From Memories to Heirlooms: A 7-Step Guide to Legacy Storytelling

Have you ever wished you could capture the wisdom and stories of your elders before it’s too late? As we age, the importance of passing on our experiences and memories becomes more apparent, but the challenges of doing so can seem daunting.

Bernie and Zelda

Maybe you know the song? It goes something like this: Bernie and Zelda are sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G. No, really, it was not just a kid’s song for these two lovebirds back when they were in high school. In fact, they never dated anyone but each other. When Zelda passed away, Bernie’s health declined quickly. His children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, all wanted to visit him before the end. And Bernie had so much wisdom to share with them, mostly about the power of love, and loyalty, and patience, and kindness. His stories would become legend in his family, after he passed away, but first he had to make sure they were recorded.

Sometimes, Bernie would think of something and laugh. He would look but no one was there to share it with him. At other times, Bernie would fall asleep when his guests were over. In his dreams he told a great story, the family that surrounded him soaked it up and laughed aloud. But when he awoke, his kids and grandkids would be busy with their own affairs. A ceramic gnome in the planter, a coaster with a picture of a car, and a clean, green tennis ball were the only toys he had for them in his small and tidy apartment. Always polite, they would stifle their boredom, shuffle their feet, and giggle at each other when Bernie was able to share a tale.

One day, Bernie spoke with his financial planner. She knew some of Bernie’s favorite stories, remembered Zelda and their great love for each other, and shared Bernie’s desire to tell the stories as a part of his legacy. His financial planner brought a smart phone and recorded one of their conversations. With Bernie’s permission, the financial planner then shared their brief conversation with Bernie’s son. The result was better than Bernie, or the planner, could have imagined.

In the video, Bernie told a story about the first time Bernie saw Zelda. They were in a crowd of kids at the lake, attending the annual Rotary Club family picnic. Both of their fathers were hobnobbing, and the kids were jumping in and out of the water from the floating platform. Bernie saw this beautiful girl and so what did he do to impress her? “Well, I pushed her into the lake, of course!” he shared. “She was so mad,” he said, “She turned bright pink all over. Her mother thought she needed to get out of the sun!” Bernie brought her a lemonade to beg forgiveness and sat with her under a tree, talking the afternoon away. He said she never forgave him for that, but she kept listening to him. And that, he commented, was all he needed for the next sixty years to keep her attention.

The video was passed around the family and soon the kids were bringing over smart phones and gathering stories from Grandpa Bernie. One of them wanted to turn the recordings into a podcast. Whether or not that happened, the experience gave energy to multiple generations of the family to become interested in capturing the stories of the elders.

From busy schedules to the fear of being a burden, there are many reasons why our loved ones may hesitate to share their valuable insights. But what if we could bridge that gap? What if we could make it easier for our elders to pass down their legacy, one story at a time?

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the common obstacles to sharing family stories and provide a simple, 7-step solution to help you capture the wisdom of your loved ones.

Whether you’re a grandparent looking to leave a legacy or a grandchild eager to learn from your elders, this guide will provide you with the tools and inspiration to make the most of your time together. So let’s dive in and discover how to turn those cherished memories into lasting treasures.

First, let’s examine some of the problems that can arise with sharing and capturing stories to include in our legacy planning. As we age, we think of things we wish we had said, or knowledge we wish our children and grandchildren knew. We have wisdom, but sometimes we feel like we have no opportunity to share it. Our experiences and memories become more important as we age. And the time we have to share our stories with our loved ones grows shorter every day.

The reasons the elderly struggle to share their wisdom include:

1. Our elders are less mobile than they used to be.
2. Children and grandchildren are so busy.
3. Elders do not want to be a burden.
4. Elders think; “kids do not care what an old lady, or old man thinks”; ie, elders fear rejection.
5. Elders forget, sometimes, what they wanted to say when they had a chance.

Ready to unlock the treasure trove of stories and wisdom within your family? It’s easier than you think! We’ve developed a simple, 7-step process that will guide you through capturing, preserving, and sharing your loved ones’ legacy. Whether you are tech-savvy or prefer pen and paper, this step-by-step approach will empower you to bridge the generational gap and create lasting connections through storytelling.

7-step solution:

1. Talk to a financial planner about your long term goals for legacy planning, including a desire to leave behind stories.
2. Start the brainstorming process to get the creative juices flowing.
3. Record a video.
4. Write a brief legacy letter.
5. Revise what you create, as time goes by. Repeat the previous steps often.
6. Save your work and tell your loved ones where to find it. For example, in the A&I Wealth and Wellbeing Album.
7. Nothing is permanent. Everything can be improved or changed if need be, at some later date.

Conclusion

The path to preserving your family’s stories is a journey filled with joy, discovery, and connection. By following these 7 simple steps, you can overcome common hurdles and unlock the treasure trove of wisdom your loved ones hold dear. Remember, every shared memory, every recorded anecdote, and every written word adds another layer to the rich tapestry of your family’s history. Embrace the opportunity to learn, to laugh, and to create a legacy that will be cherished for generations to come. Start today, and let the stories unfold. Need help? A&I Wealth Management financial planners are ready.