen details isn't dishonest—it's essential to bring your experiences to life.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">When aiming to add depth to your stories, draw on your understanding of the people, settings, and the era. Even if you can't remember every specific detail, your knowledge of the context allows you to add elements that resonate with the essence of the experience.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">When I write about my childhood summers growing up in Perth, Australia, I can’t remember what the weather was like on any specific day fifty years ago. However, I do know what a typical summer day is like in Australia. By looking through old photos, reminiscing with my high school friends, and doing some research, I can accurately depict the beach scenes of my youth.</b></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">4. Consider Your Audience</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Making your stories resonate across generations. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Describing settings, cultural contexts, and historical backdrops helps readers visualize and understand your experiences.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">For instance, if you're detailing childhood games, consider how these might be perceived by someone from another country or born in a different era. The game of 'marbles' was popular in Australia in the 1960s, but it might need a brief explanation of the rules to captivate a younger reader or someone from another part of the world.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Incorporating cultural tidbits and historical events into your narrative does more than just add context; it invites your reader to walk alongside you. Reflecting on how the moon landing of 1969 sparked a fascination that eventually led me to pursue a pilot's license illustrates how my life was influenced by the events of the time.</b></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">5. Incorporate Reflection</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">The power of reflection is often underestimated.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">What makes a life story interesting isn't just a recitation of the facts about an actual event. Readers will value learning about your thoughts and feelings at the time of the experience. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Furthermore, it can be enlightening to view the experience through the eyes of your older and more experienced current self. This introspective journey offers readers insight into your personal evolution and can also provide therapeutic benefits for you, the writer.</b></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">6. Embrace Variability in Memory</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">There is no absolute truth when it comes to memory</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">It’s entirely normal for your memory of an event to differ from someone else's account of the same occurrence. This discrepancy doesn't detract from the truth of your narrative. Your version is just as legitimate, grounded in your personal experience, and recounted to the best of your ability.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">I encourage you to read the detailed article on <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/the-rashomon-effect--the-different-ways-an-event-is-remembered" title="Life Stories" type="Life Stories">The Rashomon Effect</a> featured on our blog page. It highlights that different individuals remember the same event in distinct ways. Influenced by our personal experiences and viewpoints, each recollection offers a unique perspective.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">You can use the Rashomon Effect to your advantage. Use the Collaboration feature in My Stories Matter with people who shared the experience with you. They can fill in any gaps in your memory as well as enrich your story by adding their perspective.</b></p>
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">7. Define Yourself in Your Life’s Narrative</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Embrace your multifaceted identity.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Consider the multitude of roles you play in your own life story. For example, I’m a son, a brother, a father, a dog lover, an adventurer, and someone who enjoys fine dining, among other things.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">When writing, it's essential to select which of these identities are relevant to the narrative at hand. For instance, in sharing tales of my solo backpacking adventures around the world in my twenties, I recognize that many of these identities were not yet a part of me and thus do not apply.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">I write my life stories so that my children and future grandchildren know who I am. To achieve this, I need to craft a portrait through a tapestry of life stories, each reflecting different stages, experiences, and influences over the years.</b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Additional Tips</b></h2>
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">1. Spaced drafting</b></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Write a draft and leave it for a few days before attempting to write the final version. This separation will help you spot grammatical mistakes and identify opportunities for better phrasing.</b></p>
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">2. Keep paragraphs brief</b></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">I aim for 4-6 lines per paragraph.</b></p>
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">3. Editing tools</b></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Utilize tools like spell check. I also use the free version of Grammarly, even if I don't always agree with its suggestions. </b></p>
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">4. Strive for conciseness</b></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Mark Twain famously said, "I would have written you a shorter letter, but I didn't have time". </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Removing a sentence that seems perfect but is actually superfluous can be difficult. Learning to judiciously edit your own work, cutting out unnecessary sentences or paragraphs, is a skill that develops over time.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Occasionally, I'll keep those removed sections because they might find a place in future stories.</b></p>
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">5. Focus</b></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Keep each story focused on a single experience, event, person, or topic. </b></p>
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">6. Organization</b></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">Utilize the Collections feature of My Stories Matter to organize related stories thematically. A story can appear in multiple collections; this makes it easier to find and reorganize content later.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">My Stories Matter automatically sorts your stories chronologically in your personal Timeline. This "digital memory lane" contains historical and cultural cues for each year to spark memories and provide context for your stories. I also use my Timeline to identify where the 'gaps' in my life that need to be filled.</b></p>
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">7. Use Prompts</b></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">My Stories Matter has over a thousand Prompts designed to trigger memories. Prompts are organized into categories such as Early Childhood, Parents, and High School to help guide your writing.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-ae853d0a-7fff-cec5-a5c7-58f8c93f1654">For more writing tips visit our blog: <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="Life Stories" type="Life Stories">https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog</a>.</b></p>
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<p><b>Your family will treasure your life stories, imperfections, and all. Your efforts to share your experiences, wisdom, and love are what truly matter. Happy writing!</b></p>


7 Writing Tips to Make Your Life Stories Captivating

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Our biggest ever upgrade is set to launch in November. Out with the old, in with the extraordinary; thank you to everyone who gave us feedback. </b></p>
<p><em><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">This upgrade will make your reminiscing experience easier,  more rewarding, and more enjoyable.</strong></em></p>

<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">If you’ve used My Stories Matter, <strong>rest assured, all your precious memories await you in the upgraded version. The safety and security of your content is always our priority.</strong></b></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">What’s new in this upgrade?</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Streamlined Workspace: </strong>Enjoy a simplified and better-organized site for your storytelling, that makes it easier for you to focus on your writing. </p>
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<p dir="ltr"><strong>Intuitive Timeline: </strong>Our new horizontal layout lets you easily map out your life's journey, highlighting gaps and inspiring new memories. Additionally, view these moments in a historical and cultural context with our curated Cues that include top songs, movies, TV shows, and more from each year.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Revamped Writing Prompts: </strong>We’ve made it even simpler to come up with things to write about. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Considering writing your memoir? Our Prompt categories act as an instant table of contents for you to expand upon, encompassing everything from early childhood and high school to parenting and family vacations.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Prompts are designed to banish writer’s block, and now offer a variety of perspectives on each Prompt to ignite your writing process.</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><strong>One-Stop Search: </strong>Enhanced search is your shortcut to accessing all the treasures within your My Stories Matter world. Whether you're on a journey to relive a particular memory or seeking fresh inspiration from a Cue or Prompt, you can now search for it all. </p>
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/Find_0.gif?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=JDWh%2FhNCIrGePGyb0sJBwsGe4MK5%2BU%2Fh7jHgtKCQnUroiJ3gUgT6Fss49mX8rFoRd4A6N7H97OcQrPS%2F%2FBcnA%2F12iJpjIHplzJp2MttHe0PCoG7U1raKZ9P7UbyXujG6YiA2vXEbTjixNl1zVdUbRvz4k0qn7ICY6wJ%2BG5PsM6ekR%2Bn7EcvpSvEwovdI5yaoK9Zt%2BTZ2B%2Fs14bYYF03pV1UjkN%2FxlDGgwEUM7BP%2B1wPv3YCwLY1eog9WhTj9EsONjJDpO%2BhpLTtnnmHm4XTxUqxw9NzoR34lef3CM8tds1Ydu6keBqNdJtdtR3oDCpisfftEwbvMW%2Bsg5iVsqPAEgw%3D%3D" width="1148" height="720" alt="The new search function" />  </div>

  
</div>
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<p dir="ltr"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Photos in Your Stories: </strong>You now have the ability to seamlessly embed your treasured photos into the heart of your story. Whether you’re capturing the memories of a family vacation, or recounting a milestone in your child’s life, your photos now seamlessly blend into your narrative, creating a richer, more personal, and more delightful storytelling experience.</p>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-23642" class="file file-image file-image-gif">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/Inline%20Images.gif?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=nabzrOAT3SpAMBxUWD3ZTSqGHbB08Jt8n%2BNdvj1RQBnzvWfDh%2Bd%2Bjr9ynt%2BcvY6v%2BDTOLB1pxdgtpfDozdv1T6gjmOS3jbn2vbieJ6CR%2BfnhtBt%2FBiUs1bT4UaZMauwd8R39TRs7uvtVCJQvB0z4xBi1fBHlo9XJ0gJceUqTFWm20ufq%2BXL5%2B%2FtcXGMkLoH83tMkQrqGnaLGn8RHLXoBASDFOEfpxdVk8xAvJ6TpEiXocmW%2BitUdz1oZt1hxqQ8FB4GrooyIRHC0umemFUblg1H3JGAR1lsKR8%2BsZZJ8qTPMYCOU1zBMt1ThAXVkijMjk80WqRvsWsmhlZ5sshJwJw%3D%3D" alt="Inline Images" />  </div>

  
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<p dir="ltr"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Writing Reminders: </strong>Imagine having a helpful friend who gently reminds you to continue your reminiscing journey and keep writing. That's exactly what our optional new writing reminder does! Whether it's a daily reminder or a weekly nudge, you can customize them to suit your preferences. </p>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-23656" class="file file-image file-image-png">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/writing-reminderspng">Writing Reminders.png</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element mb-2 file-default" data-delta="13" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/Writing%20Reminders.png?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=nrQFk6qtSwAZchZErx3Ct%2FCf3%2BaHPlOp%2BlJ0qjdHqpGv4EqTpELBK%2FZFk51eJZq0WQbeU0GALROaUGeIkp22LlMTliX13AAthiGz3uP8v0OUq0ef7NvF4RpWnqKtKoGvgUkSfP3nJ9VgfvfLUbE24uLW7BpW6iEwpZuTP7fh68vG0BvWZIAJ2pfvRpfQ%2BaN%2FaL8KrH7ctscxmaocqsjW42lkrNY8jXp7Pc04l4zanswflrxg%2BWMJBKBJKRLTuaqrY8LHiZdNsMPpw59Epetm0cCBVfS0YgxHnP2feA7wPNErz5wtGp6xsivE2H4kLbNFMRkZmlxvUhI1PWt2vNVWoQ%3D%3D" alt="Writing Reminders Notifications" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default"><div id="file-23691" class="file file-image file-image-png">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="15" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/1440px-writing-reminder.png?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=Pm2pr7%2BP%2Boey8XvXpoWeN5n22GR6CFXv6cQv15fq4n1NVqsR8DfxvZ1Fw7xus2jvzzN3DmwkWG19MF9KSSfVEvGQKH6ObBLct6wbIr1MA1BxVlGCK6Cd7FURP9iBi3VbBf2bOq2ly7%2FH2JJfQAYOINAcPFpncR%2Fjo5BI%2FcV%2BAZhGc6wXuGqKb2PvYUET8J4DR6j1pHKS%2F44b6YRdt2tDMM0PdRt%2Fvqiesn6mlTS50LxpdmdWcrRODiwY6Ph%2Fen%2FYhJliwXq4eK11lS1PKDzO6h6jEwAJR1QH%2FQAs5zQr5gWDZ4Ubajvw5G3B3GR3K8zneKkyNo6nrmII0TdNgzU1rQ%3D%3D" width="2880" height="2048" alt="writing-reminder" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Enhanced Visual Collections: </strong>Your Collections just got a fresh appearance. Additionally, we've introduced automatic groupings such as Drafts, Published, and Recently Deleted to make it easier for you to locate your content quickly. </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-23645" class="file file-image file-image-gif">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/Collections_0.gif?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=fk4aRpzlG3Vryv2bcFajvuglzAlywWlKx0Ms3acNMBzBl%2Bnw2PCvkAEsf1bXuK6Rxoy0k7tDhKG4AsJxIy%2FA6shm%2Bo4n%2BDysj%2By2VRTDpT4A1fMTnLWD9q%2Bs%2BJJzG0GSEmD6Y%2B5PSLzTKH9r8DMjciM%2FLpoGIqlFfwUgdeC4ON2OqF7AlnM3VEg1hIwZ1v58a506Ma9QiYUOt9nm8ckU5EBFnSQdkQnLWmVpcSiop%2FBUm5UmUaJwsPgCf93n9ni6JIVxPTZVYfzq7ttEFsjcGjGdsFzoRMG4nflBDAOZn7jAWCrTJPNSC9djonF%2FxbEF%2FQgmNMqmkztasGtnGMVerQ%3D%3D" width="1292" height="720" alt="New Collections" />  </div>

  
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<p><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Auto-saved Memories: </strong>Our upgrade now automatically saves your work as you write. With auto-save, your memories are protected, letting you focus on the joy of reminiscing without the fear of loss.</p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-23646" class="file file-image file-image-gif">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/auto-savegif">Auto Save.gif</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="7" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/Auto%20Save.gif?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=oqd1gM3XEMBRkP5WPzAFGCSUP2O%2BtrA8qr2dnLGTnGJoDY7W57%2B6nr9wzrGPwWKntE8T5XqRljIQeUDgFe3hqBfSIX2zdtD%2BdEJVNmE6sdfJumzG1soi7GX8JJK5HQoN3C19U9kAbyJDvR%2FQD0IBzyI37ytUvgMacnAD1EcT8eYfjMCz2uiaXJTh%2FvZ3n7EUWbARa5iFO5atktYNdxUIt51hU1lIVzccPIOSJ%2Bx7phdn%2F%2Fvj5vYRiW4Bx6nSBVHdaa%2Fn2%2FxojkH9Pqoriyaj1UlhxIJTo6fee6IL0EKL%2FA5k17QNovK290Js0VRHxAygI0JLjtkLMPXk%2FjVBf%2BctVw%3D%3D" alt="Auto Saving" />  </div>

  
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<p dir="ltr"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Helpful Messages: </strong>You'll see reassuring messages following your actions, keeping you informed every step of the way. Here are some examples:</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Confirmation that your published memory is added to Recent and the Timeline</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Messages to undo accidental deletions of drafts or Collections</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Confirmation for other actions, such as when you create a new Collection</b></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-23648" class="file file-image file-image-gif">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="8" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/Toast%20Messages%20V2.gif?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=WJLuPy%2B0UicapIaCPQ0VnwVMvZOceh5eYgkY8xdUv1ejGsqnPV1qGZPZasQrFtOfYlKxW3CT0akIDgv7W%2BIAJylJoAYqt7%2FuKX6tNtXqGhPnAXUhGUkZg0Qa1sQjLHLzzHN73GPwfh0gGnN1rxKNWaCeKqK7XOatjwBjB%2B1hC%2FjTGJX7uyQ9tUC1%2Fax2DmZRFIcSiJgskePif6ON%2FHQbB46UDB4Xijzvgs7hYG71wXEPQPZ%2FIB0JUI%2FwR8qTUF8OpIdvmMXFX4JHe%2BL8Td9FxIJk6cjFNNtzywQKGJsGB3TCEASbPZS5l7YofgxnK%2BLnLR5iZuQ8Vb3c2kXLo%2F4J%2FA%3D%3D" alt="Toast Messages" />  </div>

  
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<p dir="ltr"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Exciting New Improvements on the Way: </strong>We're not just improving existing features; this upgrade also paves the way for us to introduce some exciting new improvements we're currently working on. Keep an eye out for what's coming next!</p>
<h2 class="mt-0" dir="ltr"><b>What else should I know? </b></h2>
<p dir="ltr">We've carefully thought through this upgrade and how it benefits our My Stories Matter community. Every change was made with the goal of making your reminiscing experience more intuitive and enjoyable. </p>
<p dir="ltr">You will continue to access My Stories Matter through mystoriesmatter.com. Though we fondly bid farewell to the classic My Stories Matter, join us in stepping forward into a more enriching reminiscing journey. </p>
<p>Change can sometimes feel unfamiliar, but it can also bring many benefits.</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">No More Homepage: </strong>Now you're just one click away from your memories. </p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Collections and Drafts Together: </strong>Your Collections and Drafts will be neatly organized under "Edit," making it a breeze to view and manage all your content.</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Your Favorite Features Coming Back Soon: </strong>Rest assured, all the features you love in the old My Stories Matter, including collaborative writing and Challenges, will soon make their reappearance in the updated version.</p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Your Mind-Pops: </strong>All your precious Mind-Pops from the old My Stories Matter will be temporarily accessible as drafts until we revamp Mind-Pops.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">Join us in exploring this exciting new version of your favorite reminiscing site!</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-67178a69-7fff-cd2c-a689-7558c5fb2bc6">If you encounter any issues or have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at </b><b id="docs-internal-guid-ff45b716-7fff-2413-1a18-f04e00eba986"><a href="mailto:support@mystoriesmatter.com" title="Feedback" type="Feedback">support@mystoriesmatter.com</a></b>. Or after logging in, contact us on the My Stories Matter website. </p>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-23649" class="file file-image file-image-gif">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/feedback-short-gif">Feedback Short .gif</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="9" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/Feedback%20Short%20.gif?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=badUUqQRVPOMda4cs41FDS81%2BpgavCrIv%2BseJPbPkZ301K5rCVRvenRdgvZbLboBpZGDD95gB1BTdR06d19rg5JEqJDL33pIAbKey%2BL1%2FaVSPyr08DGgm135juHEHhS8nxSERARwcFKfNpeLF5hd5%2BaTmfmJeJnYOgjPuT8udnMYKwnxZ6G2t0XxNhccea77%2FGIX399BZTazoq6edFOE3xVUh5oFJovmYlKVYwjBPVyr46VMj%2Flz50b7ESaM64jABbA0EveLBrQ7Seh4TKYAfJ%2FDuvCY2%2FuLr%2FFGoI1pWaRv%2FndwQZE66KF8DPIiweSXGklQ%2BuP4TByvelesl9sPOA%3D%3D" alt="How to give feedback" />  </div>

  
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<p dir="ltr"><em>We look forward to having you join us on the upgraded My Stories Matter, designed to make your reminiscing experience easier, more rewarding, and more enjoyable.</em></p>


My Stories Matter’s Major Upgrade - Coming Soon!

The Top 7 Excuses Family Give for Not Telling Their Stories

<p> </p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-97aee87e-7fff-785c-8e7c-4d825f2f1dd8">My Mind’s Eye is Blind, is Yours?</b></h1>
<p>If someone told you that you have a brother you never knew about your whole life, your reaction might be:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>“Whoa, no way!” </em></li>
<li><em>That’s impossible.” </em></li>
<li><em>“How come I never heard about this before?” </em></li>
<li><em>“Hmm, that explains some things.” </em></li>
<li><em>“Tell me more.”</em></li>
</ul>
<p>That’s how I felt earlier this year when I read Andrea Thorfinson’s post on My Stories Matter about aphantasia. My initial curiosity at this strange word turned to shock when I discovered I was an aphant. Months later, I'm still wrapping my head around this newfound knowledge about myself!</p>
<p>Visual imagery enables us to ‘see’ things in our heads. It plays a role in memory, daydreaming, and learning.</p>
<p>Having aphantasia means that my <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-the-minds-eye-is-blind1/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">mind’s eye is blind</a>. Ask me to picture an apple, or a face, or a mountain, and I just can’t. When I ask my friends the same thing, some will say they see a green apple, while others see a delicious red apple with a green leaf on its stem. All I see is inky blackness.</p>
<p>Are you also a member of this exclusive club? <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/aphantasia-overview-4178710#:~:text=Aphantasia%20is%20a%20phenomenon%20in,minds%2C%20people%20with%20aphantasia%20cannot." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Aphantasia</a> is a unique cognitive phenomenon that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/19/three-percent-of-people-in-the-world-have-aphantasia-heres-what-to-know.html#:~:text=one%20of%20them-,3%25%20of%20people%20can't%20create%20a%20mental%20picture%20in,you're%20one%20of%20them&amp;text=Most%20people%20can%20visualize%20a,phenomenon%20is%20known%20as%20aphantasia." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">affects 3-4% of the population</a>. It was discovered in 1880 by <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-the-minds-eye-is-blind1/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Francis Galton</a> but was little studied until 2015 when <a href="https://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/eyesmind/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">neurologist Dr. Adam Zeman</a> coined the term.</p>
<p>You may not <strong>know</strong> the word ‘aphantasia,’ but you probably <strong>know</strong> the classic Disney animation movie. “Fantasia”. The word ‘aphantasia’ is derived from the ancient Greek word ‘phantasia,’ which means ‘imagination,’ and the prefix ‘a-,’ which means ‘without’ (as in ‘apolitical’). </p>
<h2><b>Simple Tests for Aphantasia</b> </h2>
<p>Aphantasia presents across a spectrum, from partial to total. The <a href="https://davidfmarks.net/vividness-of-visual-imagery-questionnaire-2/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire</a>, created by British psychologist David Marks is widely used to assess individual differences. </p>
<p>Here are some simpler tests to see (pardon the pun) if you or someone you know has aphantasia: </p>
<p><b>Test 1</b>: Close your eyes and try to visualize something you know well, such as an apple, your mother’s face, or your room. If you can’t see any image in your mind's eye, even after trying for several seconds, you have aphantasia.</p>
<p><b>Test 2</b>: Have someone describe their mental image in detail. The chart below shows where someone fits on the aphantasia spectrum. </p>
<p>It doesn’t matter what the subject is; all I see is pitch black (#5). I could stare at my laptop for five minutes, but the instant I close my eyes, no effort can coax it to reappear out of the darkness. </p>
<p>I can accept this fact, but I find it disheartening that I’m unable to visualize my Mum’s face now that 96% of people can easily do this with their loved ones.</p>
<p>These tests have become my latest ‘party trick.’ My friends are always amazed, just as I was, to discover the existence of aphantasia. And they learned something about me that they didn’t know before. (My other party trick is asking them to guess my blood type - hint: less than 4% of the population has it). </p>
<p>So far, I’ve found one friend who also has aphantasia - he was shocked. I also discovered that my youngest son is a member of this selective club. Research shows a <a href="https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/120508/Phantasia%20Cortex%20revision%2031.3.20%20for%20submission.pdf?sequence=2" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">genetic component</a> to aphantasia, and there is a 21% chance your first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) will also have it. </p>
<p> </p>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default"><div id="file-21067" class="file file-image file-image-png">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/imagepng">image.png</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/image.png?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=oodtyDsQv0KhOl6Ogu%2FrQN6BNur9ShW9AHZEsezH7LE1qtYbi7Lx5lxzlOP7kCDRh%2FOxxkeTX87stW6Zkx7p7rufrvGN4uSnblV23ppIWX%2Btp7OEyCsP4gs%2B33iBjwKPIwgZPOhftpwdluBZNrxQdbizJZt3yN4Hm4UDKESvFzVakx8KQNAm6xeKN0ggUtLSzGfyMm4eSnxfp3c63hKG7K4e2iYq41pka9%2FTOThqhdknFqoOSd1xEq2VvAuOM4bz565i6NecUo0DS6l8lSa07J2TgY1nNv6Uk%2FL8ByZpog4FKbO2IhK2TWm5TRzWppWFjVZN5irnaZ5ViZ29VnDhVw%3D%3D" width="1340" height="712" alt="Aphantasia" />  </div>

