Pass on Your Memories

One of the fastest growing segments in publishing over the past few years has been memoirs. People write down their life stories, and we love to read about them. Many of those people were famous. Some became famous after they wrote their memoirs. Not everyone who writes memoirs will become famous, or needs to be. You don't need to publish your memories, but it can be a wonderful treasure to pass on to your loved ones.

You may think that you have nothing special to write about. But think about this: Wouldn't you love to have a record of your parents' and grandparents' lives? What if they had written down their memories to pass on to you? You'd think their stories were fascinating.

Your children, grandchildren and future generations will think the same of your memories. Remember, your grandchildren will grow up in a very different world than the one we now inhabit. They may be able to read about these times in history books, but that's not the same as learning about what these times meant to their own relatives.

Everyone has a story to tell. Looking back on your life can be a pleasurable experience. It can inspire you to reconnect to people with whom you've lost touch. Even if some of your memories are painful (and we all have those), it can be therapeutic to confront your own past and then let it go.

Here are some steps you can take to get started on your own memoirs:

• Go to the bookstore or explore the Internet for books on writing memoirs.

• Check out schools in your community. There are now hundreds of classes offered in writing memoirs.

• Do some sense memory exercises to help you remember details of specific incidents. Concentrate on remembering what things looked like, tasted like, how they smelled, and how they felt (physically and emotionally).

• Read old newspapers and magazines to remember what was going on in the world at various times of your life. They can help you trigger old memories (for instance, many of us remember what we were doing when John F. Kennedy was killed).

• Write about your family, your friends, your accomplishments, your travels—any unique or interesting experiences.

• Don't worry about it being perfect or trying to make it great literature. Tell your story from the heart and have fun!

  Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.

  —Charles Swindoll,
  author

I Dare You...

Surround yourself with a wall of information. I do not have the greatest memory. I know that I need reminders—tangible things that can help me stay on course and keep my priorities straight. I need to focus on my agenda and remember critical things that move my business or life forward.

I have these reminders hanging on the walls of my office. I have one board on which I list all the accounts I have in development. On another board, I keep cards with the names and phone numbers of key contacts in various industries. It makes it very easy for me to find their phone numbers when I need them; it also serves as a reminder that these are people with whom I need to keep in constant contact.

The third reminder is a whiteboard where I write specific goals in several different areas. I have lists of goals, and I also draw what looks like a spiderweb. At the end of each "spoke" of the web is a key component of my business. This serves to remind me of how everything I'm doing is connected with everything else I'm doing.

I dare you to create your own walls of information. Keep your lists and contacts out where you can see them—not in the desk, not in a folder, not in the computer—but on the wall where you will see them every day. Then, even when you are out of your office (or wherever your wall might be), you retain the information. It becomes ingrained in you when you see it every day.

Never let your memories be greater than your dreams.

—Doug Ivester,
author

Remember what's most important in life.

Remember that being true to yourself is the only way to live. Never forget who you are. Don't change yourself to please others. Keep finding ways to discover your potential, and then expand it.

Remember your values. Don't make compromises where your values are concerned. Believe in yourself and your ability to know what's right and what's not.

Remember that this too shall pass. Everyone goes through adversity. It's part of life. Unfortunately, these times often bring pain, anger, or depression. Know that these are human emotions and it's normal to have these feelings. But also know that there is a light at the end of every tunnel, and that every challenge also brings opportunity. As time goes on, know that there are always good times ahead.

Remember to set goals and keep moving forward in life. Staying still leads only to discontent and frustration. Moving forward gives us hope, inspiration, and motivation to keep improving all the time.

Remember that it's not the destination, but the journey that is important. Where you're going is never as important as the choices you make on the way there. Never forget that what goes around comes around: The way you treat others is the way you will be treated in the end. You can have all the toys, gadgets, and money in the world, but happiness comes only from who you have loved and what you have learned along the way.

If you don't go far enough back in memory or far enough ahead in hope, your future will be impoverished.

—Art Linkletter,
TV personality

When we take a stroll down memory lane, we usually focus on events that stand out because they were particularly meaningful to us. But it's important to realize that every moment is meaningful. Life is precious, but limited. The one thing we all wish for is more time, especially as we approach the end of our lives. How do we spend the time that we do have? That's probably the most important question we can ask. It's a shame that it usually takes difficult circumstances for us to realize how precious the short time we have on this Earth is. That's why, in the next chapter, you'll find reminders on how to get the most out of every moment you have.