You may think your story is unimportant. However, how many times have your kids asked what the world was like when you grew up? They love to hear stories of you and themselves. By documenting your own story, not only can others experience your stories, they can see how you interact with your world.
NOTE: This badge program builds on “Tell My Story” which encourages sharing stories of your life through storytelling.
Steps
1. What do you want to leave behind?
Perhaps you want to leave stories of your life? Dreams you have achieved? A special experience that changed your life? Make a list of the items you wish to share with future generations. This might be your own stories or from your family.
Telling your story
2. Short stories.
You might be interested in telling short stories. Think of a funny or embarrassing moment in your life. Make notes about how you might tell that story.
3. Long stories.
Perhaps you want to go beyond just a moment in time. Create a brief outline of a longer event such as a vacation or sport season you participated in. Make notes about how you might tell the story.
4. Writing.
Most people think of written stories when they think of telling a story. Write a short story about yourself. It can be short or long, encompassing something as simple as the first time you did something or complicated like experiences during a week at summer camp.
5. Storytelling.
Oral traditions have been around longer than written ones. Tell your story to others. Record your telling as well as the questions you are asked afterwards. Use the questions to help improve your oral story.
6. Skit or plays.
Skits or plays allow you to tell your story through many mouths. After documenting your story, ask others how they perceived the same events. Create a skit trying to keep to the authenticity of many points of view.
7. Puppets.
Create a puppet show based on your story. You can use shadowgraphs, sock puppets, marionettes or any other movable personification of yourself to tell your story. Perform your story for others.
8. Art.
Create a piece of art that reminds you of a story. Share your story with someone else. Ask if they can see the links between your art and story.
9. Photography.
You can have photos of people and locations in your stories. A series of photos can allow you to tell a story as well. Try telling your story through photos alone. Add brief quotes or comments as triggers to remember the story behind the photos.
10. Combining words and art.
Journals, whether written or art, are a great way to tell your story. When you open a diary or journal, you feel like you are taking a glimpse into someone else’s life. Start a journal to tell your story.
11. Digital.
Tell your story with digital media. Record your story as an audio or video file. Perhaps you might want to start a personal blog or podcast. Perhaps digital photos can be included in your legacy. Send these files / links to friends or distribute on YouTube.
Creating a story
12. Mundane?
If you feel like you don’t have a story to tell, start one today. Find a way to start making a change in your life, the lives of those you love or your community. Explore your passions and start now. Keep track of your story as you create it.
13. Service.
Giving service to others affects your life as well as other in a positive way. Find ways to give service that allow you to start creating a story.
14. Build.
Start and build a business. Build your reputation with organizations where your expertise can benefit them. Start your own cause or significantly improve another. Build a garden to share with your community. Move beyond “Service” in Step 13 and push yourself to make a difference.
15. Create.
Create art. Create music. Create a blog that offers inspiration and hope. Create something from your own mind that you can share as a story.
16. One on one.
Choose a person who needs help and build a relationship. Help them start their own legacy. Document their stories. Or perhaps just spend time to brighten someone’s day and record their stories to carry on their traditions instead of your own.
Combining stories
17. Participate in an event.
At a family reunion or get-together, have a few stories prepared and ready to go. Record the event to get additional ideas, stories and more. Once started, you’ll find many people like to share their stories.
18. Contest.
Select a theme for your stories and ask others to contribute their own stories. Create a contest for your family and friends to join. You can give serious or silly awards for your contest. Create a montage of stories and share it with others to vote on so even if someone doesn’t participate, they can be part of the fun.
19. Online archive.
Create an online archive for yourself or allow others to join. You can have as much or little control over submissions, organization and more. Ask others to help maintain the archive if they are better at certain tasks than you.
20. Publish.
Collect your stories and publish them to offer inspiration for others to start building their own legacy. You might want to publish a single story or a group of them. You might instead choose to share how you took your own journey or help others to start theirs.
Sites to Explore
- www.storyofmylife.com
- www.therememberingsite.org
- www.lovely-life-plan.com/create-your-own-story.html
- www.buildingfamilylegacies.com
- familyshare.com/grandma-tell-me-a-story-building-a-legacy-through-family-lore
- www.facebook.com/about/timeline
- www.mystoryart.com
- www.ustrust.com/publish/ust/capitalacumen/winter2012/features/building-family-legacy.html
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