  
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<h2><b>Aphantasia and Memory </b></h2>
<p>One of the critical ways that aphantasia can impact a person’s life is through its effects on memory. Memory is a complex process involving encoding, storing, and retrieving information. There are several types of memory, including:</p>
<p><a href="https://memory.ucsf.edu/symptoms/memory#:~:text=Episodic%3A%20Episodic%20memories%20are%20what,with%20a%20friend%20last%20month." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia"><b>Semantic Memory</b></a><b> - </b>our knowledge of facts such as your spouse’s birthday, how to use a phone, recognizing the names of colors, and knowing what a dog is.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/episodic-memory" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia"><b>Episodic memory</b></a> - our recollection of events in our past. Examples could be a memory about playing with a toy phone as a child, reminiscing about a family vacation, or remembering where you were when you heard the news about 9/11.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/autobiographical-memory#:~:text=Autobiographical%20memory%20refers%20to%20memory%20for%20one's%20personal%20history%20(Robinson,as%20where%20we%20were%20born." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia"><b>Autobiographical memory</b></a><b> - </b>one’s personal history, a combination of semantic and episodic memory.</p>
<p>Episodic memory relies heavily on forming mental images often used as cues to retrieve information. Because people with aphantasia can’t create mental images, they have difficulty recalling past events and experiences. Aphantasia can also affect a person’s ability to <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/aphantasia-makes-it-harder-to-visualize-the-future-and-the-past-study-shows" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">imagine future events</a> and <a href="https://news.uchicago.edu/story/cant-draw-mental-picture-aphantasia-causes-blind-spots-minds-eye" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">remember faces</a>, making social situations more challenging.</p>
<h2><b>Aphantasia and My Stories Matter </b></h2>
<p>Looking back, I believe my aphantasia subconsciously inspired me to create My Stories Matter. To help me recall my life's autobiographical memories, I included various features such as Prompts, Cues, Timeline, and Collaboration. I hope other users find these features helpful, regardless of whether or not they experience aphantasia.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Aphantasia and Learning</b></p>
<p>Rehearsal imagery is a learning technique often used by sportspeople to train. They simulate an experience by visually imagining kicking a goal or shooting a 3-pointer. Does that mean an aphant who cannot simulate an experience by visualizing it has a learning disadvantage?</p>
<p>Short-term memory task tests show that people with aphantasia still perform very well even though they don’t use visual imagery. They use different memory strategies to learn.</p>
<p>If you have aphantasia, you may need to experiment with different memory strategies, such as using photos, illustrations, or other visualization tools to fill the void. No wonder the Memory Palace technique never worked for me!</p>
<p>Somewhat surprisingly, aphantasia doesn’t interfere with creativity. People with aphantasia <a href="https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1979.tb02142.x" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">perform on par with people who can visualize images</a> in many tasks involving visual information. A 2003 study showed that the benefit of mental imagery is surprisingly small regarding <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315808795_Mental_imagery_and_creativity_A_meta-Analytic_review_study" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">creative thinking</a>. It certainly didn’t hinder Ed Catcall, the co-founder of Pixar.</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a592562d-7fff-d1ee-078e-eeeb05bc5b7f">Thinking in Concepts, Not in Images</b></h2>
<p>Aphantasia is often described as a visual condition, but it's <a href="https://aphantasia.com/video/mental-imagery/" mental-imagery="" title="">multi-sensory</a>. Approximately 25% of aphants are like me. Not only is my mind’s eye blind, but my mind’s ear is deaf! Nor can I imagine the smell or flavor of coffee. </p>
<p>It’s difficult to explain how I experience the world. I can describe things but can’t ‘see’ or ‘hear’ them inside my head. I think in terms of concepts. </p>
<p>I just know what an apple looks like. I just know what my Mum sounded like (she spoke English with a Hungarian accent), even though I can’t hear her voice in my head.</p>
<p>That doesn’t sound scientific, but <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7071355/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">studies</a> using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the brains of people with aphantasia have shown differences in brain activity compared to people without aphantasia.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/aphantasia-overview-4178710#:~:text=Aphantasia%20is%20a%20phenomenon%20in,minds%2C%20people%20with%20aphantasia%20cannot." title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Another study</a> at the University of New South Wales investigated whether people with aphantasia could not form mental images or simply recall images poorly. Using a technique called ‘<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010945217303581" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">binocular rivalry</a>,’ they found that it’s not that people with aphantasia have poor recall—they have no such visual imaginings, to begin with.</p>
<h2><b>Living with Aphantasia</b></h2>
<p>Aphantasia is not a disease, so there is no ‘cure.’ It’s how our brains are wired and another example of human neurodiversity. </p>
<p>It may seem odd that I went decades before realizing I had aphantasia. I had assumed everyone was like me. When someone said, “Picture an apple in your head,” I took that as a figure of speech. I never imagined that other people could see something in their heads.</p>
<p>Also, people with aphantasia may not realize they have it because they’ve developed shortcuts and different strategies for processing the world. </p>
<p>Aphantasia has caused me some trouble over the years. My wife will sometimes bring up something I said many years before. To hammer home her point, she might mention the clothes I was wearing then. Because she can see such detail in her mind’s eye, she thinks I’m being recalcitrant when I profess my ignorance. I hope she’s more inclined to believe me now that I can’t remember.</p>
<p>Although my mind’s eye is blind, ironically, I have very <a href="https://aphantasia.com/video/mental-imagery/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">vivid dreams</a>. They are often in color and movie-like in quality. I’d be happy to see a grainy black-and-white image in my mind’s eye when I’m awake. Instead, I have an excellent working color TV in my head when I’m asleep and a wholly broken TV when I’m awake. </p>
<p>From what I’ve read, this might be explained by the different brain mechanisms employed for involuntary imaging (aka dreaming) rather than voluntary imaging.</p>
<p>Some people with aphantasia report having a heightened sense of other sensory experiences, such as hearing, touch, and taste. I can’t say I’m one of them, though. </p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default"><div id="file-21066" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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<h2><b>Benefits of Having Aphantasia</b></h2>
<p>While I would prefer not to have aphantasia, there are some <a href="https://ideapod.com/not-having-a-minds-eye/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">benefits</a>: </p>
<ol>
<li>Less likely to be troubled by negative memories or disturbing flashbacks</li>
<li>Less likely to develop anxiety after experiencing trauma or suffer from PTSD</li>
<li>Not having unwanted images, sounds, or music in one’s head</li>
<li>Less likely to be overwhelmed by grief</li>
<li>Good at processing information analytically and logically, which can be an asset in careers such as engineering or science</li>
<li>Easier to be present and in the moment</li>
<li>Higher ability to <a href="https://www.profjoelpearson.com/intuition" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">retain information</a> in the face of distraction</li>
<li>Less prone to daydreaming and, therefore, a better ability to focus on tasks requiring mental concentration</li>
<li>People with aphantasia tend to have a higher average IQ (115 scores compared to 110 for the general population)</li>
<li>Less affected by scary stories since they can’t be visualized</li>
<li>Lower sensory processing sensitivity; weaker reactions to loud noises, bright lights, and strong smells. (High sensory processing sensitivity may be related to some<a href="https://childmind.org/article/sensory-processing-issues-explained/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia"> </a><a href="https://childmind.org/article/sensory-processing-issues-explained/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">mental health issues</a>)</li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Some Mysteries Solved</b></p>
<p>Not all the supposed benefits ring true for me, but some do. </p>
<p>In my youth, I backpacked around the world and had the poor timing to end up in Iran days before the start of the revolution. I’ve always felt good about myself for remaining relatively calm and rational during a particularly fierce battle at the Air Force base, where I taught English. The situation was so dire that several of the military personnel protecting us broke down crying. That was not reassuring!  </p>
<p>Perhaps my aphantasia helped me to logically analyze the situation despite the noise and chaos of bullets, grenades, tanks, and a helicopter gunship strafing the building I was in. Although it did take me a few years to decompress fully, my aphantasia also probably helped me deal with the trauma.</p>
<p>Knowing I have aphantasia has helped me understand why I’m a visual learner. </p>
<p>I often ask my staff to present drawings or prototypes to help me comprehend their ideas better. </p>
<p>During a backyard renovation project a few years back, I insisted that the designer show me 3D drawings instead of 2D ones. I even had her create a physical mockup for a large (and expensive) water feature. I must have seemed very demanding. In the future, I can explain why that extra work helps me.</p>
<p>I’m still discovering other ways that aphantasia may have affected my life. It just dawned on me that my peers could visualize the questions and possible answers when I was sitting exams in my school days. That would have been handy!</p>
<p>I read “The Lord of the Rings” as a teenager. In a conversation with a friend about aphantasia, I was stunned to hear she visualizes the fictional worlds created in books. </p>
<p>While trekking through Nepal's vast mountains and misty valleys during my round-the-world backpacking trip, I remember thinking, “This is what Middle-earth must look like.” Unlike her, I had to see something tangible to visualize what most people can do effortlessly.</p>
<p>Counting sheep can supposedly help you fall asleep. When I tried, I couldn’t visualize sheep, so I assumed this was a figure of speech. I still find it hard to believe that some people can picture sheep. I’m sure I will discover other things in the days ahead.</p>
<p>I’ve lived for many decades in blissful ignorance that I have aphantasia. I don't feel it’s impeded my life. However, I have to confess I’m pretty envious that most people can see and hear a loved one in their head. I wish I could do that with my Mum.</p>
<p>Try the above tests on people you know. Prepare to blow their mind - or yours!</p>
<h2>Remember with My Stories Matter</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">My Stories Matter</a> enables you to preserve your memories safely digitally. You can share them with others and even create a Life Stories Book as a keepsake or gift.</p>
<p>We are our memories. I hope that fellow aphants will find the many unique features of My Stories Matter helpful in overcoming the challenges posed by our condition. And, even if you don’t have aphantasia, I hope you will enjoy using our application.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Aphantasia" type="Aphantasia">Sign up</a> today for free.</p>
<p>And let me know if you’re also a member of the club!</p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>


My Mind’s Eye is Blind, is Yours?

Aphantasia: Simple Test, What to Do, and Surprising Benefits

<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. With its massive user base of <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-worldwide/#:~:text=How%20many%20users%20does%20Facebook,years%20to%20reach%20this%20milestone." title="Facebook Alternative">2.96 billion monthly active users</a>, Facebook is the world's most popular social media platform! </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">With its reach, Facebook has downsides. The platform has faced numerous criticisms, including data privacy concerns, the spread of fake news, mental health issues, and political manipulation. Nowadays, <a href="https://apuedge.com/facebook-users-seeking-alternatives-to-social-media-giant/" title="Facebook Alternative">social media users seek alternatives to Facebook</a>. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">One is <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Facebook Alternative">My Stories Matter</a>, which promises privacy, inclusivity, and mental well-being.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20531" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img title="Facebook Alternative" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-23T130839.631.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=hmTfGqTeASnqvaXENW5L4VvCN%2F9gewZ8fjsJgOdRg6SyB6r%2BEpa6VbVgNL8jG47jFFdKoA6XSRxGeUw5L10HjPX4cKb5D%2BVOfOsncyvr7xMF8SXLtYlozoC2NreoWvf1JG6%2FFVpvuqtx6HGQowYHaSryJ30JB%2BfbjMHAf2vSRaOD9mhhOjzjzsXOHmb2kVHK%2F%2F1tcg%2F5h7pLDjR8MdbTqHgXKcC0I35HNwuaT%2FfKZRyJ5NYIT%2FzHmoqvWh1i7ryPFNWveGKqXlkC9brjb2%2FUH5ni1foB%2FfhEEFGBGpQCTcYJ1rkt6q256G7MWjDMwaYDLwnzI2niDn96yzdTxcYDjw%3D%3D" alt="A typewriter that says &quot;fake news&quot;" />  </div>

  
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">Facebook Alternative: My Stories Matter Spreads No Misinformation  </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">Social media platforms like Facebook fail to control the spread of fake news and allow biased content. Such content has the potential to sow discord and fuel conflict among users. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">On My Stories Matter, there is a strict no-bias policy to ensure that only credible content is shared. Alternatively to Facebook, you can rest assured that you only get reliable information! My Stories Matter prioritizes authenticity and transparency, with no misinformation or propaganda.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">Furthermore, My Stories Matter promotes user-generated content, ensuring only you create the stories, not companies or third-party sources. You can share your stories, experiences, and perspectives with your community without interference from other businesses or organizations. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">As a result, My Stories Matter focuses on the user experience, where your voice will be heard and your experiences respected.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20532" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img title="Facebook Alternative" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-23T131234.127.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=N0YOCsVcldF6%2FhfEQ8YALWP2JaLi37nrwfIXYlTG74DDVJpQsGdkNc6nkSJx8ZQMVsQfwlGquq8eKJswkaPwhi1GxVFilwAhDYIistIB0%2FELiEsY0YCjKeXxGZEyENVSpxmPGng7pg3Cmihnk2UmkC7NRQj7wlAZcnOtPgEh8SUCsZF9K86tAB4tGx22iUxWpRTMjVwcNIcAzSgti38LN%2Bf9F9fqXwVv3ht%2BdQ9MN8%2BqAB2YWLnLO9%2FfIGZI%2FnZ6M0iWZLj97gw57X1WUc7ZxUMFMpxWIW3TMiPbxlLMOLBTn8k%2FBJQZ5geItR0RVbQtH2GbaGfZjDnz5%2BClGrMy5Q%3D%3D" alt="A woman hiking in nature" />  </div>

  
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">As an Alternative to Facebook, My Stories Matter Improves Mental Health</b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">Another downside of social media is its potential to affect <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-you-can-take-care-of-yourself-on-world-mental-health-day/" title="Facebook Alternative">mental health</a> negatively. Research has shown that the more time spent on social media, the more <a href="https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751" title="Facebook Alternative">likely users feel depressed and anxious</a>. Excessive social media use leads to feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">According to recent research by <a href="https://childmind.org/article/is-social-media-use-causing-depression/" title="Facebook Alternative">Child Mind Institute</a> and <a href="https://www.center4research.org/social-media-affects-mental-health/" title="Facebook Alternative">The National Center for Health Research</a>, people who frequently use social media are less satisfied with their lives than those who spend more time doing non-screen-related activities.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">Our focus on mental well-being sets us apart from other social media platforms. My Stories Matter encourages positive user engagement, where you can block inappropriate content or behavior. You can manage your notifications and control your feed's content with the click of a button! </b></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20533" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img title="Facebook Alternative" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-23T131308.289.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=i0plCdexWeKzkblZIwAL7HHSbCaZ5H7cesGmu0sBAE%2BaQtx3vH2DOju1CLLqSaqnGN7SbAa6OKRElCJh2tjZl5rX6hKlocLm%2F1LBSSKKdp2r7xwKuLSBlJIrt4Wjcrme5153s0hP9LrveUJrTthhkuP%2FzAhY4V9KJyXHTuw8F6JCkAd48iAsgAcZd6bN0Ejul2HOc%2FmRiOBPokf9nDEbz5HQfuLOInBY1IcRGlXwX0%2FI%2BtOzAplv6OC3LJEtQpJ2ISSeUvNNaFWZCo5Zzjrf%2Bk9Zdn1oeL2YfI3g58mWy5q7WrvI%2B5yOC8jCks%2FKlIpDJq%2FzHxRmjUd4keAc3%2BeY1A%3D%3D" alt="A padlock on a door" />  </div>

  
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">My Stories Matter Guarantees Privacy, an alternative to Facebook Groups</b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">Data privacy is another problem with social media. Facebook, in particular, has faced numerous allegations of data privacy breaches. In 2018, Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-scandal-fallout.html" title="Facebook Alternative">harvested data from millions of Facebook users without consent, influencing the 2016 US Presidential election</a>. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">My Stories Matter is committed to protecting your data. The platform does not sell your data to advertisers; personal information is kept secure and private. My Stories Matter's approach to data privacy ensures that you can confidently share your <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/discover-why-your-stories-matter/" title="Facebook Alternative">stories</a> and experiences, knowing your information is safe and protected.</b></p>
<p> </p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">Alternative to Facebook, My Stories Matter Empowers You</b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">My Stories Matter is committed to supporting real people. We focus on empowering you to share your most treasured <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-relive-a-memory/" title="Facebook Alternative">memories</a>. You can freely express yourself and connect with others with similar backgrounds or interests, an alternative to Facebook for keeping in touch.  </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">My Stories Matter has no independent curators or companies to sell ads or create content, empowering you to share your stories without hidden agendas or ulterior motives. This means you are not bombarded with advertisements or targeted with marketing campaigns, creating a unique experience.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9">In a world where profit and engagement metrics drive social media platforms, My Stories Matter stands out as a genuinely dedicated platform to its users. We provide a refreshing alternative if you want to share your stories without the pressure of algorithms or the influence of corporate interests.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89200b2f-7fff-d2ff-c85f-d3ee874a3bf9"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Facebook Alternative">Sign up</a> for free today!</b></p>


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<h1 dir="ltr"><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20458" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2023-03-10t091315553jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2023-03-10T091315.553.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-10T091315.553.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=E5h7UIdwnF58TQVQBtt%2FnHYi4UGXjnxyA1UHBclEWK9%2BWHTSOqda6JmC4UFaa57LdDBCwVH4HRvd%2FhtDSPjkrEvYO2UrMRIPPQZvunKed5Sk9pecADXBlAWztCny15wLIj9gTJaojKt8W1HiLDrEBNxj1pcpI08klPck5B%2BA0G8NJ1%2FZMg2f72y3PamHZwyvVDVaSBlro8BP88XDmnaGmFeBsYW3AyZn%2BeIeJyXAwlanORwEN%2B9lQe4xIZhrX15neJ16%2FUae%2BuE%2BJj3f9cLojNf3XaniJYz0wPNRUkbFpZtPBINOFk24pAxgjetgIqH%2Fcvo3VTw0%2BqwG8AxFAMoULA%3D%3D" alt="a newspaper full of sunflowers" />  </div>

