I Want to Record My Parent's Story But Don't Know Where to Start

I want to record my parent's story, but I don't know where to start.This is one of the most common questions I've gotten over the last decade. Whether it's a parent, grandparent, or even your own story—getting started is usually the hardest part.In this episode, I break down:The three underlying issues that keep you stuck (overwhelm, fear of doing it wrong, and urgency)Questions to ask yourself before you beginMy simple recommendation: start small, start this weekWhy you DON'T need the whole life story in one sittingHow to capture everyday moments (not just the big milestone memories)Why negative and difficult moments matter just as much as happy onesThree ways to start:Five-Minute Storytelling (free scripts) - Pick one question, capture one storyFamily Story Planner or Get Her Story Workbook - If you need more structure52 Weeks of Storytelling - Free YouTube series for a comprehensive year-long approachYour homework: Pick ONE question. Ask it this week. Capture the answer however you can—voice memo, video, or notes.Free resources: TheLegacyRecorder.com/5-minute-storytellingThis works even in situations with hospice, dementia, Alzheimer's, or other time-sensitive scenarios. You can do this.Chapters:00:00 Introduction & The Question01:00 What's Really Holding You Back02:00 Questions to Ask Yourself First03:00 My Recommendation: Start Simple04:00 If You Want More Structure05:00 You Don't Need the Whole Life Story at Once06:00 Your Homework & Next Steps#FamilyHistory #ParentStories #Storytelling #MemoryPreservation #LegacyRecorder #OralHistory #FamilyLegacy #RecordingStories #Dementia #AlzheimersCare #Hospice #ElderCare #FiveMinuteStorytelling #Genealogy #FamilyMemories

The Legacy Recorder is all about the importance of sharing our stories and memories with the people we love and even strangers. In this episode, the host shares a personal story of how someone printed and kept one of her Facebook posts, and how it was discovered after their passing. This experience was a beautiful reminder of how our words and stories can have untold impacts that we may never know about. By sharing our experiences, we create a deep and connected meaning to the story we're telling, and it can help others who may be going through similar experiences. Join the 5 Minute Storytelling podcast by The Legacy Recorder as they encourage you to share your stories and make an impact in someone else's life today. 5 Minute Storytelling - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/5-minute-storytelling Paid consult - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/consult

Irish heritage is something that is very important to me. Our family traditions are a big part of what makes us who we are. In this episode, I cover some of my favorite traditions and why they matter so much to me. ----------- Things to read, listen to, or watch Read - How to Start Celebrating Life in the Midst of Grief - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/52-weeks/celebrating-life-and-loss Watch - Thoughts on Grief - The Good Things That Can Come After Loss - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taALSkAK3sk Listen to - Sharing Music Memories about Irish Music - https://anchor.fm/5minutestorytelling/episodes/Sharing-Music-Memories-about-Irish-Music-ee2vvb ------------- A Resource to Check Out - How to Celebrate Your Heritage with Storytelling - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/conversation-starters/how-to-celebrate-your-heritage Family history and family heritage are great places to find stories. Knowing how to start can be the tricky part though. That’s where this resource comes in, it will help you kick off conversations with the people you care for and help them celebrate their heritage with stories. ----------- Storytelling Activity I’m Loving Since it’s St. Patrick’s Day, why not enjoy some storytelling that’s on theme! Some of my favorite questions to ask storytellers this time of year are: Do you have fond memories or no memories of St. Patrick's Day? Who were you with for your favorite memory of St. Patrick's Day? What happened in your favorite memory of St. Patrick's Day? When did your favorite memory of St. Patrick's Day happen? How did your favorite memory of St. Patrick's Day make you feel? How do you feel now about it? ---------------------- Paid consult - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/consult

When making a memorial video, it's important to select photos that will evoke the emotions you want your viewers to feel. In this episode, we'll discuss five ways to choose photos that will create an emotional impact and help convey your loved one's life story. 5 Ways 1. Select photos that capture the personality of your loved one 2. Choose photos that are meaningful to you and your family 3. Select photos that show your loved one's passions in life 4. Use a mix of old and new photos to create a timeline of your loved one's life 5. Ask friends and family for help in selecting the best photos Memorial Video Template - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/memorialvideotemplate Paid consult - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/consult