  
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<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Losing a loved one can be a challenging and emotional experience. So <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/8-creative-ways-keep-memory-loved-one-alive" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">preserving their memories</a> and cherishing your moments with them is essential!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">One way to do this is by creating a Celebration of Life Stories Book, which captures the life and legacy of your deceased loved one. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Keep reading to discover the benefits of a Celebrating a Life Stories Book and what to include in one!</b></p>
<p> </p>
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        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2023-03-10t090206940jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2023-03-10T090206.940.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-10T090206.940.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=AHC7k10S1JtdB7zSxr8P1F8xavXgL2KahINOBz2SjT%2Bgpg10EBygVie2Q8S89DOA44BQ9wYWkYVGYlFiEfMuaWI1ZGrn1cg7gt7Axfb6%2FQgtb7c6YfLZN3SfqwaoV4xAxcSX11tHcA%2FhPRzNzJMeC%2BPwWKh%2FPElRdbGkcL7sTiws4q6tPWZ7wQlt0nJQGKPOeFUOI4EGj7HjMJjdVT5Hew4%2BqX3pxH9DxgHYFo2b8YleUaftZmJdXjMWTOKj1bKSwhsUalrSKzb84Caev3iApiF1IykEkhNDUCelxMiRAe%2BaObCysccoDbX2QycwfdQ%2BTDACA3DmDdqy8V3DAnz4mQ%3D%3D" alt="person's shadow dancing in field" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"> </h1>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Benefits of a Celebration of Life Stories Book</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">A Celebration of Life Stories Book offers numerous benefits for honoring a deceased loved one, including helping with the grieving process, as <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301745124_Scrapbooking_as_an_Intervention_to_Enhance_Coping_in_Individuals_Experiencing_Grief_and_Loss" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">research</a> suggests. It allows you to express emotions creatively, reminisce on cherished memories, and create a meaningful tribute to your loved one's life.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Making scrapbooks using personal, symbolic artifacts has become <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301745124_Scrapbooking_as_an_Intervention_to_Enhance_Coping_in_Individuals_Experiencing_Grief_and_Loss" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">popular for people dealing with loss</a>. This ritual allows people to collect memories, providing comfort and a sense of closure. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Scrapbooks are also a great way to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301745124_Scrapbooking_as_an_Intervention_to_Enhance_Coping_in_Individuals_Experiencing_Grief_and_Loss" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">connect with family and peers</a>. <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/sharing-memories--5-unique-ways-you-haven't-thought-of/" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">Sharing</a> your scrapbook creations can spark conversations and deepen relationships with your loved ones.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Scrapbooks can be an excellent substitute if you struggle with words. You can use images, colors, souvenirs, etc., to showcase their life or communicate how much they meant to you. Plenty of people use visuals to express themselves. Why are we still drawn to the Mona Lisa and Starry Night? After all, visuals <a href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1288746.pdf" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">stimulate memory</a>. </b></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20460" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2023-03-10t090349093jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2023-03-10T090349.093.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-10T090349.093.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=bYlmoeA4Stav%2F4AJC0C0nlhvnR10F2zZEZp0BnSrRY1DCwqPhgoKPRzoxnbCHVWTYsNQ%2BImTWXWYFRJ3q%2FY8BRCJrcDxQ98TbK3VXrMAnTgK6veZNoA6lhZ4XgiyyIZYttm4LWeQClhE90WeamMyYMPnKUwIthf4nzgyhNHcNF5YdbNhfncJQ96tMDsJThsYP10VJ2C%2FYK80sZIWWlwh3diqk94Cc65BD6q9AyeLCOWUcZ%2FyWdNmZi8y4EhZbs85l%2B86R2oCYwanl6VuHM5BN5T2MqcRPS7b%2BkMXPiG5aYAoxsj2Xbs925ySFCYVf6cBwC0qPsnMuCqjZFTFlrXJ4w%3D%3D" alt="an open scrapbook" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">What to Include in a Celebration of Life Stories Book</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">A Celebration of Life Stories Book can contain various items and information about your loved one. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">These include but are not limited to:</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Photos</b><b>: Include photos that capture your loved one's life. This could be pictures of them at different stages of their life, with family and friends, and doing activities they enjoyed.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Stories: Share stories about your loved one's life, such as memories you have of them or stories that others have shared with you.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Letters: Include letters that your loved one wrote or received from others—examples: letters of love, encouragement, or support.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Quotes: If your loved one had a favorite quote or saying, put it in the Life Stories Book!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Artifacts: Include any necessary items for your loved one from their hobbies, collections, or personal belongings.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Genealogy: If your loved one was interested in genealogy, insert a family tree and any information about their ancestors.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Obituary: Have a copy of the obituary published in the newspaper or online.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Tributes: Ask family and friends to contribute to the book by writing tributes or memories of your loved one. These could be separate pages integrated into the book.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20461" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-10T090901.013.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=fn2jUcrfTGpCz9hva%2BJKy5hJ86HoM6oKOxRljXvX7NmDrg%2FzrLJT35xIoNF6IZC8oQVK8svK7HBNCwu%2B2OGbSNAAjPuzPi7MyISASwNbtXf2YHuVCCi%2B0D%2F04tf8JIO7xPbtNyHCIfifUPhHWgL%2FltzdQhT7UvpbFLtcUDGdd033eQU0fHL4b36nybxAjY5JvMvUjy8hiEknl52WZ2af6kzu5AZqQcDkTT%2BZFWWAnAPyEzf4dqyejBp8FRAAfra1e9FZzMWoufxlOCUdtW9PKJb1rcaQh0RUhSm%2FFD1pp0TxTC%2BO%2BxopdCQwE9FabAw%2Fsz7%2BPV7yymTKAwIH634WOQ%3D%3D" alt="a bouquet of colorful flowers" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Make a Celebration of Life Stories Book on My Stories Matter</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Losing a loved one is a difficult time for everyone, and creating a Celebration of Life Stories Book can be a cathartic way to honor and cherish their memories. However, <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-create-a-life-stories-book%C2%A0/" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">making a Celebration of Life Stories Book</a> can be daunting. That's where <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">My Stories Matter</a> comes in!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">My Stories Matter helps you create a digital or a physical Celebration of Life Stories Book. The digital option is perfect if you need more time or want a more professional-looking book. It allows you to collaborate with family and friends to add photos, audio recordings, and text, making the process more interactive and personalized.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">For those who prefer a tangible memento, My Stories Matter offers a professionally designed and formatted physical book. Printed copies can be ordered so everyone can have a copy of the book as a keepsake.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">With My Stories Matter, you can customize the book to reflect your loved one's personality and style. You can choose a design that honors their passions, hobbies, or favorite color. By doing so, you create a unique and meaningful tribute that celebrates their life. See an example of what your book might <a href="https://issuu.com/mystoriesmatter/docs/sample-book-issuu" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">look like</a>! </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-dac5102e-7fff-795b-3efb-d19e8a302814">Creating a Celebration of Life Stories Book is a beautiful way to <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-relive-a-memory/" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">remember</a> and honor the life of someone you love. My Stories Matter provides an easy and stress-free way to create a personalized book that will become a timeless family heirloom. <a href="https://book.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Celebration of Life Memory Book" type="Celebration of Life Memory Book">Get started</a> today!</b></p>


A Celebration of Life Stories Book

<h1 dir="ltr"><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20437" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img title="Father's Day book " class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-08T143146.760.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=hjvf6owP%2FJWbMnBNreTvUg0HV%2BXuZn5EOcindd3eVzgoT2hsZwcVyJBk%2Bqcy8dBNgtLhPznxWFnfUygPiBtFORadwcy6AAqSLaKtwSP%2BlOvo1R%2FCLftOgmTcCJNa3nOby7dS4%2BB%2FsHOazI1OWH3cQjRI9lKnv6DWCj4lO8l4UFzZVieHTyncIqaTiSlx5%2FEdd%2BSzjM9OblrwWo4F4coBdNHlOhi65V7fm4pKtss5qfu9ismPMapCke88aw1rtBTz%2BwROfpipAFxbO7wJE019W7uPcY3idqk52BJC5rpB6UGS6bZHXyD9LOGABytn1K8MMDI7eo9A5p0Zx0apUjadmg%3D%3D" alt="father playing with son in field" />  </div>

  
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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Father's Day is approaching, and there's nothing quite like a Father's Day Life Stories Book filled with personal memories to honor the remarkable man in your life. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/the-importance-of-recording-your-parent's-life-stories--how-my-stories-matter-can-help/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">Recording your Dad's stories</a> and memories is a thoughtful way to pay tribute to him, but it also doubles as an enjoyable bonding experience. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">The Harris Poll polled over 2,000 adults in the U.S. to determine what will be on everyone's wish lists this year. According to the survey, 75% of Americans <a href="https://blog.faire.com/industry-insights/local-gifts-make-people-happy/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">prefer to give </a>unique holiday gifts, such as those with a story attached to them!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">In <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/11/15/most-americans-want-this-type-of-gift-for-the-holidays/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">another study</a>, presents that were seen as "heartfelt" and "personalized" were greatly preferred over generic gifts. People preferred these personal gifts even more than gift cards, with only 14% of respondents saying they'd choose a gift card over a sincere present. In addition, twice as many respondents preferred a uniquely personal gift over a generic one worth more than $100!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">To help you create your personalized Father’s Day gift, use My Stories Matter to turn your written memories into a custom Life Stories Book.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20438" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img title="Father's Day book " class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-08T143100.968.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=EbPTEXOuhhuJDXBzNWofDD5v6KRK2bXiug%2FxRqAKEhggjVqHY7gdP4qkrt2jDvXFw5psrsGimv%2BAdsk3pirAZJedAq5rglmqT6dX2YxG4mIeXaB8MtvE2JhXWshOL0MuAIoXHpKnPL%2BqL3oyNNkKW2qjK7jwTgjrXKlb7b2mJ%2FHgk6bXU3Nr8jiAT%2Bfh3rsY%2FLdQNyCXYi61HmEmRTM1bA1eC0a2RTwDKBU64MUz9oB7PUMlTruZyaYgS6%2FwKlveOv%2BXqNwwddpAO95y0JAOG5XXcc5VN71dC0lN2nIfMAIHF7P3KOolGfEJdxqEpXKJf%2B%2BkUk%2B7dxcwCTDd3bABGQ%3D%3D" alt="an empty scrapbook" />  </div>

  
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<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Create Your Father’s Day Life Stories Book on My Stories Matter </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">My Stories Matter makes the process a breeze with its user-friendly platform. <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">Create an account</a> and invite your Dad to join. Then, share the link to the platform and guide him through recording his stories; choose from hundreds of prompts in My Stories Matter to encourage him to open up and share his most meaningful memories.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Once your dad has recorded his stories, you can help him organize them into a <a href="https://book.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">Father's Day Life Stories Book</a>. You can also enhance his stories with photos. With various designs and layout options to choose from, you can create a personalized Father's Day Life Stories Book that genuinely represents your dad's unique personality.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Use My Stories Matter to make the process more interactive. You can record stories in different settings, such as during a road trip, at a particular location that holds meaning for your Dad, or at an event you attend together. Believe it or not, according to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rpos20/current#.UzszK2RDtIw" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">research</a>, people value <a href="https://qz.com/194381/money-cant-buy-happiness-at-least-not-the-way-youre-spending-it" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">experiences more than gifts</a>!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Another great feature of My Stories Matter is the ability to share the Father's Day Life Stories Book with others. In addition to printing a physical keepsake,  you can also digitally share his stories on My Stories Matter with family and friends.  </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">You can also make it a family fun activity by making a game out of it, like creating a "guess the year" game, where you and your family will have to guess the year the stories took place and other fun trivia games!</b></p>
<p> </p>
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        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2023-03-08t143447675jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2023-03-08T143447.675.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img title="Father's Day book " class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-03-08T143447.675.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=SzciCApoPHoMF4VziMgbBa7LnelrhlJhAPNTkdiwDn8i8iqEK8fnLXYz12hjYurFdnBXksGClPD1C1fi2l2ALZIoxyB0SVEjg6ljRQSLOgIpQbqcL4HpVoVqHltxR0yl5aqO3y0%2FJP3doeq792tr0ypHjKM1oMt3IgGGPDYsrmK%2FuES7FZcCJQMypUSCwUbBfwOFlobKlfnFXtBiTUl%2Fwx9ZWr25GnRnBBbsPbgZkZcQZVmGV1aCei%2BekLRBBjskK3PbV5SsG4tCWAUSsNnPo3sIlOm7D9HOUaIJUe4NiA73bBr9RambGQY1S8t%2BL1OrHkhdqHavibJtHYpi4rOftA%3D%3D" alt="Father with a son on his shoulders" />  </div>

  
</div>
</div>
<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">What to Include in a Father’s Day Life Stories Book </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">What to put in your <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-create-a-life-stories-book%C2%A0/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">Father's Day Life Stories Book</a> depends on what your Dad enjoys doing, his personality quirks, etc. You can include special mementos that are meaningful to your father, making it a truly one-of-a-kind gift. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Alternatively, you can talk about what your Dad means to you. For example: </b></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Childhood Memories </b></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Start by sharing some of your favorite <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/why-you-prefer-nostalgic-songs-from-your-teenage-years/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">childhood memories</a> with your Dad. Write about your fun times and what made those moments memorable.</b></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Family Photos</b></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Include some of your favorite family photos, especially ones that capture moments with your Dad. Write about the stories behind those photos and their significance to you.</b></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Letters and Notes</b></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Write letters or <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/7-must-have-tips-on-journaling%C2%A0/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">notes</a> to your Dad expressing your love and appreciation for him. Share what you admire most about him and how he has impacted your life.</b></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Recipes and Activities</b></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">If your Dad has a <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/scent-of-a-memory-and-the-proust-effect/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">favorite recipe</a> or activity you enjoy, include it in the book. This will show him that you value your time together and the memories you have created.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">My Stories Matter helps you elegantly communicate these ideas with our newly added <a href="https://linktr.ee/mystoriesmatter" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">WritingHelper</a>. Don’t forget to take advantage of this feature when you sign up! </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-084a5301-7fff-cb27-eb9c-655476420e80">Creating a Father’s Day Life Stories Book is a great way to learn more about your Dad, preserve his <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-write-your-legacy-story/" title="Father's Day book " type="Father's Day book ">legacy</a> for future generations, and show him how much he means to you and your family. He’ll be so appreciative and delighted whether this gift is a surprise or a special project you both worked on together.  </b></p>


Gift Dad with a Special Father’s Day Life Stories Book 

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Did you know that memoirs are one of the fastest-growing genres in publishing? You don’t need to be a celebrity or the survivor of a catastrophic event to draw readers to the story of your life. Some of the most popular memoirs in recent years have been written by <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/10-differences-between-a-memoir-and-an-autobiography/" title="everyday people">everyday people</a>. </b></p>

<ol>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Personal Growth </b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Writing a memoir can help you reflect on your experiences and lessons learned. </b></p>
<ol start="2">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Legacy</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">By sharing your stories, you leave a <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/the-glue-that-binds-a-family-together--building-a-family-legacy/" title="legacy for loved ones">legacy for loved ones</a> that provides a glimpse into your life as well as the people and experiences that shaped your personality. </b></p>
<ol start="3">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Family Narrative</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Record your family’s story. <a href="https://wellbeingjournal.com/childhood-self-esteem-and-family-togetherness/" title="Research">Research</a> shows that children who have a strong sense of "intergenerational self" and know they belong to something bigger than themself are more likely to have higher self-esteem and resilience. </b></p>
<ol start="4">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Healing</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Writing about past experiences can be a form of therapy and healing for both the writer and the reader. </b></p>
<ol start="5">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Create Connection</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Memoirs can bring people together and create a sense of community by sharing common experiences and perspectives. </b></p>
<ol start="6">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Inspire Others</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Sharing your story can inspire and empower others who may be facing similar experiences.</b></p>
<ol start="7">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Document History</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">By documenting your experiences, you are contributing to the historical record of your community and the world. </b></p>
<ol start="8">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Gratitude</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">A memoir provides an opportunity to express gratitude to the people who have helped you in your life journey.  Publicly thank individuals so that their legacy can live on.</b></p>
<ol start="9">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Life Lessons</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Pay it forward and share your hard-earned life lessons to help younger generations succeed in life.</b></p>
<ol start="10">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Mental Exercise</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Writing down stories <a href="https://hbr.org/2014/10/why-your-brain-loves-good-storytelling" title="solidifies memory pathways">solidifies memory pathways</a> in the brain and preserves those memories for the future.</b></p>
<ol start="11">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Unique Voice</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Your story is unique and valuable. Writing it gives you the opportunity to share your perspective and voice with the world.</b></p>
<ol start="12">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Empowerment</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Writing a memoir can be an empowering experience that helps the author reclaim their story and gain control over their narrative.  </b></p>
<ol start="13">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Celebrate Achievements</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">A memoir is a way to <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/memory/bXlfc3Rvcmllcy8xNTU3MjA" title="celebrate">celebrate</a> and acknowledge your achievements, <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/memory/bXlfc3Rvcmllcy8xNTI0NDk" title="struggles">struggles</a>, and milestones.</b></p>
<ol start="14">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Express Creativity</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Memoir writing is a form of creative expression that enables you to craft your story and showcase your writing skills. </b></p>
<ol start="15">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Share Joy</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Write about the brightness of life and share the joy of laughter.  </b></p>
<ol start="16">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">20 Feet from Stardom</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Share your unique stories about your brush with famous people. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95"><a href="https://writinghelper.mystoriesmatter.com" title="Writing Helper">Writing Helper</a>: Elevate your writing in minutes!</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Have you always wanted to write your memoir? Do you struggle to put your ideas into words? Have a story to tell, but need help telling it? We can help you create professionally written stories of your life.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Save time and improve the quality of your writing </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">We turn your ideas and words into beautifully crafted stories delivered straight into your email inbox. And, we’ll save them digitally for you on My Stories Matter. Enjoy the quality of a professional writing service with the convenience of email! </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">What would you like to do?</b></p>
<ol>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">I need help starting my story</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Simply start with an idea. We’ll email you a topic or you can choose your own such as “Memories of my Mother” or “Life lessons I’d like to pass onto my children.”</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Then, just like a conversation, we will email you some questions. Spend just a few minutes on your responses and we will turn them into a professionally-written story. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar - we handle that too.</b></p>
<ol start="2">
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">I need help improving my story</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Every published author has an editor. If you just want to improve an existing story, our editing service can help. We can improve the readability of your writing by correcting spelling and grammar mistakes, and adding paragraph breaks. We can also provide alternative versions for your consideration. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">No matter what stage your story is at, we can take it to the next level and make it publication-worthy.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">It’s easy, fast, and affordable. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">See it in action</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Watch our short video to see how we can help you become the writer you’ve always wanted to be. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">3 Easy Steps:</b></p>
<ol>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Choose a topic, or send us your existing story</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Answer a few questions, or ask us to help improve your story</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Enjoy your story!</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-c03679c3-7fff-fa26-6183-2699cb1e0fe5"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/concierge-life-stories" title="memoir " type="memoir ">Get started</a> today. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Acknowledgements</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Thank you to the following members of My Stories Matter whose posts are referenced.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Hans VanDeVen</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Betty DelCastillo</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Megan Rourke</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Lilian Lopez</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Lynn Lozano</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Shaire Campos </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Christopher Faylor</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Ruth Brandon</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Sera Mercury</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Peyton Kellner</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Robin Korejko</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Cierra Turner-graham</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Bailey Edwinson</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Keanna Bitangcol</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Arnie Papp</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Alex Reid</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Yolanda Collier</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Sharon Nibbs</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Marisa Hoisington</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Electra Panting</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Inez Morgan</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Douglas Augustine</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Erica Worley</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Belinda Wharehinga</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Stephanie Elsner</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Peg Brown</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Norma Jarvie</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Sera Mercury</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Lynette Villegas</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Lucy Perez</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Ken Windsor</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Claire Goodwin </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Andrea Thorfinson</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-cb8f0dcb-7fff-4f21-f0db-41a755091d95">Ty Hunter</b></p>


March 2nd is World Book Day, so now’s a perfect time to think about writing your memoir.

16 Reasons to Write Your Memoir

<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20368" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2023-02-23t095528636jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2023-02-23T095528.636.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img alt="mother and kid in grass" title="memory book " class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-02-23T095528.636.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=ZVRA1rYwLlw56nynPGYzIV%2B8F9llCm9QvTRz4CCrE6FUMbTug3C8Z2Ay9sCv75VNW7hxQigPzcNP7kP%2F%2BmGQr33KUfPSxSdCHzc%2FggAJWWarCVUZHfRE89QsX7hc19xPXGC2Fw7mZ%2FLAgoP0wyXaI8Gu6mocLv6aU3uRMCPkFF%2FA7nVqkaJ%2FjlUqQOvj69zys0%2BY%2FFDhcxr78LwLY2aQVh%2BiL%2FKAgbylFpyHsPtb%2FyQlaSbf0SWWrn%2BDqn8%2BpZG71vIYdotcfjP%2BcIt6FFeOkdHvZqTQaAZt2tG3yAHiwSEpx8W90qOMR0TYbgCNgM5QDNfQA%2BWVLWU%2BtovmeMO2Tw%3D%3D" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">Mother's Day is a special occasion to honor the woman who gave us life and love. One meaningful way to celebrate this day is to create a <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/gift-memory-book" title="memory book" type="memory book">Mother's Day Memory Book</a> filled with your mom's stories and memories. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">Imagine sitting with your mom, drinking tea, and reminiscing over her life. You'll not only learn more about your mom, but you'll also have a chance to relive some of your own favorite memories! So, why not give the gift of memories as this Mother's Day gift? Creating a Memory Book is easy and fun on <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/gift-memory-book" title="memory book" type="memory book">My Stories Matter</a>!</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20371" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2023-02-24t125137474jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2023-02-24T125137.474.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img alt="white flowers" title="memory book" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-02-24T125137.474.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=TwueCG0APMbwO7egx9bq0Dntx9RtO2Pgx%2BZdK8sBNxArsqHlnaB8mcsrZzMYBnwyNx7HGioklifSKBpr9cDOsauM2pzgA9N%2FcldKNeoSsqpI0pTAcCTPg3a9XdWZ3W%2BbVzZRt%2F9Qk37hb1Nh2asj79g54u25EDiHJeCJGiXzOG2Csnay%2FU1rH2x0x%2BgbZ46659LMJCQd%2BELUBBZXkOI7fCMVP251sWaE7NKuYgUyA7N0FoV59ivlaWss0fLixrmQAvcd9Il9f8osaoxpc0xaBmxq2pvjufTCHUFJh7NMqzlunpyvsicEEcb0KBdq8s00Of6sBCfO7AZO7To9Pmk9Ug%3D%3D" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">How does it work? The process is simple: </b></p>
<ol>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">First, purchase the Memory Book. </b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">Your mom will receive weekly prompts via email that inspire her to write her stories.</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">Then, our team prints and ships her beautiful hardcover book!</b></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">And you don’t even have to worry about her photos being blurry or damaged - we restore them. After all, photos are the <a href="https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/storage/american-sentimentality-research-2018/" title="memory book" type="memory book">most sentimental objects we save</a>! Utilize our powerful photo enhancement service to breathe life into her old, faded photos. </b><b>Giving her a Memory book will be a tangible gift that she will value for years. But the fun doesn’t stop there; once the Memory Book is created, you can <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/sharing-memories-5-unique-ways-you-havent-thought" title="memory book" type="memory book">share</a> it with family and friends! </b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20374" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2023-02-24t125349823jpeg-0">resized-image-Promo - 2023-02-24T125349.823.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-02-24T125349.823_0.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=oeSWzqWCdMEggGNZdiSGSkFCVMD3eCMDPdnITSqoVamMLhoYtdeyE8Hi7Vl7G5iSUjw39Use7Pm%2FIIgPAOC2c44OLcjbMhl4klJWZGxuQkkQ6t3b6S7Sq5z3QaqaQj4x3HESuOBg5CbgtuXqyezPreEfwr6VsS2veVdtcZbg1pfWVYzpYZk%2FNcrLFFD%2BddGnDp%2BezATa76Ra3nkS9t%2FN9NEEeKYVpji9rlVPrWaymzWM5oX2xI316Ppzrmd7DDPIWnXC8JP9cEKDs8Sd4J%2FYJ3av4TSycp2lYHCMaLConhmZ1smwTVn%2BHqiVUGlU4HYd%2BEKNx3%2BCfANAXjnq3GxpeQ%3D%3D" alt="family together" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">Play a “Guess Who” Game</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">If you don’t have time to give a Memory Book this year, don’t worry. Another fun way to use My Stories Matter is to create a "guess who" game with your mom's stories. You can record your mom sharing stories about different people, such as her childhood friends, old co-workers, or even celebrities she's met. Once you record the stories, you can organize them and invite your family and friends to guess who the stories are about. </b></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-20372" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2023-02-24t125219447jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2023-02-24T125219.447.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202023-02-24T125219.447.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=BYM9SSKpwWK3NtS2RGvS%2BJLKCBIYBrMlohvybZYbABgV8L%2B2QUQZVWRFy%2ByxhFHlWJIY8O7BME338zqnRcFcRjYv9cacAoYBKm5aAG5Pwd8Z5xqfgiptpuLpq%2B7eFxZ7KqzaVC%2BGq2upQv1fgPhi7Sh3FBVJjArYBZSOvc0ZV2%2BjRilVlUeXY3rw5VRRbDpNsc6DHz%2BySH0X75tyV7XgMGzoGl3oEjzKa52wkF0eMFyo4SSz9FuTY1V9VOQVyGSBk56L2RfYIpX1tUSuzaaxtI1iLGxcYFQioYnkcod8HuwjXCHdNVjWGG%2Bsg245%2BBk6v10SdJs%2ButGYedwe91%2FbRQ%3D%3D" alt="mother and kid at beach" />  </div>

  
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<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">Reminisce Anywhere</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">You can access My Stories Matter anywhere! This means that even if you can't be with your mother in person on Mother's Day, you can still create a unique Memory Book for her. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">Another way to make the process more fun is to record your mother's stories in different places or settings. You can take My Stories Matter with you on a trip or to other sites with special meaning, such as the house she grew up in or a family vacation place. This will add an extra layer of significance to the stories in the book.</b></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">Save Your Mother’s Legacy  </b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e7324fc-7fff-1c9f-578b-4ebb95a9413f">This year for your Mother's Day gift, a Memory Book is an excellent way to honor your mom and preserve her <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/how-write-your-legacy-story" title="memory book" type="memory book">legacy</a>. Create a permanent record of your mother's stories and memories for future generations to cherish and enjoy. You can also make the process easier with Concierge Interviews. For example, if your mom is not a fan of tech, is busy, or prefers talking over writing, we can handle everything for her! <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/concierge-life-stories" title="memory book" type="memory book">Get started</a> today.</b></p>


Create a Memory Book For Mother’s Day

<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19229" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-24t081737455jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-24T081737.455.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-24T081737.455.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=ZLVZMCwaR25hBtmQ397Z%2Fv%2BG%2BkiB1Wv879EtZhuOtz9ImJ3NCctjn2PrlHFGkh3gQbEH2MkMmt2th%2FViwgqD%2FuD6%2FmOglpj5VD47%2FDIPu66odGBI4C%2FV0%2FYCNCxmWea4T13kAXmhAoC8%2Fi5%2FqXYj631U6UgyHtNpd8vmgT1w1cdpEde89%2FHP1cLbgf1GX0vECT6AznGaHmsfA0OhMgM0IdVtpMBGNKyF%2BF9JGRfN9hj%2BO52qIfPUcJaS9%2FEh0SW6Lu%2B2NhnYuSJHlKWTkcDvaG0mf8ZdjxcvlbW2nnF5RjvemdsMiFQEsp%2BcLoV%2Fj74yrWnm49G%2BAqF2YZLl%2F925iw%3D%3D" alt="View of holiday table set up" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<p> </p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Have you ever asked yourself what would have happened if you had kept in touch with a particular person, asking that powerful question: “What if?” </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">After all, in one major study, the <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/the-top-5-regrets-of-the-dying-(and-how-to-avoid-them)/" title="reach out">4th regret of passing away is</a>: “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.” </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">It’s essential to keep those connections alive, even if it means getting past the initial awkwardness of reaching out. Even as the holidays dwindle, it’s never too late!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">So today, My Stories Matter gives you four quick, creative ways to reach out to an old family member or friend.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19230" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-24t082037858jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-24T082037.858.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-24T082037.858.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=dWf8easB2YfBsHlK2bndt60JZw%2F0kwHruaZIiNyNzWJnp9RCn05OXfalc0Rt29ln4gHEB%2Fk4lyrTj0RojXDE2pqIkYMZYoXbt%2BVqvIrJ2Z5suN7UuHeAJpk9EtMHi4pjtKLcm0IyGMYqwFkGKkGHkaq1qPEN5IC%2FzTl63EPkOrOGdVGIGmBZpm8OYmqvqV4h3boffZ5GLXMzAzhIA6%2FKNwvA6FKNA7O5S%2FxsHNcgInunvWBBYKAkwInsUkEOjNxkziP5hp1mdx15HexNHmloZ07ffHzjIDzkg7yGuPjcaRuwe0rDWqQpLkZhtp%2BRlCy%2BTL4Ju2uVIzsgOjtT6AtpYA%3D%3D" alt="woman reading letter" />  </div>

  
</div>
</div>
<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Try Snail Mail</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Handwritten notes, a letter, or a card are much appreciated and are more meaningful than texts, even if it’s brief or homemade. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">In the age of social media, this is more true than ever. Taking the time to write a letter shows that person how much you mean to them.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b> </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19232" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-24t082553703jpeg-0">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-24T082553.703.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-24T082553.703_0.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=HYnI1e7bAFVUQVvJQK%2B%2FxvBA5zNZLtOUQdQgFhUfpIzFFP9yrJkIneqWo4diHWIft6RrnoT2zsCFndctIcpODPHH%2FNJ%2Fyeq84jZJvU3YciGg9PRSGVrZz%2BcWT%2FqcI70fy4fj0OsCiZVc%2Bjvpg6I%2F1bqbq4djUinI1v5vfKpRIHG4ullkGfpNb6YBWXSgFp%2FNNYPDu%2B%2ByCCaZQl6OYVD7MaxDZ3l4JtbY1Sw%2BX88hVciRT8bOIWGAR5wxhJNr4Lq3PtPzKDUpfpGpVExDGgT5vYe9yFHH8azGS%2BtND1Rwoz2x3BrMoQBPQo2FVmzrBTjhvzw3uwX1EdXKkoPYz61Qnw%3D%3D" alt="woman zooming friend" />  </div>

  
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<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Initiate a Virtual Gathering </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Especially if that person lives on the other side of the world, initiating a virtual get-together is a low-key, great way to reconnect. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Your reunion can be a brunch, happy hour, game, or movie night. Or start a remote book club where you can discover a new author or genre together. </b></p>
<p> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19233" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-24t082850502jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-24T082850.502.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-24T082850.502.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=UTesKDVNWrIXzhfi6hRvGr5xJlYOXAwGOiPkDmQDsMYeQ1J4Hfjt%2Fb7Kqf%2FfM95Z5cO1prUInk6r4BC6huxYsRnuXo0XWtRPEmleN7ysaMj%2B45hlYAxXhzxhnUEDgchQ5Ohq9XPhWL%2BRGuWsF%2FLbhSznsTjJ0UGX2EYuqgbCxf1SRFYzFNcBTnhxjR%2FnQYa4YuEZQxEpA5dorlqQYq%2BbOanG0be2eO3jfwYxB5T13lQPPJBvhknuQcl79hLo8kI6SDDRA69hy0x5pQz%2BwmEpS3O9n9q0nJVDwPGjPwGjikPVvqSsn3YRPf3UT%2FOg1fBEF23fHaR4v92%2B%2F0W2YABadw%3D%3D" alt="person serving biscuits" />  </div>

  
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<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Share Recipes and Cook.</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Cooking together can be a great bonding activity where you can recreate your favorite dishes. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Smells you remember invoke<a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/scent-of-a-memory-and-the-proust-effect/" title="reach out"> those long-lost, treasured memories</a>. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19234" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-24t083028733jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-24T083028.733.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="5" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-24T083028.733.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=jqt1Jt%2Fmlmnmy4CJkeTVr30GZzWCCH0M9phf7zv4dHmXp%2BxylB1g3RiOvRft6IP9wLGC3Ks7BZ7ZKBfxkp0uZfGKN5DWQitwtv%2FCr5SnNxQYeRUdzhzB6zD46%2BusnXADS4dhonX4vTkHeH6abJq5Rm2rFeba7Ylp9cIZkcUrATXC%2BNgiHji4SCfZmPYyLgiKgyVU4odrZsB7HsRYOmje6jTjf6AbT1WOxZdjy4wtdrXMwVPVZF21U3zEy0l1zl%2F4YTc60mMozFxwx%2BCEPM2v2dj5UK3XGpaxVrO2VAqMgQJfVsvwEYMhBY3Xwhj6OZhu4Y4ONSsSjTH8Oz6l6DmzXw%3D%3D" alt="female hands holding a radio" />  </div>

  
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<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Send them a Song </b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Is there a song that makes you think of them or that you both used to listen to? Creating a collaborative playlist that you can add to is another excellent way to reconnect. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">It shows that they are still in your mind and heart in a touching way. <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/tapping-into-memories-with-music/" title="reach out">Music also stirs memories</a>; you can <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/why-you-prefer-nostalgic-songs-from-your-teenage-years/" title="reach out">share nostalgic songs</a>. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19235" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-24t083238120jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-24T083238.120.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-24T083238.120.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=RFplSFFLtBZV2TQC6MRMs2DadULqyEAFWoWTrBb9K3hKSG0PnN5rL5WAA%2FOZyIYoC%2Fccw4%2FfsEdV3gvwKa6RKVHwkcDJfUopKeM8RuiIXr%2BZNP%2BoPjdHCtfGXn9DKT52JBxCBbCldqN%2FOlPjFZ0vNukLd04TSAyGxLii1GBA5kSjNEGY5jda%2BKyHb1MW5jKCyUTmc0d1Ly35FovGdlySIPQoJFj2CsK88%2FeqS50GM2%2Bsphe8yg2GrvGeRGdz%2B16ABwFgh7VHW2XL9OLXjaZ%2BeNLHPDQ7HZNZ2KpiOhLNjPWT3bwoM42r1SL0ef1w6INYOZxPNZf0IlOQ8wJgo%2BeeGA%3D%3D" alt="diverse friends toasing at a table" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Stay Connected to Family and Friends with My Stories Matter</b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="reach out">My Stories Matter</a> lets you collaborate in myriad ways, such as musically, with photos, written entries, and more! Only you and that person can reminisce in peace and privacy.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="reach out">My Stories Matter</a> reminds your loved one about events that shaped you both into who you are by stirring memories and utilizing the power of storytelling. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5">Whether it’s helping your grandparent recall an old memory or a friend about a college experience, <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="reach out">My Stories Matter</a> brings people together, closing the time gap.  </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-eb4d0b11-7fff-cdf5-491b-71152491aef5"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="reach out">Sign up</a> today for free! </b></p>


4 Creative Ways to Reach Out to an Old Family Member or Friend

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">It’s that time of year again to reconnect and reminisce with family and friends! But are you tired of the same old routine? Are you trying to avoid those tense political debates between family members? </b></p>

<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">To create happy family memories, avoid strife and focus on similarities rather than differences. The end of the year is also a time of reflection and an occasion to reminisce about loved ones who are sadly no longer with us.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>We’ve compiled a list of creative ways to enjoy the holiday season with <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/5-tips-for-collecting-family-stories/" title="holidays">family</a> and <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/5-best-tips-for-capturing-life-stories/" title="holidays ">friends</a> while making more memories!</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19190" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-15T111933.561_0.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=gTHdTeixKlUqiCK4hJyzVNX4aHqtMbCsUhCMg8DSbfGx65IHGJKpDUMbx700%2FhItyfaUeQGBS59HNEoI0VlxD7d36X2WH79ZFeGcmSnSH2Y415vCgkpAMwzT%2Fcu%2F5Hwq2rFFB43g82Hagy7Gzem4%2Bf0bwfemTrgSq8kEdIlrkoCRaULGJJodHjegmeUXoxEg6tUg4BGmelTnbecQYN3mB5hIOZt7zXVLY%2FKYXLfPGL18Aal8Ep98ooWVahyum6tY8%2FrFH2WcnxbJOVSS9J0ppytzbVY%2B5W%2FcBWayaXf2bc1EoCmmCDDrNz0xKW6ppCbFblzzZotPgZdA5jaNPUp8EA%3D%3D" alt="Mother handing gift to son" />  </div>

  
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</div><b> </b>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Have a Game or Movie Night</b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Want to switch up the usual football game ritual after Christmas dinner? </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Do something interactive for fun with the family. If you don’t have any board games, try charades. Any initial groans will turn into laughter in short order. Watch a holiday movie with popcorn and cocoa if no one's up for games! </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">A scavenger hunt or flag football are great outdoor options if the weather is nice.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc"> </b></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19191" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-15t112425303jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-15T112425.303.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-15T112425.303.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331703&amp;Signature=WQpvLI%2FVbkpk98SxVcSZdi6oJV0CMjxH63JnzOIHg7ILG1di2%2BF8yivVnUmSGr2%2B6mQfdzDxm9Q9A%2Buv1vw0F%2BTq7PyEctoOOOUKvXF1xpqe3fY7bU4xHbwiF5MOYW5N%2BFrVJvmUtYzBPlJ6WdJHbxn%2FieG8x7K0dsNuKkUkuNY3wT7vk%2BhSzdScggqMhkZJXc51ng9ghkLWiyYYK6ZgBhqgpkWWBlmvWUeP6rkI0BSBLYTpCqe4qJbJSgWRz6sEPH%2BB%2BEg%2FkFCZNVdiZtXQwq%2BgvWY3eoq1A%2B2OTPXATF77jykd5ckQDMCPP8oRQoIicSJmrfTN4RryGfq7KxZykg%3D%3D" alt="Two women sitting in front of a fire" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"> </h1>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Host a Bonfire</b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">A campfire in the backyard is a beautiful way to spend time with loved ones and make s’mores - washed down with eggnog, cider, or hot chocolate!</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">This is an excellent opportunity to catch up with each other, and the warmth of the fire will create a cozy atmosphere.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc"> </b></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19193" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-15t112742785jpeg-0">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-15T112742.785.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-15T112742.785_0.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=QHtptB7vMH7gfl9IekfvTOw2U5I%2B9V5j5Ec13fLodxWobpVRnLFcjaSiK33WMu0NbRueEzcKXP6VsnWcO3RfuJSzy1wsiogsIdof71ryqGEkzf8LgozlmAe8niM6C%2F7MfsD7PNWsui%2FQycYqJLxWSdsSkNrqixTtxQYpt6hdYf0kwI5xEfM20emJpWaEiasFxEvlkrEVx2tRL3qRo0lJgO6fGsCEyn95%2FMLsH%2BBAi%2BFIpdPBgR6XuMIjqaJqf4g9TxslFv1eQNE7ZiJesQ91D6uqcSlBdLNbP%2FOxNCriGcOoevn6WqSlYs3iGdDr17Px7pQ2LnBkG2PCd4FV1HRFoA%3D%3D" alt="Cardboard gift box with postcard" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<h1 dir="ltr"> </h1>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Write Thank You Cards to Each Other</b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Thanksgiving might be over, but it’s always time to be thankful for family and friends. Have everyone write their reasons for being grateful this year on index cards, then distribute them. The host gathers the cards, saves them in a jar of appreciation, and reads them aloud again next year! </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">This makes it easier for everyone to see their personal growth over the past year, like an annual time capsule. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">  </b></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19198" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-15T113105.570.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=jGrmA1VLrgJnEXAy7HwNPv06ox90mJO0zmaNAWoMSIq2eTwxZEF9SM6l8VjjBYFldxyd44VoZGJ7wtq5YIu2wFhWqCfb9krP4bMgpkCRZC%2B03LAM1YBH%2BEKWbECqT5ziCiMxTWLZLmqjEZ0kfPEVfLMuoiqFBzZMEhI9T3ahJNHDybjaLUm5KlovsRsUD%2BTEl4JBT52seQ%2FfdSGoD9XIS6V6RvoPtZLffpt4aNEskjslRYXKYCwflrrORhwOHvZCcL51TsX3xOfM02zitSjM7okmEkqFSm1Vt9NGXyNVhat9dMj2paCQwp7uyhOrYeX7AsVdhh7nTCw6WgLQxWdpow%3D%3D" alt="Family preparing food in the kitchen" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Cook Together</b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">What is better than preparing a holiday meal together? Bring out Grandma's old cookbooks and show the kids how to cook those heirloom recipes! As a motivator, provide an irresistible prize - such as a dessert! </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Or hold a friendly baking contest, an ideal approach to persuade your guests to pitch in and bring a sweet treat. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">  </b></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19199" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-15t114443978jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-15T114443.978.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="5" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-15T114443.978.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=d8SyTZyuotirLGHa472hSuIQF79I2ejD1%2FY50q8pQSFkTH2v6uj%2BnSfI0%2FEh4vERxmA%2F3i%2Bk%2Bk58p%2F0bPlcPWVcDjLgolO3IPsL9d5nhcvP7cgiTBuh2qraofo57ZBQsJYE2J37eEasOM5b8nyd32k9r%2Fz6ee6lnlhwiYparNad02IjOU%2FQokhIgYyDS%2Fse26ZNDT2zVg8ual6W8OBtJrU1mbDzDcjqih38Htb1OUil3MX0S4xJLEcUiBL1yjbtueccNT6jORZP0VOvhcrMUoVBIY16BJOlGS2FQzA8UBLpjaHfGeiKdVE5fbDfIerNtytNxd6kpG04aTWct8ZZqbg%3D%3D" alt="A quilt" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Make a Memory Quilt</b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">While watching holiday-themed movies with caramel popcorn, create a family memory quilt.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Turn old clothes from your loved ones into a patchwork quilt as a daily reminder of the warmth they bring to your heart. Even if a family member has passed, using pieces of clothing from them will help<a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/8-creative-ways-to-keep-the-memory-of-a-loved-one-alive/" title="family and friends "> keep their memory alive</a>.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Not only will you be creating something beautiful, but you’ll also be preserving your family’s history for future generations.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">  </b></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19200" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-15t114707175jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-15T114707.175.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-15T114707.175.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=nMcoPa%2FBvuxaWhMKfN2hqTr9EwsIAKJjxh%2B7%2Bd%2BwZothhjJMKvQCjiYZDWhtzQXrMPPjHdKgBTbs%2FCjYEZDL%2BDn%2Fo%2B88GIx%2FnwKZakzrc6a6kUDR24nbp5j5ZrdlnhPtOTdG5VcjassvXHPD52t1y4l576aN6fZEau4X%2FxF3VAm0EDE09sgGsSxXEJk1c63%2BSXmvwAfvNiR0QjcZpIKSab0dbHCVw2mO4%2Fp7YRtj5LlKjYb9cDQrXX%2FgAHnx5K%2FEuoQlP%2FDyEDHz1r6CUNvmH%2FC%2BVI84xheSiAnVilyWVg59YSAySivKaUC8GixMfLuBZjs5xchabjoVFyEgdArz0A%3D%3D" alt="Person holding a journal" />  </div>

  
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</div>
<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Share a Journal</b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">With My Stories Matter, you and your family can collaborate to preserve memories of shared experiences. Create a journal about family vacations, birthdays, or other milestone events.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Use the collaboration feature to fill in the missing gaps of each person’s recollection or to capture different perspectives of the shared experience. You may find it enlightening to view family vacations through your children’s eyes!</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">  </b></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-19201" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-12-15t114917750jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-12-15T114917.750.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="7" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-12-15T114917.750.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=PSPIJcobrSZEcn90fCCHvnYwCUgnrk2DeOQvyZfVa1RZWX1k8YMfuEm%2BJZsg6uOKLL5k4MTggt7MYU1Ox4fnRmTlZSLUVm8oOXZQC0HpWSasUQ5sHQLCnsJKt2p1gg2c0co9ijfQMOVbfhTDGd%2BwxIYQoHfQlGKwwAahnenAOe7tILusViNBnnhodtZllAynwBj3kByks%2B5EmaFNfC0zn%2BpqyjpnbxCksMESEQ1c1SJm6k3tFGYdmAm3%2BiE9Hnp8rDTYMY3VSV%2B9Z5d3mVll9mgaVIHUat6WK2mHy9ZiZAAEPnWu21xisqEdeQMg9NES2gdShF1GKu4EQ58deQQ94Q%3D%3D" alt="Old photos in a brown box" />  </div>