This episode is all about how to honor death and offer support with storytelling. This might seem a bit morbid, but there is a reason I’m talking about this now. If you didn’t know, this month is really important to me because it’s the anniversary of the passing of my father. With his death came the core of my storytelling: how do we honor the person who’s passed—or people who will pass? How do we honor this life we have right now? And how do we honor the life next to us, even if we only have five minutes with them? That is what I hope to encourage through my work, and the work you are doing. So this video I’ll be focusing on life,  death, and grief and how we can use the resources I’ll be sharing to honor them all. ----------- Things to read, listen to, or watch Read - How to Honor Death & Grief - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/death-dying/how-to-honor-death-grief Watch - Telling Your Grief Story & Why You Need To - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Ss4rfskI0 Listen to - Photos, Death, & Storytelling - https://anchor.fm/5minutestorytelling/episodes/Photos--Death--and-Storytelling-el9f2k ----------- A Resource to Check Out - Goodgrief App - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/resources/goodgrief-app-a-resource-for-loss-and-grief This is a resource for loss and grief like I’ve never seen. I downloaded it in 2017 and have been singing its praises to anyone who would listen since! The app is designed to match people with similar stories and experiences of loss so we can have a safe space, with others who empathize, while moving through our grief. I can’t recommend it enough, I hope it will help you as it’s helped me and so many others. ------------- Storytelling Activity I’m Loving One of the good things that can come from grief is receiving and remembering the community, love, and support you have around you. To help your storyteller reflect on this, try asking them the following prompts: When was a time you felt really supported? Who was there for you? What type of support did they offer you? How have you been able to support them, or someone else in a similar way? Hopefully this will spark joyful memories. ------------- Paid consult - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/consult

This is a quick overview of what's coming next and a little about telling stories with the people you love when shit gets hard. Links I mentioned... https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/ Book time with Gael to get help with your storytelling project: https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/consult

Wrapping Up 52 Weeks of Storytelling - The End! This is the last episode in this series. You Made It! Thank you for taking the time to write your story! It means the world to someone you love, and it means the world to me! I hope you take a moment to share your achievement with someone in your life! You may inspire them to write their own story and share their moments with you. What I have found in doing the work of listening to others, is that people need to feel heard, seen, and loved. We can do this by listening intentionally and being present in each moment with the person in front of us (or beside us). I hope you have a beautiful, wonderful day! Happy Writing, Gael, the Legacy Lady www.thelegacyrecorder.com Resource Page - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/52-weeks-of-storytelling 52 Weeks of Storytelling Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyRxcau-HeTY3ACe82WzxDSW2Rjn6G7Bo Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/listing/800164354/journal-with-guided-prompts-for-52-ways Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RKNKKDG Follow me around! Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thelegacyrecorder/ Twitter https://twitter.com/LegacyRecorder Blog http://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/leaving-our-legacy Website http://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/ Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/legacyrecorder/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelegacyrecorder Anchor (podcast) https://anchor.fm/5minutestorytelling

This is week 52 of 52 weeks of Storytelling! In today’s episode, you are writing about your Favorite Cooking Memory this week. Listen to the episode to find out how to get started. This episode will include a couple of things. It'll include a prompt, how to use the prompt, a tip or hack for writing, and an example of what a story might sound like. The prompt will be coming from a journal that you can find linked below. You can get it printed from Amazon or you can snag it at a lower cost price point as a PDF on Etsy. Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/listing/800164354/journal-with-guided-prompts-for-52-ways Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RKNKKDG For more info and the Youtube Playlist click the links below Resource Page - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/52-weeks-of-storytelling 52 Weeks of Storytelling Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyRxcau-HeTY3ACe82WzxDSW2Rjn6G7Bo Happy Writing!

This is week 51 of 52 weeks of Storytelling! In today’s episode, you are writing about your Favorite Baking Memory this week. Listen to the episode to find out how to get started. This episode will include a couple of things. It'll include a prompt, how to use the prompt, a tip or hack for writing, and an example of what a story might sound like. The prompt will be coming from a journal that you can find linked below. You can get it printed from Amazon or you can snag it at a lower cost price point as a PDF on Etsy. Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/listing/800164354/journal-with-guided-prompts-for-52-ways Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RKNKKDG For more info and the Youtube Playlist click the links below Resource Page - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/52-weeks-of-storytelling 52 Weeks of Storytelling Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyRxcau-HeTY3ACe82WzxDSW2Rjn6G7Bo Happy Writing!

This is week 50 of 52 weeks of Storytelling! In today’s episode, you are writing about your Most Memorable Dream this week. Listen to the episode to find out how to get started. This episode will include a couple of things. It'll include a prompt, how to use the prompt, a tip or hack for writing, and an example of what a story might sound like. The prompt will be coming from a journal that you can find linked below. You can get it printed from Amazon or you can snag it at a lower cost price point as a PDF on Etsy. Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/listing/800164354/journal-with-guided-prompts-for-52-ways Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RKNKKDG For more info and the Youtube Playlist click the links below Resource Page - https://www.thelegacyrecorder.com/52-weeks-of-storytelling 52 Weeks of Storytelling Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyRxcau-HeTY3ACe82WzxDSW2Rjn6G7Bo Happy Writing!