  
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<p dir="ltr"> </p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Start Making Memories Today </b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">There is no better platform to reminisce and share memories with the family than <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="family and friends ">My Stories Matter</a>!</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Invite and collaborate with your parent, grandparent, or long-lost friend by sharing precious moments from the past. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">There are many ways to preserve family memories during this holiday season. For example:  </b></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Ask family members to share their stories of a loved one on My Stories Matter. Then create a <a href="https://issuu.com/mystoriesmatter/docs/sample-book-issuu" title="Family and friends">Life Stories Book</a> and present it to them as a keepsake.</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Only you know the stories of your children’s early years. Preserve them before they are forgotten. Create a book of their childhood for them to enjoy and pass on to their children.</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Assist a loved one in remembering special moments from their past. Use the power of storytelling to bridge the generations and bring your entire family together. Ask them to tell you the stories behind their photos. Help grandparents (or anybody else) remember the past, reflect on their lives, and share their wisdom and stories.</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">Document the history of your own family! You can do this by jotting down memories, capturing audio, uploading photos, or scanning your children’s artwork.</b></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-75d802b1-7fff-55fe-2aab-b92498ad14bc">We wish everyone happy holidays! </b></p>


7 Fun Ways to Connect with Family During the Holidays

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<p> </p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Life moves fast between taking the kids to school, making that family thanksgiving buffet, running daily errands, and attending work meetings. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Are there still goals you want to achieve, dreams you wish to realize? It’s never too late! </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">We’ve included a groundbreaking study that supports living your life to the fullest. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9"><a href="https://bronnieware.com/regrets-of-the-dying/" title="regrets of the dying">Bronnie Ware</a> is an Australian palliative nurse who spent years caring for the dying in the last three months of their lives. She said, “When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced repeatedly.”</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">She put together the <a href="https://bronnieware.com/regrets-of-the-dying/" title="regrets of the dying">five most common regrets</a> of people moments away from their last breath. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">What were these common regrets? </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Read on to find out!</b></p>
<p> </p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">1. “I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me”</b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">This was the number one regret of all. When someone realizes their life is almost done and looks back at it, they see how many dreams they couldn’t accomplish, only fulfilling half of their aspirations. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Try to live at least some of your dreams before it’s too late, and take advantage of the time you have right now. </b></p>
<p> </p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">2. “I wish I hadn't worked so hard”</b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">In the study, every male patient missed their partner's company and their children's innocence. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Women shared this regret as well, but due to the study being of an older generation, most men Bonnie Ware cared for bitterly regretted spending so much of their life working. </b></p>
<p> </p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">3. “I wish I had the courage to express my feelings”</b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">To maintain harmony with other individuals, many people hide their emotions. As a result, they compromised and never lived to their full potential. </b></p>
<p><b>According to world-renowned physicist <a href="https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2018/08/27/richard-feynman-on-expectations/" title="regrets of the dying">Richard Feynman</a>, “You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish. I have no responsibility to be like they expect me to be. It’s their mistake, not my failing.”</b></p>
<p> </p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">4. “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends”</b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">It was not always easy to locate old acquaintances, and frequently patients would only fully appreciate the advantages of those friends once their final weeks. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Over the years, many people have let cherished friendships pass them by because they had grown so engrossed in their own lives. Many people regret not investing the necessary time and effort in their connections. </b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">5. “I wish that I had let myself be happier” </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Many people did not understand that choosing happiness until it was too late. They had continued to act in the same patterns and routines. Their physical and emotional lives were both affected by the seeming "comfort" of familiarity. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">They pretended to be content with others and themselves out of fear of change. They secretly want to laugh freely and experience absurdity once in a while. While you die, what other people think of you is far from your mind. </b></p>
<p> </p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Live Life to the Fullest with My Stories Matter </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">If you’re yourself, then:</b></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">You lead an authentic life.</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">You put much value on your time and work at a job that matches your lifestyle. </b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">You acknowledge and communicate your emotions.</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">You maintain contact with friends.</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">You allow yourself to smile.</b></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">By being yourself, you live without regrets. Ask yourself, “What would I regret the most if I died tomorrow?” and listen to that. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="regrets of the dying">My Stories Matter</a> is custom-built for you to live your life regret-free, and it does this in many ways, including: </b></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Preserving and reliving your memories</b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Connecting with a loved one </b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Building your family history  </b></p>
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">Journaling your life via memoir, autobiography, etc </b></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">And much more! </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9">By utilizing the power of science and psychology, My Stories Matter enables you to access forgotten memories, re-live your most exciting experiences, and reflect better in the future. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6f5c8170-7fff-dc71-f4ba-f1f147757fc9"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="regrets of the dying">Sign up today</a> for free and start living. </b></p>


The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying (and How to Avoid Them)

<h1>How to Write Your Legacy Story </h1>
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<p>When you think of “legacy stories,” do famous movie stars or historical figures come to mind? </p>
<p>A legacy story is much more than that - they are the story of your life, for you can offer something no one else can. For example, your relationships, accomplishments, failures, personality, and values differentiate you from others.</p>
<p>A legacy story is much like an <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-write-an-autobiography/" title="legacy story ">autobiography</a> or memoir, except more flexible in the direction you want to go.</p>
<p>Free yourself from your inner critic and, with this guide, learn how to write your legacy story today!</p>
<p>
	 </p>
<h1>What are the Benefits of Writing a Legacy Story? </h1>
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<p>A legacy story: </p>
<p>• impacts those around you, such as family or friends </p>
<p>• shows what’s truly important to you or how much you learned</p>
<p>• provides insight or closure </p>
<p>• shows someone how much they mean to you </p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/146623-if-you-would-not-be-forgotten-as-soon-as-you" title="legacy story ">Benjamin Franklin</a>, “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Where to Begin? </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16410" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2860%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=duVJzupPZ6K6fzni9nYRI3TWovGRqXIFnk0MEcPYYPKrvzKgiejPd2WURJs8Jjo0evmFJa3j9EN8FSlDh6daPRDSNfeN4bX70j21f4tHQ%2BFB87W062olFv05B4qhMhderEM4kmIt4CDihn6T9lZnsgAKYs%2BYT20MZ24D3uasrLAikJLYoWgs3aGN%2Fc10cmO%2FA8l1rQW8P5qBXjOaObPucKhCbUeQaiO7wvQpRS16%2BAB8LsMpJg3tp5yJRjaERyA7js7oN21e43R7cbm7ezMhcA5I5qAgfK4j3Tlsl%2FawlKTkiuGhGOjeQRFXgmfsXeZSEAGdJTNFRoAHZywtTGecZA%3D%3D" alt="A book" />  </div>

  
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<p>Set time apart to sit down once a week (or a month) and jot down anything noteworthy about your life.</p>
<p>Don’t wait!</p>
<p>As we grow older, we <a href="https://order.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2018-02/Understanding-Memory-Loss.pdf" title="legacy story ">remember less</a>, so it’s essential to get everything out now while it's still fresh! </p>
<p>Start small, such as a specific memory, vignette, or scene. Pretend you’re writing a letter to your friend without the added pressure behind the word “legacy.” It doesn’t have to be anything monumental. </p>
<p><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/about" title="legacy story ">My Stories Matter</a> helps by asking specific questions, triggering the memory you want to recollect. </p>
<p>Some of these legacy-friendly prompts include: </p>
<p>• What are the most important lessons you learned in life? </p>
<p>• What is something you learned from a parent you never want to forget? </p>
<p>• Who has been a great inspiration to you? </p>
<p>• What is a significant risk you’ve taken in life? </p>
<p>• What was a tough obstacle in your life you had to overcome? </p>
<p>Answering questions like these will determine your legacy story and what you want to leave behind. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Get Organized </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16411" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="5" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2861%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=JUVygUCMxPkQtobmTCQCri3lYZZN41xY1XEEdziS16xi58GnexJUbq3W2V2aAPzcTLCEoUg2ETqeZM4nUJImhe06TZ1yFDytoZ8qGTzTRdV0E76CWRFROikqK28JvTl1uSa7T7VCb6d47LgIFOSJNTyXhN9X1ia9vC8rTjyvi8hm8Ge%2FpXhq6ySuHlC%2Bnpbfl7Hs3yLfVdEFs3WQpjySMT%2FaxNqM2HBoFo598Ik6nKbLElggtsmYVZ8NMK%2BvltRvdRc0UAfuU%2BE7d9gED3NJAqrkPWkYRS%2Bp%2BunW2bt2w%2F7VSOwzlipxx%2Fx5FmqrvfVDIsTvtdoaxfywZ1jpTVOLpA%3D%3D" alt="a calender" />  </div>

  
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<p>There is no right or wrong way to organize, but <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/about" title="legacy story ">My Stories Matter</a> has a timeline feature that collects, categorizes your entries, backs up, and saves your work, entirely private for your eyes! </p>
<p>If you don’t feel comfortable writing down your memories, don’t worry! Our voice recorder has you covered. You can also have a close friend or family member transcribe your stories if needed. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Collaborate</h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16412" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2862%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=kcS3Gtxj0ng9Wk48G2YcC73kIEp5EFqyUUWAirm1p1HSbAKeddcN44arCiXL8Dub%2BOZOJzeHZb8EDmw5NvwIhf5qqfKOIzFi8O77mgzxbmY5yFDnPLzy4pYwDAszIS%2BOqD8O8Rai9ZwRM66rXG9ZU%2FqXbPbpybgfmvHiRcl9F%2F4%2BCtKbuOFtI1t2qTjoo8ZiVbjMLRBtRp0svAA2ytaXvkAnr3j09aZIzD9hElvzQGLv81pwc2h5GgBwoKE22choLZDKSfgBujeh5%2F1dzHdF2hTWiQYKdpBWTlHnX%2FQM4vUCww8Ek5zb57qRYeqWJjvauFBTv5mQ%2FzecT62qgztexg%3D%3D" alt="Collaboration" />  </div>

  
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<p>As you write about the past, reach out to someone specific to your legacy story and invite them to participate in it, whether scuba diving, pranking neighbors as children, or graduating high school. </p>
<p>Don’t forget to check your facts! Are the dates, times, and events accurate? Family members or friends can help fill in the blanks.</p>
<p><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="legacy story ">My Stories Matter</a> allows you to collaborate with anyone you choose. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Read and Listen </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16413" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="7" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2863%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=d1O0MXohxXPISBCD6tEMixk5mDXlaGy2aoKDYFxnC38VVWkG1ZGYPoRodmhrUV5fzQdtlygfSA970GRR0XNFbJ9N0%2B%2BJ8SGBZTcXYJU%2FPgQDlmZ1dVVFPaSVz1hBhA%2FVRds8%2B8rT92%2FjyTH9Lp8ORA9e%2B3xd7RTTB20lVFrqYbOH0OGVzwLYrDSerkKG03LzmVSdql0%2FlrBNf%2FQpiTx8ue0FLbEGejqOqpAuDO%2BveIl%2FsSwyLS%2FlOLdFIkoGq2hTNYn1TfeYm1xWd23UabK4SAU8wAposg4Z%2BV9PG8lBNdUKgrlsKoewK0O5okHq18ThsrFptZYvIcsWdr0nwksMyw%3D%3D" alt="Studying" />  </div>

  
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<p>Reading or listening to others’ legacy stories will give you ideas. You can read strangers’ legacy stories on <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="legacy story ">My Stories Matter</a> or someone famous whose life inspires you. These are usually in the form of <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-write-an-autobiography/" title="legacy story ">autobiographies</a>.</p>
<p>We all share everyday experiences and conflicts. People learn from each other, so when you write about how you overcome your life obstacles, you’re inspiring others how to as well. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Include Some Mementos  </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16414" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="8" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2864%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=eMAApyq00RkG3NTYnyJGL1etRECd29hO68%2Fekzo%2FIQ6LG8KSHhlLTX%2F6yCEvaP34EI5QCnwRwVx0HSzLjUqx%2Fn6jaP86573HRXiInP64nZdCr6ifP1afOMv%2FQ5CxIpBk1VUh6Ao%2BPDZZP61Xz%2Fkb%2FrNm48P1bqi92mnDOnn0i%2FvhTbZipKnZa7kr8jzsudo2x4BL8K2q78HqXp2NGgT5snJw7Tf%2FJeEyOrr2u%2BLhkJ9AgYiTcBPrGiWpmnmsfPe%2BwQqRR3gxiOpdftUb%2FIYLu%2BbbtCx8aOIipOk7yNS792tF2Ck6uinbEulDAyDP7Fbmss6Vb40dWw3K%2FZr%2FnrzwDA%3D%3D" alt="mementos" />  </div>

  
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<p>If you’re struggling to remember particular memories you want to include in your legacy story, gather some souvenirs from the past, such as a keepsake. </p>
<p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24933516/" title="legacy story ">Mementos</a> help spark your memory. They can be <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797617694868?journalCode=pssa" title="legacy story ">photographs</a>, postcards, letters, tickets, souvenirs, gifts, etc., helping your stories flow and putting the reader in your shoes. Upload these photos on <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="legacy story ">My Stories Matter</a> and write around that memory. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Write Your Legacy Story on My Stories Matter </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16407" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2857%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=bs2Zmbjh9%2BbKHZWQz3pVR8Ej9tS1KBp8kSWIom2EJyOksAN%2FYljUfLp3pDTryG8xPATDp76HaVwwiNIk3Oy2L8A8KoKJw01rM%2BpaX4RoDjITaNu5g7JZeY23P%2F5d0F14BQCvsj6P9WLtS4QceAVT1XV0AxOfTO3eqj%2FeSQU7BTQFon7CWK2Nq3Z0iGgsDNbgSu6eH%2FHBLIQ5NMe%2FdYf%2FnoUeQG8fCwQQn2wCmyj7i80XOdVL8%2Bd4TnOp1JB5a%2BwnV5JkU%2BswHg3X6nzjdVBmBmU9%2FRKHzGzRc%2FML7P6SpLcsyp0oMSOEhP8z3n%2B8mBSLldcwUrDUR%2F%2BPN8rB9J8YIQ%3D%3D" alt="typewriter" />  </div>

  
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<p><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="legacy story ">My Stories Matter</a> is custom-built for your legacy story. You can add music, images, and text to your video or audio life story. Digital audio files can run along with family photos for an entertaining storyline. </p>
<p>A legacy story is vital because it’s a bit of your life written down, left to inspire. Many people wish they could have read the words of their grandparents, parents, aunts, or uncles who passed away and hadn’t told them much about their lives. </p>
<p>Don’t let your friends and family feel the same way! With a legacy story, you’ll always have the answers when your loved ones ask questions when you’re not around. </p>
<p>Your legacy story will live forever.</p>


How to Write Your Legacy Story

<h1>Sharing Memories: 5 Unique Ways You Haven't Thought of </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16399" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2850%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=BrmAktoQcfX0rY6ndiNYaDDlEciGtl44wPEOKuZK33kypmJhBZxCl4U6rwtHip2DmDyLxcOl70Xdp05ITxu63Zx5U9PIepWRda3jDyqA6oTus9ff11SmKTRXy5rES3%2FPGR5dAJvc%2BQC7tK4mJ4fmNUyqA6KYgiqMsBEL9plWZvtyWPdk0h0lMtU9dW0AMyQRdKZW86%2Fg%2Fx9x3V3Z%2FaQ6nCKB0Joqvw2XIPZ%2BYSgHKuL7dx8%2BX50cK31TMKyxXyzsoq3ZpwoHpj0wEX77xKftMV22bs5YDsEK8UxOqzcKshWWucXMuHhy1hAgJ8mkmonm9MJd%2FaqhkVzwGskjNqzYyQ%3D%3D" alt="Photos" />  </div>

  
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	In need of some fresh, exciting ways to share memories? 
<p>Perhaps you want to keep specific memories alive in your family or friend group, and just talking about them or scrapbooking isn’t enough. </p>
<p>You’ve come to the right place. </p>
<p>After all, research shows that sharing specific autobiographical memories leads to more <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00220221211072809" title="Sharing memories">closeness within relationships</a>. </p>
<p>Without further ado, here are five unique ways to share memories with friends or loved ones. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Recreate Childhood Photos </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16400" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2851%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=WeEzg2jI%2BuD9uJb9nYEDFpBLTMQxk4wkqj6%2BRGqwB0gx4an5IClVwbe2McRdX7nt1pEOxfZyHh6DLCODE1aGJem2bxlZAdh%2BXx%2FzJnRR1sV3rhSvuDKq9arWC4f%2FfLbUogKqyuNccQcAT6iCVjNAJcPoGEdyF7V0BeNV0Xl0Nh7%2Fy4AGuZNtVLhuWYWncqt12DhJj2Fmqlk93Nzjxgdn7w38wf4zQbX77oU05zCYsU2UNNW8BkYaoaxuwBDuh2mzYO3AVmM4jFPNJ9K%2BCm21j9Dx%2FG0vX0Fh0C3Yl%2BH%2F1N5FaTGZzo4LBdu7m8EqGjcBgvEPV84qHpj5f550isBy3g%3D%3D" alt="old photograph" />  </div>

  
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<p>Gather your family together to take the same picture in the poses you did in your old favorite photograph. As the kids recreate the same pose, you’ll see how much they’ve grown. The difference will be wild! </p>
<p>You can also turn this photograph into personalized home decor, decorative pillows, a blanket, a gallery wall, canvas print, <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/8-creative-ways-to-keep-the-memory-of-a-loved-one-alive/" title="sharing memories">a photo book</a>, etc., so you’ll be constantly reminded. </p>
<p>Alternatively, you can share photos with your family and friends on <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Sharing memories">My Stories Matter</a> and tell the story behind them.</p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Journal </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16401" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2852%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=h82dBwaBF6nIvdI35kYfKVvAou2i%2Fy9vG%2FyskKmYF3NnmGXsZBKrzYGkT1Qc86hpUKOiV6OliCr94tBVKvT7kHIzHnVqBksdxpTKdYF8ciPg06P%2BXJNksawJWXZY8dzmcLaWB1m%2BL5CM1pB2Y7BBSKo9TEdNcqbkMLf7xPYyXNlpiUhsZTzzWr4uIEW8%2FegYvdqVY450MaVjgnpj0yBIDSSfbrwDHhhQiXKtC8eR3whuxbO34sxFjWDhOwPwZLaZk5ul22R5diq8MVnETacjQB5eBaV%2BitHRo6D%2F%2FiWmw%2BbyPGGYNTFuGXaZ4e2HV3YSWhcxv9urrTgfgJjn%2F7bziA%3D%3D" alt="a journal" />  </div>

  
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<p>There are many <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/8-creative-ways-to-keep-the-memory-of-a-loved-one-alive/" title="sharing memories">cognitive benefits to journaling</a>. Write about various events you’re most fond of in a <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-relive-a-memory/" title="sharing memories">diary</a>, including the biggest adventures and challenges. Then share these memories with your family or friends on <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="sharing memories">My Stories Matter</a>. </p>
<p>You’ll never have to worry about writer’s block either! <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="sharing memories">My Stories Matter</a> has prompts designed to trigger any forgotten memory. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Make a Time Capsule </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16402" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2853%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=e7ZAXdZ9bgXRJBtk5nxuudra3kCWO2sFkT8PPGWMD61eYTK3wely0MNOTPXWja7vqUDnhAmAq%2FHdlLuOcBkpFn1Jnhp8nv0xLUTGYpIZzoTJLUk7TEtbNbAhxLhf1swJ%2BAH2HK1Q%2F5Isjqv5VZc%2BcoGLSf6IIS1em7U2JtEHiLrYr5AHxyt6H7OwNNWhPkP3%2BaBNA8QgMEm87ji39pKFiYQZFUf9VL16b96jp4aZy7GI82%2BYZ4KwRPhUAkBkXQqwrlXPE7Fml0y93P6xNtpn5Vmh4M8OJCrghJXajFLP7ZSOD9b2MxA8t2g3RKQiA100ibxwppTzMLJ8sbO5q8wNIQ%3D%3D" alt="souvenirs" />  </div>

  
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<p>Mementos help <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-relive-a-memory/" title="sharing memories">bring back lost memories</a>. Create a family time capsule with special items related to that memory, such as letters, pictures, newspaper clippings, jewelry, CDs, etc. It could be anything at all. </p>
<p>Have everyone throw their favorite item in the time capsule, bury it and revisit it once a year or every five years to relive that exact moment in time. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Re-make Recipes </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16403" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="5" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2854%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=Y4EoOsafnadDUJztA0Hft3d6Zwvg8Ip9607Be5R6%2B1dIxelJ1CX7HWVYjDzhAvg1DElV2SctqZWFYNVUGz4SbcX%2FjGFK%2BUyYacEVGchEXG42Mm8iOZ4Uezr1OzN2B8%2FYurZ03bH8eKtHkl874eEFaa7AKse43wBRz0kAphNhkRJ6oBaVjQHXRtbB3IDbIOJaMsqQPs56inmE%2FfUi4tkhrDvGeKuVbrtptvKB%2FQNhi3IcncRsSNTiFiJ7ZG%2BKEm5EVnFpdt6UIG1k594HbxnsEO%2Bh1zAwLi3wBN44vB1zzy%2FahG9srS2cTuhriVMsm5Pxxh9y31IXeZSd0XpLcn3BYQ%3D%3D" alt="cooking eggs" />  </div>

  
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<p>Was there a favorite family Thanksgiving dish? Or perhaps it was a blackberry pie you enjoyed baking with your best friend on a warm spring afternoon. Cook the recipe again with that special someone! </p>
<p>Afterward, take a photograph of the dish and share the memory with them on <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="sharing memories">My Stories Matter</a>, where you can both talk about how it felt cooking again, how the <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/scent-of-a-memory-and-the-proust-effect/" title="sharing memories">scents took you both back</a>, etc.</p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Play or Listen to Music </h1>
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2855%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=EkgykaDE8w1PkitBYTztFE2%2FMYJD%2B50qFwKiCwzCfTjKxKbOJk66sQ%2Fp8E09LG67w%2FRb9%2Fp%2BiaNG1VvU%2FcP7AbEnD%2BJVmDJftjpYxCJkOZ%2F4OuU%2FlnxctYuWxg0HJlZ0KxMhjALclu2hmQwS8rXm%2FPchBjLzoQF1RwIRnjcOHbNsSCioTDb5Me7f1cPQX2%2FAM1O4zcRr0ddTWnaRb7e3Y6t6VpufUQzu8JDMRaN8Cc3LLKNGnqlLnQbY%2B3Q0ZrOVYqTD7eM9IJkmkFbo8rPWRByz3Ar2AqbpkMAkR3B3I%2FD0zdgSE97ssD1qyNnsrpPGaQN85yLbgSgfjRe9LmS%2FBQ%3D%3D" alt="vinyls" />  </div>

  
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<p>Was there a song associated with a particular memory involving someone else? Cue that same song to <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/tapping-into-memories-with-music/" title="sharing memories">transport them back to the past</a>. </p>
<p>There’s a lot of research on <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/how-to-relive-a-memory/" title="sharing memories">music’s powerful influence on memory</a>. Listening evokes memories. If you’re a musician, play a childhood song to the family. <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="sharing memories">My Stories Matter</a> provides contextual music or ways to upload that song to your memory page. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Share Memories on My Stories Matter</h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-16405" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="sharing memories">My Stories Matter</a> lets you share memories with your loved ones through our collaboration feature. </p>
<p>This feature allows you to invite anyone you want, so it’s just the two of you reminiscing about that memory, unlike other social media platforms which broadcast and sometimes steal your fondest stories.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="sharing memories">Start sharing</a> memories today!</p>


Sharing Memories: 5 Unique Ways You Haven't Thought of

Updated 01/20/2023

How to Relive a Memory

<h1>Learning Styles: Real or Not Real? </h1>
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<p>	Many teachers and counselors have taught the idea that there are distinct learning styles. You probably have heard of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_learning" title="Learning style ">visual</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_learning" title="Learning style ">auditory</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinesthetic_learning" title="Learning style">kinesthetic</a> learning styles. <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-research" title="Learning style ">Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences</a> also proposes that people can learn in eight different ways.</p>
<p>However, do learning styles actually exist? </p>
<p>While labeling how you learn would be nice and convenient, our brains are more complicated than that. </p>
<p>Read on to find out the truth about learning styles and what this means for you. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Science Debunks Learning Styles</h1>
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<p>One popular learning style theory is Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences which states that there are multiple intelligences—Linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalist. Gardner claims that these eight types of bits of intelligence can be naturally applied to learning styles. </p>
<p>However, there is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289621000507" title="Learning style ">not enough evidence to support Gardner’s view</a>. </p>
<p>While a one-size-fits-all type of intelligence is inaccurate, further research is still needed before applying learning styles in class.</p>
<p>Since the 1970s, research has concluded that learning styles have <a href="https://www.educationnext.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ednext_XX_3_furey.pdf" title="Learning style ">no empirical evidence of being real</a>. They merely stemmed from an incorrect interpretation of scientific facts. Different types of information are processed in various brain parts the same way people have differences in abilities and preferences. </p>
<p>For several decades, myths about the brain — neuromyths — have <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn3817" title="Learning style ">persisted in academic institutions</a>. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/edu-a0037478.pdf" title="Learning style ">one survey</a>, teachers were given statements and were asked if the statements were “correct,” “incorrect,” or “do not know.” Results showed that 93% of teachers from the United Kingdom and 96% from the Netherlands answered “correct” to the statement: “Individuals learn better when they receive information in their preferred learning style.” </p>
<p>But how one prefers to study is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360131516302482?via%3Dihub" title="Learning style ">not an indication of a learning style</a>. While many people <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/20697325" title="Learning style ">prefer different types of studying or learning</a>, research <a href="https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/LearningStylesMyth" title="Learning style ">denies that people learn better through a particular learning style</a>. </p>
<p>For example, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1041608006000331" title="Learning style ">one study</a> had a wide variety of adults and college students take a learning test using visuals or written text. The verbalizers' and visualizers’ grades showed no strong support for verbal and visual learners to be given different instruction. </p>
<p>So scholars stress how learning styles <a href="https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ase.1777" title="Learning style ">should be rejected</a> by educators and students alike. Instead, they should replace these ‘neuromyths’ with resources and strategies rooted in evidence and invite students to reflect on their learning rather than narrowing their style down. </p>
<p>This will, in turn, <a href="https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/LearningStylesMyth" title="Learning style ">improve learning outcomes</a>. Instructors shouldn’t categorize students in their learning and instead through their personalities and experiences. For example, they can incorporate active learning, group work, and various teaching strategies. <br />
	 </p>
<h1>Learn and Remember with My Stories Matter</h1>
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<p>Now that we’ve established that there is not enough evidence to suggest learning styles exist, what next? </p>
<p><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a> uses a variety of “cues” to help you recall the past or anything important that you want to remember. </p>
<p>If you’re not a fan of typing or have achy fingers, <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter </a>allows you to record your notes on the go because hearing yourself speak aloud actually <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171201090940.htm" title="Learning style ">improves your memory</a>!</p>
<p><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="My Stories Matter">Sign up</a> today for free!</p>


Learning Styles: Real or Not Real?

<h1>8 Creative Ways to Keep the Memory of a Loved One Alive </h1>
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<p>Contrary to what you might think, grieving is not a linear or even a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5375020/" title="Grieving is not a five stage process">5 stage process</a>. There is <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0030222816673489" title="No timetable for grief ">no timetable </a>for grief because not everyone copes with tragic events the <a href="https://www.public.asu.edu/~iacmao/PGS191/Resilience%20Reading%20%231A.pdf" title="No one mourns the same way">same way</a>. You deserve to find your unique way of grieving beyond the traditional funeral.</p>
<p>One study found that one-third of people most directly affected by a profound loss will <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1112778/#B2" title="People suffer over the memory of a loved one">suffer physically and mentally</a>. But despite this, loss can still <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1112778/" title="Loss can still foster maturity and growth">foster maturity and personal growth</a>. </p>
<p>For example, it’s essential to find ways to focus on the love and warmth your loved one’s presence brought to your life instead of the sadness their loss may cause. There are fewer painful ways to keep the memory of a loved one alive than visiting their resting place or flipping through old photos. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Have a Memorial Release </h1>
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<p>Release balloons, kites, butterflies, or doves in memory of a loved one. You can also blow bubbles in the wind or float flowers down a stream.</p>
<p>Physically releasing their souls is a symbolic gesture of not letting go but releasing your grief. Research suggests <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5030286/" title="Acting coping mechanism helps grief">active coping mechanisms </a>are most effective when dealing with grief-induced stress. Disengaged coping, such as avoiding your suffering, lessens your sense of control and psychological well-being. In other words, dynamically confronting your grief gives you more control and improved psychological well-being. </p>
<p>So light lanterns down a river, or host a nighttime vigil honoring their memory. Confronting your pain and then releasing it is crucial to preserving the memory of a loved one and finding your healing. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Plant a Garden in Their Memory </h1>
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<p>Creating a garden plot, whether wildflowers, daisies, or lilies, is an excellent way to honor the memory of a loved one. As author <a href="https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/james_m_barrie_106712" title="J.M. Barrie quote on memory">J.M. Barrie had said</a>: “God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” </p>
<p>Even if you’re not a gardener, having a botanic, hidden world is one of the best ways to live in your loved one’s memory. Gardening is <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29858428/" title="Gardening improves physical and mental health">beneficial to your physical and mental health</a>, especially during grief. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Create Something Special from Their Ashes </h1>
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<p>If your loved one was cremated, you could create something unique. It doesn’t have to be the traditional urn on the mantelpiece. You could plant a tree urn with your loved one’s ashes so when they grow into a sugar maple, weeping willow, or American elm, you can sit underneath them. Allow their memory to live on in nature.</p>
<p>Alternatively, turn their ashes into a cremation diamond, a ring, or a necklace. French artist <a href="https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/auguste_renoir_110211" title="Pierre Auguste Renoir on pain">Pierre Auguste Renoir said</a>: “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” So it’s vital to choose anything that brings you more joy than sadness.</p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Keep an Heirloom with You</h1>
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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="5" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/lucas-santos-n5cPXeQoTE0-unsplash.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=IPbV0eBx%2FIN%2FGxoUPaCa8dsk3zimfWFYKfH7EsBteI3GKzPEHXwCDTqAo6292TqqDOLMcFPw1vO8jpo5nXW3wUJpwhcBTEEMS2RTbkBN6YU8tVul3Doom1PUGwzqAWJy6FFaoIM1rXEsp2JD%2FFu%2BmiK93587gZ254XO0chl2miSfWgLYnqe5YKNbNVJx8heG1b3q%2FdbxkSoZjtk9COI1XScKero20Z42anF6SXsMJ1V9S5h1jeK9XTfunqeyg%2Bo%2BJRil4gLgmByMqLfbOlHH2EXTCAf%2BDcCjIBmV%2BzZNpiAWjVt0SJQJ61bozsZSv73lpDlyqcKG8F9r9quyGp2crw%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1600" alt="A gold pocket watch" />  </div>

  
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	To preserve the memory of a loved one, turn their favorite coat into a blanket or pillows, or wear their wedding ring around your neck. That way, they’ll always be on your person. 
<p>Consider creating a keepsake (such as a locket of the two of you), or try upcycling, the process of “old” products being modified and transformed into “new” products. Examples are: </p>
<p>• Use their old cassette case to hold gift cards </p>
<p>• Turn an old briefcase into a bathroom cabinet </p>
<p>• Arrange vintage brooches into a bouquet</p>
<p>• Repurpose a bike wheel into a clock. </p>
<p>The ideas are endless. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Make a Charitable Donation in Your Loved One's Memory</h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15355" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2821%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=Wni%2FX01zPV4MjFSvjC6qxc%2B8Q9g3SR34ZYPwGXHEgLn8kmNzab6FWMW0iweNOXQ5rZBEzuHXGr6Wz61b4yX0GgadH7JnLMLpFgea3nuP5gZXhPwy%2BiBx1YEh1wbtAiGn8RXM5Of7z3ULXNzuNXIDqhl5RJqVfZ38VLg36Phm%2FAMvfH0qX%2FXMEQ6SOPJcH833%2FWBu2EgCoo9qjAUrPvXS0y8BX8pZ1nrHB5xMSbj%2FuT60iQcphWAgKp4SaeSEHQ97SG1Iv7S5SQgEfskyxan17ukAzPc0SkAuqvoIVtrwQcmUWpQT8pK3SCybSHEei%2B1EHPWytecsLRJFIyCiHHQRdA%3D%3D" alt="People carrying boxes" />  </div>

  
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<p>Were they passionate about a cause? Donate a little to the charity or create a new one in memory of a loved one. </p>
<p>Giving can <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-020-00242-8" title="Giving boosts your mental and physical health">boost your mental and physical health</a>; much needed after a loss.  One study even found that people randomly assigned to spend money on others <a href="https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/Norton_Michael_Spending%20money%20on%20others%20promotes%20happiness_ddd17e6e-fc21-438f-811e-62561cc97a18.pdf" title="People who gave had greater happiness">experienced greater happiness</a> than those who spent money on themselves. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Celebrate Their Birthday </h1>
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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="7" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2822%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=J2%2BxjGNPLmjJdk0WTEE7fnn2IyqDMuSN9jhxyeKk0BsR%2BVB7M1K180%2BWIGYoES8X4QZlp%2BsvdV8uDlCoR5Vfcs76lHLwXxdXn6Zv7%2Fw2OIFXuv%2F%2BHzvIU%2Bl%2FhJaaYXJ5swo629xPkCDyHdy36oobAuI8U6ibpFYmuMWCqezTW3NZO04bJHqVm%2BY%2BjgQfCzUpPDHpjxCuAtm2Kye%2B8sdL53RGZPmhcgSSHo%2FxJKFZZH0gpRNZBVjdHktb%2FEf15qzzGQQHEt80F3KXwaUObdFPd%2FHlRTCtW4jaXsN8YCITOjuW5S8CKiPM02kIBUhQmXik%2F3kg%2FdDvwf%2FfE74yaI9EvA%3D%3D" alt="Colorful cupcakes" />  </div>

  
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	Whether that's cooking their favorite dish or eating their favorite kind of cake, or doing the things they enjoyed doing, continuing this once-a-year tradition keeps the memory of a loved one alive like they never left. 
<p>The first birthday after they pass will be painful. To combat this, make it the joyous occasion it once was, complete with presents and balloons. Buy their favorite flowers, sprinkle the petals where their ashes or memories live, or post a loving tribute to them on <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Honor memory of a loved one on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a>. Describe the experiences you used to have on their birthdays and the future ideas to continue those traditions.</p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Write Them a Letter, Poem, or Song </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15357" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 346px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="8" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/debby-hudson-DR31squbFoA-unsplash.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=g%2BGCwpotZjYtJNyUG92ZrW6tGEcCEQmJpM1mgKuBvqNRWGM4eO6rzLj2qw3bo39A5yJ44fXGyzSdG0RepbrlRWw5I0Jto2lFZ8Nv5874JGezSJxmHvKNarwvfw1SXw%2Fg2GOZi%2FW7HYlOHV%2Flxrj6Xyvb%2Bpu8cFph945nG3o4Q28okRFmW5FMBcZOynBIifY2qb8nWQpFRPYmpOHTE7KBgPzx0G%2B7HFoCFWrdEqEKhbzSvR5qBmxFUgl5%2F7I%2FdIkau7Uo6lPn1bs998WT3sZ%2FacNAf3DcPapya0i5H4181ogUHdsTv4lsbZPjWc6zvcIfMv3zuNVkkEchKAScGG5djQ%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1620" alt="A letter" />  </div>

  
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<p>Is there anything you wished you had said to them before they passed? Is there anything on your mind currently? Update them on your day. </p>
<p>Even if you’re not a writer, poet or musician, express your thoughts to the person you love. For example, some people: </p>
<p>• Send text messages to their partner’s phone. </p>
<p>• Write a letter with their loved one’s favorite stationery.</p>
<p>• Write a postcard during their next vacation. </p>
<p>Journaling also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197455605000699?via%3Dihub" title="Journaling decreases psychological symptoms ">decreases psychological symptoms</a> such as anxiety and depression. You keep the memory of a loved alive, but you also inwardly move on because everything is off your chest. </p>
<p>Not sure where to write your thoughts? We created <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="Honor the memory of a loved one on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a> for you to write down everything. Your letters will be kept safe and personalized.  </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Create a Life Stories Book </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15358" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="9" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/freestocks-LBxuHUZGhQU-unsplash.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=X5biRX9noWL4fyhgkbMPYEIfJikrwnRchX6RpJ%2BF5A0tb3%2FUnUem%2Fbje4KrDxu00bOgeO7%2BRCPORHgmekaZJOMvCZ9euOcnET9g5StLBwBuQcvL1T3AVwOGASYwGFwnXttDLTyXPI6rc5GxMJizAP3MPlhijijIbYFA7Mn5FJlbRj32erFMlTlS7OSqGHjGy7GukzFhWrjIMrivf%2BUgO9OL8%2F1XOCZp4GX8N3A9Uphuqqb4A9fklNd%2FzH7ABDWWdWuLejCT%2B9C7V4opstXoZOvvAAkJSEI1TyrNpSM4FdN1cOh0O0HfjSGboqKoO0mQaHLPrl1joJS%2FZHyEFqNddOw%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1600" alt="White notebook" />  </div>

  
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<p>Creating a Life Stories Book is one of the best ways to keep the memory of a loved one alive because, thanks to you, their legacy will endure.</p>
<p>Write down details about their lives, such as their personalities, histories, and preferences. This keeps their memory alive for your children or grandchildren, so they will learn where they came from when they grow older.  Or write about the impact a good friend had on your life, how their life inspired and shaped you into the person you are today. </p>
<p>With <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="Honor the memory of a loved one on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a>, preserve the memory of a loved one with the appropriate photos, videos, news clips, and even their voice. You can also invite family and friends to add their contributions.</p>
<p>Grieving is not a straightforward, linear process. Keeping the memory of a loved one alive will look different for everyone, so find what speaks most to you and best represents the relationship you two had.</p>


8 Creative Ways to Keep the Memory of a Loved One Alive

<h1>How to Write an Autobiography </h1>
<p>
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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="9" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/nathan-dumlao-LPRrEJU2GbQ-unsplash_5.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=RsHMA%2B6Uv4ouh%2B8%2FhEx%2B6SWatZelkBZVr3yx0x1kuw5nNC7faTuPEwFi%2BgAjBbrwgYhXEKwdiKCptoeh3CqwMbkWHmcZIBZlB4cEbUWYFGE26MxYe3hPwjzxoxiXfYfwE5sjvLPYtXwiQn%2BIikE9ORgjR13ChYj95Qmg5DiyVr8PLSxmEOIXUbaJZemEVWzM2WmFtWCjNFFh2EYaNWfMABOSq38%2Bn9nl96PRpq6gAiPcLXFQW2CNgO4vwAU%2FFCHCCx2gU1y8usa%2BkA5ISXLH0dhqIlu0mtOrxo3SSjRNmR5F8Zrm5%2B2opDwvP3gNDlECt3naHDnN9GCBf%2Bk%2FWFi%2Bvg%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1600" alt="An hourglass" />  </div>

  
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<p>Autobiographies are the most powerful thing you can write about yourself due to their unmatched intimacy. The reader is getting a firsthand account of your life. </p>
<p>Autobiographies are particularly popular with readers as they provide valuable lessons on life and exciting solutions to how people have overcome unique problems. </p>
<p>There is always an autobiography trending these days, such as Matthew McConaughey’s “Greenlights.” Some even shake the world, such as “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” or Anne Frank’s “Diary of a Young Girl.” </p>
<p>Stories are meant to be passed down through generations. They intend to preserve family histories. So if you want to pass down your legacy, you’ve come to the right place. </p>
<p>See our six tips on how to write the best autobiography. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Identify Your Audience </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15339" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/john-mark-smith-IS7WfX_f_ug-unsplash_14.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=mjyi%2BC67QDkXi19XvsqKbVBfxqpgxQMAusRuDGj8%2BLcZk1t8kgqn3HWLCZGfOSK66zxubCYQbagcR7uFUuwJFutBC2astmVBYfwHfZu5BSyTGVz2yLya8FmwDUJ7RNVQZhHGrmx31OO1uFWBczJ8ANeWeu%2B8w7L7dSwi%2FcGu7n6akZ7iAkCF5mZzYKrIbhlJEhTz9PJN53DJXmbfZo50xu5oNRbfl98e25Mk9P3xBX%2Bk8MgiEajgy77Nf1JXmmHGWEXkUnNm59RXut%2BQlqWptB0Xk3IK%2F3PTSCGmDME9s%2BcncxSNRHGaBpPjtnK0OAdcYyGZZmNMzFUC0z91pRf1eQ%3D%3D" width="4752" height="3168" alt="A lecture hall" />  </div>

  
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	Every writer has a target audience. What type of readers will benefit from your story? What do you want to convey to them? 
<p>Start by writing out the significant events of your life you want to include. For example, what experience most shaped you into who you are today? What have you learned? This will reveal your story. </p>
<p>Choose a central theme for your story.</p>
<p>It can be:  </p>
<p>• The childhood story</p>
<p>• Coming of age story</p>
<p>• The falling in love story</p>
<p>A story of grief, conflict, or identity. </p>
<p>The story you tell will influence who your target audience is. Often, the theme of a story is a message about life. For example, why the author (you) wrote the story and what message you want to share with your readers.  </p>
<h1>Gain Inspiration from Others </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15335" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/ronnie-overgoor-EdKCckXXRCI-unsplash_0.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=Mvm7dogHQ5JErva2suLfYdSlHFDRxMCtBDU6dwXzDmLox7Sux3YjAoOVZT%2FdS7tnDSAlW9DiPj0XYX%2BGLs%2FIvsCcKNP7xcpvyyb56U9klT4dq2gfQnM2ojHUJkBHK0NV2Q9CvZnCdgptF2p0QcGQhQWK4o0EtA1%2BE99%2FH%2Fxb21kg5DV9bDMQFFBd8J0lxzrN8OKiI4trCrPR3LbBAFuH2%2BekiuXyayWuTRWJlARF81h6V41%2BfcG7YFsD%2Bflq50GlL93B%2Fvhzog6ZGELDjWnJrzOocgzG4rFwVEryISkP5sD524g4ffeNL888eid%2FHWELbzCdIUPCFpX4nsyG41E9pw%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1600" alt="A notebook" />  </div>

  
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<p>Who is your role model? </p>
<p>Some examples of famous autobiographies include: </p>
<p>• “Agatha Christie: An Autobiography” by Agatha Christie </p>
<p>• “Mark Twain’s Own Autobiography” by Mark Twain</p>
<p>• “Chronicles: Volume 1” by Bob Dylan  </p>
<p>• “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah </p>
<p>• “Bossypants” by Tina Fey</p>
<p>Thinking about your autobiography may make you feel overwhelmed and lost. The best thing to do is gain outside inspiration and read an autobiography of someone who interests you. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="Write Autobiography on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a> is a great place to start writing your autobiography. If you experience writer’s block, parse through memories and feelings other people share on <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="Write an Autobiography on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a> every day. When writing about a particular story or event, you can invite people who were there to collaborate and fill in the gaps. Inspiration is something you must actively seek. “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it” (<a href="https://due.com/blog/jonathan-winters-swim-out-to-meet-it/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIf%20your%20ship%20doesn%27t,swim%20out%20to%20meet%20it!%E2%80%9D&amp;text=Winters%20reminds%20us%20of%20the,than%20taking%20control%20of%20it." title="Jonathan Winters on Inspiration ">Jonathan Winters</a>). </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Create Your Timeline </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15336" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/airfocus-f2C59x5uvn8-unsplash_2.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=nhIoNaHvsifD7ASVlqB%2BexNUuHuJ%2F0UwelFVIjkfIEQNUZRhhTzYNTK1MybT7eI6SFz3HYPTUq93ZJVy7pGsvlKCaeACE5L9JtyKH3lb1I46%2B28Y3zc8TCmHwBL9mGHive6zIGZ3nbawPXtG9aMGSFNEIBcfzRGlOeVeExtzzFPvvrr03xj2AwTlD2cxITnseekC%2F5T3rSmd6l28hd1hYoHRfEnn9%2BXEi2bqKfcTCkYPHYSRITWX4bR7hfjZEbpONY0KYXv2b49r9fGDQmOzJho7s5JdhHH5jBRvOVMbDkjzWDpf3Vk1NMvFgIDk1gge8ALEFgFQD1nP61Cl%2FH%2FP1w%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1600" alt="A note board" />  </div>

  
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	Once you’ve identified your audience and read your role model’s work, it’s time to create a timeline for your autobiography! 
<p>To do this, list all the important events that happened to you. This is considered the “research” and “brainstorming” phase. What was your adolescence like? Your time at college? Career? A profound, life-altering moment?</p>
<p>Browsing the Timeline feature in <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="My Stories Matter's Timeline Feature">My Stories Matter</a>, you can see your memories and life events organized in an intuitive chronological feed. You can focus on writing and reminiscing while your memories are automatically categorized for easy viewing.</p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Get Everything Out! </h1>
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<p>Write first, revise later. First drafts are always messy but crucial. Don’t worry about length, flow, etc. It’s also important not to feel self-conscious writing first drafts. The first draft is only for your eyes. The more you write, the better your writing will be. </p>
<p>Try <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juEeUg0groU" title="Try Free Association writing when writing your autobiography">Free Association</a> writing if you’re stumped on ideas or feel self-conscious. Devised by Sigmund Freud, this method gets all of your thoughts out on paper without thinking about what you’re writing. </p>
<p>Much like <a href="https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/500-prompts-for-narrative-and-personal-writing/" title="New York Times' prompts ">The New York Times’ advice</a>, <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="My Stories Matter's prompts help write an autobiography">My Stories Matter</a>’s prompts will get you started and help you write an unforgettable autobiography. You’ll better recall memories with ease. </p>
<h1> </h1>
<h1>Edit, Edit, Edit! </h1>
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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="7" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/avel-chuklanov-DUmFLtMeAbQ-unsplash_1.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=V3rcwi1WcGn5ZtPWBppV5jwGH5UtUab9H4Y5nP%2ByQpBdEbKHKxAGLiMge3l9VCo6iozM%2Bw6%2Bh1OC%2B4yQ0RRavfZiy97Dj4377U5VmJ3IG8hIFTyJ2%2BZAIYyaRn9AH%2BdoATUa%2BMyjb6gD5IRhvWRWmUMYuCYx87KehpldSf%2BSs%2Fj6SgkHQXhrEKX88azC05FccW1qp8qWkNeL3Z8qpY%2Byl929%2FuC%2BGtEiSIl9uzRAbFx8c2Du4OmmeZa1SESv06kR%2FbzUyQoEzYCqlGnPcipzj5mVtD6EzBZijGy8iUSrXlgFKs6zvG7LHsyFKR45kdj4l0MiLBvISQb7gd93F3pLfg%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1600" alt="A laptop" />  </div>

  
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<p>Once you have the first draft, it’s time to revise your work! Spelling <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-021-09611-y" title="Spelling matters ">matters</a>. Poor grammar and sentence structure could easily dissuade your readers and damage your credibility. </p>
<p>One study found that 7 in 10 adults, or 71%, <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-out-of-five-adults-consider-themselves-to-be-good-spellers-yet-large-majority-often-find-spelling-mistakes-from-others-300130935.html" title="Spelling mistakes are common ">frequently find spelling mistakes</a> others make. When proofreading our work, we <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23931599/" title="We don't see our typos when writing ">don’t see our typos</a> because what we see on the screen competes with the version in our heads. Therefore, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23931599/" title="Make your autobiography unfamiliar font">research</a> urges you to make your work as unfamiliar as possible, such as changing the font or background color to better catch typos. </p>
<p>Good grammar will keep your audience interested in your autobiography. Thankfully, many tools and resources help, such as <a href="https://app.grammarly.com/" title="Use Grammarly for autobiography">Grammarly </a>or <a href="https://www.gingersoftware.com/grammarcheck" title="Use Ginger for your autobiography">Ginger.</a> You can hire a professional editor or even have a trusted friend or family member check your work. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Get Feedback </h1>
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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="8" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/john-schnobrich-FlPc9_VocJ4-unsplash_1.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=YyPNQfYexomrSTwGWYOBnEuNCLh8d1VNuLEavKRIYccKz2UkAS%2BvgR9WXhnPS%2BMujoQbePeybLiV9YTlxzBhaddV1XKTaTkbywhGP3MNJOYrubsX%2FcMWlUetO6cIwUiLYYD9sQWGqOH0UVZlipyc6SNMjcZLy2nJQedrQdll3NQqS7oACChtg5z4HS%2BT8dmSkYZlFqIw%2B5WB4DX1AgujMM3BGK%2BZVzzasJ%2BiuJWVIGNTl9W%2BOrVyibRNmr1nWwfnAm1pDAzG1EYLR2TG5e2b3KRwXB6Hz4OEHqlT5UTk8iKUuWsBJ2vF2XF3pMuAMXszorw1D%2FmokrIrMV0LDbvQyg%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1600" alt="A laptop" />  </div>

  
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<p>Many famous historical figures had a second pair of eyes looking over and collaborating on their autobiographies, such as Andrew Mortain in Princess Diana’s groundbreaking “Diana: Her True Story - in Her Own Words” or Alex Haley in Malcolm X’s “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” </p>
<p>Reading too long on your screen drains you mentally, making <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563204000202" title="Reading too long makes it harder to remember">it harder to remember</a> what you read once you’re done. It’s vital to have a second pair of eyes reading through your autobiography, pinpointing spelling or content flaws.</p>
<p>Feedback adds perspective to your autobiography. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Write Your Autobiography on My Stories Matter<a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Write your autobiography on My Stories Matter"> </a></h1>
<p>Your life has something to offer this world, someone to inspire. Many people will relate to your experiences. As Stephen King <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/82850-a-little-talent-is-a-good-thing-to-have-if%23:~:text%3DQuotes%2520%253E%2520Quotable%2520Quote-,%25E2%2580%259CA%2520little%2520talent%2520is%2520a%2520good%2520thing%2520to%2520have%2520if,ability%2520to%2520remember%2520every%2520scar.%25E2%2580%259D&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1648597324724665&amp;usg=AOvVaw36yAxH7n3mcokUdv-EBu5p" title="Stephen King on talent ">states</a>: “A little talent is a good thing to have if you want to be a writer. But the only real requirement is the ability to remember every scar.” </p>
<p>Not sure where to write your autobiography? Try <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog" title="Write your autobiography on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a>, a safe, effective way to begin recording your life story.</p>


How to Write an Autobiography

<h1>5 Tips for Collecting Family Stories </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15365" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 640px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/benigno-hoyuela-AqX_786_G0g-unsplash.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=eEsZI0GL%2FF5xoE9uYyCsBgy3GStH9MZtAqHCTplfPS0ecOi43Dzwi5o98jFqkqsZP9X8sXp9HzKvMB31V59N29ZnfhXcU52bgW0vHuadOZAGfP2yPy96cl6b9mB8uODflIlm5BvO4G8L81FmPCfCDr14qYDPwlYIhiX1Bmm0AMzVniAiOYpe98QrJN1SJijYx%2FWEVE1cnLMdji55%2FhXFpyJHwosllsZJ6EMiE5J4kMR08tMx%2F00p0QmH5358Nt6Toidwtj0mXsRpxgNCzXhAk6q2wL456Wsmo9%2BXstNUvPf2wk6qoAt2zNZx2oa7cC%2FGEz2kKAJUlkUIJKJY7%2BnkTQ%3D%3D" width="2400" height="3000" alt="Open books" />  </div>

  
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<p>The pandemic has taken an emotional toll on families. Since March of 2020, 27% of parents <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/146/4/e2020016824/79686/Well-being-of-Parents-and-Children-During-the" title="Parents reported worsening mental health">reported worsening mental health</a>, and 14% <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/146/4/e2020016824/79686/Well-being-of-Parents-and-Children-During-the" title="Parents reported worsening behavior health">reported worsening behavioral health</a> of their children. It's important to reconnect and rekindle our family bonds now more than ever. </p>
<p>Children who are told family stories have <a href="https://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/04/esc_covid_19_family_stories/campus.html" title="Children told family stories have better self-esteem ">better self-esteem</a>, <a href="https://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/04/esc_covid_19_family_stories/campus.html" title="Children told family stories have higher levels of social competence">higher levels of social competence</a>, <a href="https://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/04/esc_covid_19_family_stories/campus.html" title="Children told family stories have more quality friendships ">quality friendships</a>, <a href="https://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/04/esc_covid_19_family_stories/campus.html" title="Children told family stories have less anxiety and stress">less anxiety, stress</a>, and <a href="https://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/04/esc_covid_19_family_stories/campus.html" title="Children told family stories have fewer behavioral problems">behavioral problems</a>. Unfortunately, many family stories get lost through the generations. One should not forget activities like decorating the Christmas tree, camping, watching a favorite movie, or playing charades.</p>
<p>So how do we keep these bonds and traditions alive? Here are some tips for collecting family stories.  </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Find Inspiration from Story Prompts </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15366" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 349px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="7" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/library-of-congress-SakwGP9USQU-unsplash.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=WYE%2BneU8lyAQ4otW2GVc3Sc3QiWqfWMCHKAuTZVJLNVZroQpkxzGBTf0aLp0eg%2BhdsyKMMzE6OJoYw4T5tjQBCFOzmgNFv2iG5bpBWtypSfJI4EUglD1Qhy5gQBdL1P92VolLDmG3Nrdr9SEfBxxkhmIf42J3V3W8mxv%2B6EpQDPabp%2BirveT6lqsZ2j%2FqxUuoDoiWXtqVTuKK%2B0XexVfK2uqepa5wM84kRCF4u5N4QqgGfdkE6ol4eNT9utfbiGyOak4MgADdqpQa1zUC6t5lZUBO%2BzFml3CrVf3BdXerjJS5aIhkwJSqRlTo%2BPGszRLZKvGpkq9WVI2oxFrS%2BG7Mg%3D%3D" width="8380" height="5704" alt="Three military men" />  </div>

  
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<p>Grandma and Grandpa may have a lot of wisdom to share but may not know which stories to tell first. Our prompts feature helps you or your grandparents begin telling stories by asking specific questions, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intense-emotions-and-strong-feelings/201711/being-triggered-how-emotional-memories-affect-us" title="Questions trigger memories">triggering</a> memories. These memories can be about childhood, time in the military, or their first time abroad. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Make Your Family Stories Private</p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15368" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="9" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2828%29_0.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=iSac1jSZkO%2FD3VGTe6sBJcLz4JWVIJ6yb6QYCgO54pZ5M3VICGAHTzrO2QB1qNawjjwJ8rUqfO4Ebe5veQUoRjvsGN29bpQNjdlAcAXXpqxckDW7OdmdT2t9sU0KpJvWiEcxcNeapcGWzLmNtRpPoXnlQFlkDn5byLv3uzgqOJir51D58LFmdG%2B%2BjtKx8HfqHv%2B0K%2Fznz%2FFJlOy6MJRMr1dbcFucMqlg%2FB%2BtcKmpOoJEu8m8DnZpep%2BldksAphpDRvdb%2F0YqQOsOhTzdLdpiB37QBKjY9Kw5nW6YsN%2FuQ0NXfEHw4aLZa1JY5iKKu5NR66p2DBZ5LBXgzZgS0LPx9Q%3D%3D" alt="A lock" />  </div>

  
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	We created <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Write your family stories on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a> to go against the trend of every social media platform selling your data. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/millions-facebook-user-records-exposed-amazon-cloud-server/" title="Social media apps under criminal investigation ">Unlike the social media apps under federal criminal investigation for data breaches</a>, we protect your information. Only you can choose who sees your family stories when you add a memory.
<p> </p>
<h1>Collaborate with Your Family </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15369" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="10" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/john-schnobrich-2FPjlAyMQTA-unsplash.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=HWZuLJLc4ngM%2FgyoFZgdLB8moXBkSz4kAW%2FQvex3CjTLrBBP0bD4WJC1RLBNnpGAHn4NroKmqptURvLlRSi96GIoDOvC9LvvtOP5eQbTYqd39UUGySE88iCYfPVOAr%2FhdVjM0iV5Tho39Uv%2FTS0FJXQHRTuqJM7AznpEN7siCnJd1uf6wgub3IC%2FRk51mc3AY26m2u0%2F%2FqPK77UEwOwGeFTd8s2HLddwkBgbSA1jwnlZtE0LJFRaGWG%2FhvWGzqc2f0fdaPQ%2BczNPqbkUBp8460sHtIsCE3Q1WMKiQtZXWh4Ip3w1GSr1qSAX%2BrVjZezupTF0eEB3lNXRVRe6pcX4Xg%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1600" alt="An open computer" />  </div>

  
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	Whether grandma is sitting next to you or just a short drive away, everybody can share stories with our collaboration feature! They can contribute photos, audio clips, or videos to help complete that memory. By inviting your family to collaborate, that particular moment in time becomes whole. 
<p> </p>
<h1>Organize Your Family Stories</h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15370" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="11" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/kelly-sikkema-jr61kHaWKek-unsplash.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=hgLNt7f4SOwnLdrU9kJSdhJ%2FwtK5kcZh3bN62ft3Dz5JcBolgMuY6EQV%2Fm7edyr%2Fpwjdnqtox797rPQOw8oBZ66WqUgAlXfa6Ss1yCFZoRJDm5Y83Y%2F86mG86W3PdtAo225oAlqgXXema6tkP%2Fhtlfz4n81zc9wBDXV0oZ3LA3U9bpudSNjaBHCZYL3JuYjX6wj0c%2BqNhqhyFoTPO2CFd%2F0Om6tqvuNNrxF%2BiPuiGt9lJ6ZeY2KywfFQJfWIbxoAWljUybbtDfEu7g%2BVEi6gbuoJfAw8HtVlClzfsZnJNwNPt3%2F9%2BjS%2FQAdVMYbdJkYPX6GvbOOg2%2FbIz95rfNHqsw%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1600" alt="Sticky notes" />  </div>

  
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<p>We remember only a limited amount of things from our lives but research indicates that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0079742108605162" title="Staying organized helps retain memories">staying organized</a> is critical to retaining memories. <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Write your family stories on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a>, for example, allows you to post your family stories in chronological order in your timeline. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Categorize Your Family Stories </h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15371" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/maksym-kaharlytskyi-q9y3lruuxmg-unsplashjpg">maksym-kaharlytskyi-Q9y3LRuuxmg-unsplash.jpg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img style="height: 341px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="12" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/maksym-kaharlytskyi-Q9y3LRuuxmg-unsplash.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=CqX60YcV2WKjYrlQ3ISEqFHmyuwRLoXnY2XSe7shsuHIb6bjNDtwDSHndYdCkYLlKAn0OImuUdoarOrT3CNRrwc7p0O2Nd8OY%2FlwJA4Ssip2wBeG1bmVUK7E1ur1l9YYMog8eLkTPExqf5IsaZkR6Rt6CHKQ3wwglqESLgGHsttlog0zQXsKF8nzGXZgqCUZxNrcuw3pA4gCfnP5D8tp5Jeagkc9ParQ5P2nlSw5rjBd2xTj55OAqmEXX3abS3r4T1lKHiTXgh3G24ksSr1U8lOl2eUsFYImSCkmDnLvaxTaF9YIqAMiEW0guw0AEdoIk8EpmFgxCK26Znc4VLstyQ%3D%3D" width="2400" height="1597" alt="An open file cabinet" />  </div>

  
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<p>Categorization is essential because it allows you to group family stories. Otherwise, it takes time to navigate everything. Unlike “organization,” “categorization” identifies or divides into classes, labeling. <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Write your family stories on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a>’s Collections feature categorizes for you by labeling specific family stories into their respective folders. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>In a Rush Jotting Down a Memory?</h1>
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    <img style="height: 768px; width: 512px;" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="13" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/kelly-sikkema-zU3HUZvAKJ0-unsplash.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=nNsG3hD4LePJPmuzxhqkZhvhufUXMr8uw%2FVHtR6rl3AfLDLe6GMj63bJCMW%2FcuJ0%2BpyXdgMf0Q8rgBIzVkjWhi0kKLQkC580Kuzov1HxFlOjuC%2FZr8Rx%2FUQPa8XS5a%2BUzH1TLB%2B7TIXfaNu616iZQgcOlypXh6nIarV9jS7VHDN57DwmqylFPlr01n7dkW9O18SPTfZiXhT0qeSJU%2BSHY9ik7ptWgVKvqy7aJYduNWkeANlfMGSxMS1bJaM2lXrfzpHRrxNJky%2Bl%2FKmvcGgYu5jKpQaCMUBPMYLcgo2xfi%2Bf4BVkGFp0%2B%2BOrQYLSn%2BDpIEtRt2vjyl9dwNwIy6RB%2FQ%3D%3D" width="2400" height="3600" alt="A recorder" />  </div>

  
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<p>Hearing yourself speaking out loud <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171201090940.htm" title="Speaking aloud improves your memory">improves your memory</a>. With the voice recording function in our mobile app, you can record on the go, so you don’t lose your train of thought. Once your voice records, people can hear you tell your family stories. You can also capture the stories of family members who have difficulties typing. </p>
<p>	 </p>
<p>Questions? We have more information about how you can record your family stories on <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Write your family stories on My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a>.</p>


Updated 03/30/2022

5 Tips For Collecting Family Stories

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-11-03T230118.258.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=ErViMatsa0s06H6FTwoGbYq0cqYIpWdiE%2Fh10wPuQCkCE7g9eq52olYVre%2FZG3ERpc6ovtw1GGYpOkeuEzo%2FOPzTZW57Oo3l9gDBWLN3%2FkJh7ZqwRoPkAwBShSJ1e%2BbJJLX3pWKIjeAz4kOK25xNVP%2BPM4tLjSpKkKVl8zVqQKiqulB0T%2Bqc%2FDxpHPHpdx%2FADhymoDjQIjf%2B%2BY2u0oU%2BXEaoE1XC%2B8YhPBRe3ISZIbPISGwpNk4D3uFe9joRBlN4tpKvEeyhfSTnt%2Bi8yWUPxf7G%2F13xKFyd%2FWzl%2B9EoDASnjHiLXiVm5OSVGXx%2FLF31w8uv4V0SLqf%2FtuWP0QEfbw%3D%3D" alt="set or retro vinyl records on table" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>

<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3dbef574-7fff-506d-ad98-4ed5667b30f3">We all have a nostalgic song that transports us to our adolescent days. Maybe Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” reminds you of hapless teenage attempts at an 80s mullet. Perhaps the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” elicits memories of uncoordinated hip gyrations and tight leather pants. Or maybe, Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” induces flashbacks to middle school imitations of the music video’s signature hand-flip. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3dbef574-7fff-506d-ad98-4ed5667b30f3">Your early musical memories could be more influential than you think. The songs you listened to during middle and high school may form your music taste for the rest of your life. </b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34">Music and Data Science </b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34">Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, who elaborated upon his insights in a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/favorite-songs.html" title="nostalgia songs">New York Times op-ed</a>, proposed this theory. Having obtained a collection of Spotify data about the listening habits of men and women by age group, Davidowitz analyzed the frequency at which each group listened to a particular song. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34"> Surprisingly, the information from Spotify showed clear musical taste delineation by birth year. Specifically, the data showed that people were far more likely to continuously listen to popular nostalgic songs during adolescence. For example, 38-year-old men proved far more likely to enjoy “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkzRNyygfk" title="nostalgia songs">Creep</a>” by Radiohead than any other age group (the song came out in 1993 when these men were 14). Such patterns persisted for countless artists and songs—if you listened to a lot of Linda Ronstadt in your youth, chances are you still think “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haZPPBJC8Ic" title="nostalgia songs">You’re No Good</a>” is...pretty good. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34"> Furthermore, the analysis narrowed down the specific 3-year window that profoundly affected music taste. Boys, Davidowitz claims, form the majority of their music taste between the ages of 13 and 16. For girls, this period is earlier, with music taste formation falling between 11 and 14. The difference, Davidowitz proposes, could result from the difference in biological development by gender—girls <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613238/" title="nostalgia songs">go through puberty earlier</a> and mature faster than boys do. This hypothesis would make logical sense through research that shows <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201312/scientists-identify-why-girls-often-mature-faster-boys" title="nostaglia songs">puberty’s effect on re-shaping neural connections</a>—our music tastes are wired into our brains. </b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">Music and Me</b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">Though COVID-19 has temporarily paused live concerts, I fondly remember my 2019 trip to see Paul McCartney perform in San Jose. In addition to the concert ticket, I attended an hour’s exclusive pre-concert rehearsal. I was thrilled by the opportunity to see McCartney “unfiltered,” his jangling notes resonating among an intimate audience of about 75 super-fans. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">McCartney has a vast catalog of Beatles, Wings, and solo songs that even a typical 3-hour concert still leaves him with a surfeit of unplayed hits. However, in support of Davidowitz’s point, McCartney proved he isn’t immune to the effects of nostalgia. For the soundcheck, he chose to play several cover songs. His choice of borrowed material—including Carl Perkins’ “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5HKlQ6nGM" title="nostalgia songs">Blue Suede Shoes</a>” and “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-M-mr-0wSw" title="nostalgia songs">Honey Don’t</a>,” Buddy Holly’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-M-mr-0wSw" title="nostalgia songs">It’s So Easy</a>,” and Jesse Fuller’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBME_J0pf3o" title="nostalgia songs">San Francisco Bay Blues</a>”—featured nostalgic songs that were released during his formative teenage years. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">The release dates of those four cover songs couldn’t more perfectly coordinate with the New York Times’s findings. The four songs formed a chronological progression of the development of McCartney’s musical taste, from the animated, sensual notes of Carl Perkins to the playful, blues-influenced sounds of Buddy Holly. Though McCartney’s song choice could attribute to his sentimentality for the past, the precise relationship between the age range proposed by Davidowitz and the songs’ release date is unlikely to be coincidental. “Blue Suede Shoes” and “San Francisco Bay Blues” were released when McCartney was 13, “Honey Don’t” when he was 14, and “It’s So Easy” when he was 16.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">I mused about my sentimental connection with Paul McCartney’s music at the night's end. I was 15 when the Beatles broke up. Perhaps, I am nostalgic for the years in which I had few responsibilities and unlimited time. Or maybe, my adolescent brain was subconsciously shaped by the ubiquitous music of the Beatles. In either case, my love for the Beatles has stayed with me throughout my life. Of course, depending on your age, your taste in music, and which songs you find nostalgic may be different!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2"><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="nostalgia songs">My Stories Matter</a> has Spotify playlists that help you remember nostalgic songs from each decade. <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="nostalgia songs">Sign up</a> today for free and bask in the nostalgia!</b></p>


Your adolescence may be more influential to your music taste than you think

Why You Prefer Nostalgic Songs From Your Teenage Years

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/camera-1130731_640.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=cWj4FbRuVkLRQG63el5mbm0pNz2qc6jOE%2FkANozRD7QffcesnjO0wVei2lGM8mZxVyaw%2Bbs3W4bFKpmGWQDj%2BAG0w6%2F9iIdPmZIgGH3zYgAEWfjljlz2Hnx5qaBMzw%2BA72xToyfcO3K7ANmXe96dwbgcJBEbPnAY9pUsvG1ZFTaw2WNzC5T%2BKHAUd8UHf8nrxDvusAAFOme3JfZrx2Orqjlr7xzGytw8ih4V1eQvlmis9kvMhnS8ki2rmUQ7jZnQqkA9%2FdqTnGnk%2FmxDvdWuRfJbFoOGPe2XnBUQRX3XPbp5n6903E6T11506rNhwF68uUXrmdMMYMjo24hMEO8Eqw%3D%3D" width="640" height="480" alt="Reminiscing about life photos" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">There’s no better feeling than reminiscing about life in the good ole days. You know, before mobile phones, the internet, and microwaves. When there were no text messages to interrupt your day, no instant “likes” to make you feel good, and no 2-day shipping with a 100% return and refund policy.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">We are told we live in the safest and healthiest time in human history — so Harvard Psychology Professor Steven Pinker tells us. The “good old days” were less secure and beneficial than we may assume while fondly reminiscing about life in the past.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">Yet researchers know that when we reminisce about life, our memories — and the feelings and emotions they evoke — tend to skew positive.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">If life was objectively more difficult in the past, why does our reminiscing tend to do this? Why do we view our history through the rose-colored lens?</b></p>
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/scale-2635397_640_0.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331704&amp;Signature=ZsN26MgZVSIN5%2F4TX1dItRZFdGodP617VlVTVZsG%2FlaYDdK8tzWxO%2FKeLffUoLYPwC3z1sJhPpJsCcxZO86wIQOJGUQGhm43c6YbBZTXzNlWpUEZXBWrNkXQSrySpfzdSg2yLzc3Ijd4ENj2PNoZ0RoTXpX%2BMi4Mt4vA%2BQEVTdk77dE1%2BMx4OpahlOBLK6b2XuKkuqoQzuCd4MafqXv6Mi3ZzmVKBiv4U%2BunesgKaTe3nyKFXr9jVC5y0DLtoh%2FuU5Kl2zFQfT2evM6BIGReUA7ft0HO31Y7mU41Tn4vQUOgysh7Xe41VtfG1CEu5Gz6FO%2B7sYk0OiDyDPXshBBC%2BQ%3D%3D" width="640" height="355" alt="When reminiscing about life, good memories outweigh the bad" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">Good Feelings Outweigh the Bad</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">Negative feelings from our memories diminish faster than positive ones. This is known as the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fading_affect_bias#:~:text=The%20fading%20affect%20bias%2C%20more,those%20associated%20with%20positive%20emotions." title="nostaglia goggles ">fading affect bias</a>."</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">In a study published in the Review of General Psychology, participants recorded memories and rated how they felt about each memory. Three weeks later, participants rated their feelings for those memories. The study shows that we leave more positive feelings overall for our aggregated memories. Negative emotions related to bad memories tended to diminish faster than positive feelings related to good memories.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">So, why does this happen? Is it because we distort our life events to be more positive when we experience them?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">Probably not. In another study, participants recorded events in their life as they occurred and how they felt about them — a diary. At the events, negative feelings were just as strong as positive ones.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">After some time (3.5 months, one year, and 4.5 years), the participants re-rated how they felt about the life events. As in the previous study, the intensity of negative feelings around bad events faded significantly faster than positive feelings for suitable events. This suggests that your brain prioritizes positive emotions when reminiscing about life.</b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">More Good Memories Than Bad Memories?</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Participants recalled childhood memories in a study published in Psychological Monographs: General and Applied. They then rated their memories as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. People reported 50% pleasant memories, 30% unpleasant, and 20% neutral.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Another study re-created this research using a sensory deprivation tank to ensure nothing in the room somehow influenced people's positive emotions. The responses changed. Now participants reported 66% pleasant memories and 33% unpleasant ones. Of the 20% neutral memories, virtually all became positive.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Interestingly, even for memories that we recall involuntarily — those that randomly pop into our minds throughout the day (what we call “MindPops™”) — positive recollections outnumber negative ones. The data showed that 49% of these involuntarily recalled memories were pleasant, while only 19% were unpleasant.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Not only do we have more positive memories than negative ones, but the bad feelings from our negative memories also dissipate faster, leaving us with happier feelings for our memories overall.</b></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">What does all this mean for you?</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">It means that when you're reminiscing about life, you are far more likely to recollect something positive and feel positive. Over time, your perspective of past events will become more positive.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Furthermore, reminiscing about life in the past is good for your health. A sense of nostalgia can <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-53195-3_5" title="nostaglia ">increase psychological resilience</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29430666/" title="nostaglia ">improve relationships</a>, and <a href="https://health.usnews.com/wellness/mind/articles/2018-12-26/how-nostalgia-can-be-good-for-your-health-and-well-being" title="nostaglia ">boost mood and self-esteem</a>, thereby helping to enhance your overall emotional and psychological well-being.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Want to harness your memories as a means to greater well-being? Visit <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="nostaglia ">My Stories Matter</a> to start recording your memories for free!</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4"> To learn more about the positive feelings associated with reminiscing, check out this article: <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/why-you-get-happier-as-you-age/" title="nostaglia ">Why You Get Happier as You Age</a>.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Studies Referenced</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Cason, H. (1932). The learning and retention of pleasant and unpleasant activities. Archives of Psychology, 134, 1–96.</li>
<li>Conway, M., &amp; Ross, M. (1984). Getting what you want by revising what you had. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 738–748.</li>
<li>Holmes, D. S. (1970). Differential changes in affective intensity and the forgetting of unpleasant personal experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3, 234–239.</li>
<li>Matlin, M. W., &amp; Stang, D. J. (1978). The Pollyanna principle. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman.</li>
<li>Robinson, J. A. (1980). Affect and retrieval of personal memories. Motivation and Emotion, 4, 149–174.</li>
<li>Ross, M. (1997). Validating memories. In N. K. Stein, P. A. Ornstein, B. Tversky, &amp; C. Brainerd (Eds.), Memory for everyday and emotional events (pp. 49–81). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.</li>
<li>Suedfeld, P., &amp; Eich, E. (1995). Autobiographical memory and affect under conditions of reduced environmental stimulation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15, 321–326.</li>
<li>Thompson, C. P., Skowronski, J. J., Larsen, S., &amp; Betz, A. (1996). Autobiographical memory: Remembering what and remembering when. New York: Erlbaum.</li>
<li>Waldfogel, S. (1948). The frequency and affective character of childhood memories. Psychological Monographs, 62 (Whole №291).</li>
<li>Walker, W.R., Skowronski, J. J., &amp; Thompson, C. P. (2003). Life Is Pleasant — and Memory Helps to Keep It That Way!. Review of General Psychology Vol. 7, №2, 203–210.</li>
<li>Walker, W. R., Vogl, R. J., &amp; Thompson, C. P. (1997). Autobiographical memory: Unpleasantness fades faster than pleasantness over time. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 11, 399–413.</li>
<li>D. T., &amp; Axsom, D. (2000). Focalism: A source of durability bias in affective forecasting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 821–836.</li>
</ul>


Our natural bias towards happy memories over bad ones

What Causes Nostalgia Goggles?

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<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3684eb63-7fff-2f1b-efb7-289022226df4">You likely have heard that memory fades as you get older. But how much of that is accurate, and how much is an illusion? Every year you get older, it feels like you go further down a path of irreversible oblivion, like Alice falling down a rabbit hole of foggy forgetfulness.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3684eb63-7fff-2f1b-efb7-289022226df4">You may be more in control of your memory than you think. Though the aging brain's biology certainly affects older adults' memory retention, new research suggests that the issue may not be so straightforward. A significant component of diminished memory retention in older people has nothing to do with the brain itself—it has to do with stereotypes.</b></p>
<p> </p>
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/self-knowledge-2817857_640_1.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331705&amp;Signature=EUqTNE0SX6HMbzzkh%2FghEYx8a%2FvMBvCdkvNW0BI3hdtTDQVwXoCCSU0k%2BTJcDFm9d1xMgu547rWfqoJtzHIoiFKyerLfqm3ZM%2B2VUG8bA0A5uKa5mg0JXH0FaFj5PBrm%2Fie%2B7q126QV41lmWxoggXSmk2nN9HxH%2B6n%2BJUVncucp8iVPDZk3VdCPS09HFbmG%2FkjHQHH7ohwnxvhhrqrgh%2FYQHQ7sHB%2FkvLYKcKP6t4PdNlaaweBpVTElrO4OMYbdQ4VxKOlajDi3TaPkgdqYcoxBPD8ifi3mQduksEf%2FYjnVMIOrD3sq8S7WWx4RXnm8%2B8bODf6dkMeN%2BYda7H8hAJw%3D%3D" width="640" height="427" alt="" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6fe11bc1-7fff-528e-fe84-91eacebbefa8">How Ageism Affects Memory Retention</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6fe11bc1-7fff-528e-fe84-91eacebbefa8">Think about it—how often have you been exposed to the idea that older people are forgetful? Modern culture has long embraced tropes of an older woman haplessly misplacing her glasses or an older gentleman constantly mixing up his grandkids' names.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6fe11bc1-7fff-528e-fe84-91eacebbefa8">The media has milked the “<a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ScatterbrainedSenior" title="aging">Scatterbrained Senior</a>” stereotype so much that it now has its listing on <a href="https://tvtropes.org/" title="aging">TV Tropes</a>. Though these stereotypes are not intentionally malicious, they have a significant subliminal impact on our relationship with aging.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6fe11bc1-7fff-528e-fe84-91eacebbefa8">Unfortunately, such stereotypes are a self-fulfilling prophecy. A group of researchers at the <a href="https://gero.usc.edu/" title="aging">USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology</a> separated older adults into two groups before asking them to complete a memory task. One group received negative information about aging, reinforcing the traditional belief that age significantly affects memory retention. The others still need to receive such information. In the end, the group primed with negative information <a href="https://news.usc.edu/52707/aging-stereotypes-can-hurt-older-adults-memory/" title="aging">performed much worse</a> on a recall task than those not exposed to negative stereotypes. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6fe11bc1-7fff-528e-fe84-91eacebbefa8"> </b></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-18681" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2899%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331705&amp;Signature=aFp3jrD8OAwsRVPDHRWaYNesXxW0QdKRe9PpQ%2BjUBrUZq2JY3%2FcViutVu9jCfrm8H%2BbRp3LNL%2F8sXaYZDDbpo9mR0GkeRmP6DCGbsATner0KFx00AX3rnQ6t5XejLySm79UUJoUMlOcW6WRp0vrDLyzxG2Qx9bYQFcDFnWFJ3LITwxqZBpUHpxkb0uRmomYzFWTJMpfoeiA5zwy3gXK6olTMUip20bpPhLgNeJdtc3NJu3xYxbhU4MY%2FhNz9l%2FinHNdlviTa2pPErzQ9suEiQ5PSafjXxKhQmhVk2KrtT%2FVYPrKjnro5QhJVvdkJcuTDqzO5Eo2vofQ1FH%2F3DdJ6XQ%3D%3D" alt="Grandparents with their grandchildren" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-61946395-7fff-d56f-0ffb-cfa363a1adeb">The Fatal Threat of Stereotype</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-61946395-7fff-d56f-0ffb-cfa363a1adeb">These results make sense if we put them in the greater context of <a href="https://diversity.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/stereotype_threat_overview.pdf" title="aging">stereotype threat.</a> This process has a detrimental effect on <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3642236/pdf/nihms454759.pdf" title="aging">racial minorities</a>, <a href="http://gribouts.free.fr/psycho/menace%20du%20st%E9r%E9o/multiples%20identites-gresky%20et%20al.pdf" title="aging">women</a>, and people from <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11218-005-5456-6" title="aging">low socioeconomic backgrounds</a>.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-61946395-7fff-d56f-0ffb-cfa363a1adeb">For example, when young girls are told before a test that they are naturally worse at math than boys, they will <a href="https://www.apa.org/research/action/stereotype" title="aging">score significantly lower</a> than girls who were not told this information. The negative stereotypes to which the members of these groups are exposed inhibit performance, inducing performance anxiety and lowering self-confidence.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-61946395-7fff-d56f-0ffb-cfa363a1adeb">Furthermore, the effect of internalized negative stereotypes influences more than cognitive health. Shockingly, older people with more positive self-perceptions of aging lived, on average, <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp-832261.pdf" title="aging">7.5 years longer</a> than their counterparts with less positive self-perceptions. Such statistics illustrate the importance of maintaining a positive self-image—no matter what period of life. Not only will you feel better, but you will add years to your life.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13982" class="file file-image file-image-png">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/post-it-150262_640_0.png?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1733331705&amp;Signature=hL8cJ5g4YTO8KLI%2BpgHMREawIA8fgm%2FWqXJ370ERVS5ARj1HJLb1QtgohkWUxc2D8aAStjUFwMvEyypwrFqpDeScKtZHYjqPgNcccyWhz7YfN8%2FWpv3AiLiiITGJuip%2FvtnjmKAqtWhgGpoSroTlJv9QcrtOP347SsBesw4LySVfcjXwh5a79k9nAhHhWd05iSSfsyNglPa4VNkU%2Bo%2FwZSfgHzJkeFoIBSldn6Ch9R1BQQU2wBxBKq748LGkXOn7WREHtgu5XsgGlswqwnJg9byZAcNRPGfS07Fo91q0qCrAfJMwbMSUXFpewlqS855AQ9UIQsPBHuCg%2ByCL9qsitA%3D%3D" width="640" height="633" alt="Prompts can help with memory retention" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3ac14d46-7fff-ec35-2925-b85f81d82f97">Using Prompts to Remember</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3ac14d46-7fff-ec35-2925-b85f81d82f97">So how can you combat these stereotypes about aging? A good start is surrounding yourself with an age-positive environment and supporting your goals. It would help if you should then think confidently about your ability to remember what’s important to you. Remember—your age will not hold you back. Reminding yourself of your capabilities and pushing the limits of your memory may open up new frontiers for what you can recall. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3ac14d46-7fff-ec35-2925-b85f81d82f97">One way to positively encourage yourself to remember is to answer questions, or prompts, that address specific experiences from your past. Prompts induce a reflex known as “<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3068341/want-to-know-what-your-brain-does-when-it-hears-a-question" title="aging">instinctive elaboration</a>,” meaning that the brain focuses all of its power on coming up with an answer. So, by answering a specific prompt, like those found on <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="aging">My Stories Matter</a>, you harness your brain’s energy—and that’s a powerful resource. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3ac14d46-7fff-ec35-2925-b85f81d82f97">What was the name of your prom date, and why did you go to prom with them? <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/post/preserve-your-grandparents%E2%80%99-memories-on-my-stories-matter%C2%A0/" title="aging">What was your earliest memory of your grandparents? </a>What was your favorite family recipe? The answers to these questions are inside your brain—and we believe you can find them. If you consistently tell yourself that you can remember, there's a higher chance you will. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3ac14d46-7fff-ec35-2925-b85f81d82f97">Can you cure your “forgetfulness”? Eliminating negative stereotypes is not an end-all solution to age-related memory problems, but it can make a difference. After all, you have more wisdom, life experiences, and special memories. What could be wrong with that?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3ac14d46-7fff-ec35-2925-b85f81d82f97">Want to use tools to help you retain memories for you to look back on? Sign up for <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="aging">My Stories Matter</a> free!</b></p>


Smashing Stereotypes About Aging

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<h1>Who Is Telling the Truth?</h1>
<p>Scientific studies have proven eyewitness testimonies <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1706891114" title="The roshomon effect">unreliable</a>, with many organizations clamoring <a href="https://innocenceproject.org/dna-exonerations-in-the-united-states/" title="The roshomon effect">against their use in court</a>. However, in many cases, each witness is still telling the truth — or the truth as they perceive it. Although not purposefully deceitful, their stories paint the same event differently. The fact of what occurred can only be found in the combination of all of these perspectives. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the “Rashomon effect.”</p>
<h1>The Rashomon Effect </h1>
<p>The “Rashomon effect” originates from the 1950 Akira Kurosawa film <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-rashomon-1950" title="The Roshomon effect">Rashomon</a>. In the movie, four witnesses describe a mystery, and although every witness’s testimony is convincing in its own right, each individual’s account contradicts the rest. None of them worked together to form a collective memory. Philosophically, the film never settles on a specific version of “truth,” thus implying that every person’s performance was, in its way, correct.</p>
<p>Even if you haven’t seen <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-rashomon-1950" title="the roshomon effect">Rashomon</a>, you’ve probably heard of some of the media it inspired—from film to music to novels. For example, in the song “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0DfsCzfq4" title="The roshomon effect">Summer Nights</a>” from the 1978 musical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(musical)" title="the roshomon effect">Grease</a>, Sandy and Danny give their friends wildly contrasting accounts of their summer romance, from Sandy’s clear recollections to Danny’s steamy version of events.</p>
<p>Naturally, every individual will have a slightly different version of the same event, influenced by their subjective emotional state, expectations, and life experiences.</p>
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<h1>Collaboration Trumps Monologue  </h1>
<p>My Stories Matter approaches the memory-recording process from a communal perspective. Rather than quarrel over differences in memory, we can celebrate them! Inviting others to collaborate, where c input is added as color-coded text incorporated into the original memory. As others fill in the gaps, you create a richer, more detailed story. </p>
<p>To quote Akira Kurosawa, “<a href="https://quotefancy.com/quote/1282177/Akira-Kurosawa-It-is-the-power-of-memory-that-gives-rise-to-the-power-of-imagination#:~:text=Akira%20Kurosawa%20Quote%3A%20%E2%80%9CIt%20is,to%20the%20power%20of%20imagination.%E2%80%9D" title="The roshomon effect">memory gives rise to the imagination</a>.” By remembering the stories we share with others, we imagine new possibilities. Who knows where the truth lies? What matters is that we can share our experiences with those we love.</p>
<p>Ready to create a collective memory with your friends and family? <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="my stories matter">Sign up for free</a> to My Stories Matter Today!</p>
