Writing Tips to Capture Memories and Build Relationships

Making memories by capturing thoughts

Developing ideas that are unique to your experiences means stopping long enough to write down a word. That’s what I do. Like Anna Burgess Yang reminded me in her article Finding Inspiration From Your Past (When It’s Hard to Remember!), I found another system that works for me. She had created “a system to reflect, track, and write from your memories.”

Memories come and go in and out of your mind. Yet, gathering memories systematically is a process of 1–2–3. Words matter. You have them stored somewhere. We all do. Here are simple writing tips to practice how to write down your ideas that preserves your lasting legacy for generations to follow.

Remember me

Leaving a lasting legacy preserves who you are. That matters. Just press start. You begin by capturing moments, sharing stories, and intentionally focusing on uplifting memories to encourage others. This is what I do to begin. I write down these:

• a sound
• a sight
• a word

Someone or something will trigger a memory. Now what do you do? How do you capture a fleeting thought that is soon gone? Press start. Press stop. Press on.

Start here

The hardest part is getting started. Just press start. Let’s start with the definition. A simple Google search shows that the word press is used as a noun and a verb. You will be pressing forward to send your words to press. In the process you will press out the meaning and shape the content.

• Press as a noun: “The press” is used to describe both reporters and news outlets or media. “Press” generally refers to print media (i.e. off the printing press) like newspapers and magazines. “Media” is a broader term that includes TV, radio, Internet etc.; a printing press.
• Press as a verb: move or cause to move into a position of contact with something by exerting continuous physical force; apply pressure to (something) to flatten, shape, or smooth it, typically by ironing

Next, press stop. Keep it simple. Stop the perfectionism that is fueled by fear. Instead, write down one word or phrase that triggers a memory. That’s all. Stop there. Write down the year. That’s all. Stop here. Write down how old you were. That’s all. Stop now. Just stop the swirling memory in your head and get it out — and onto paper.

Finally, press on. Now that you have begun, that’s a start. You saved time. You wrote it down. You know how to leave a lasting legacy in 3 basic steps.

Keep the rhythm going to treasure one memory

Press start. Press stop. Press on. Develop a routine. Every day take a minute to do one. That’s all. Friends, family and grandchildren may treasure just one memory from you. Did they ever really know you? What made you smile?

• how you liked planting 3 corn seeds,
• hearing cardinals sing,
• seeing bluebirds in a tree.

Tell them. Write details for stories later. You can use notecards or a notebook. Capture those thoughts, the feeling, that sound, those memories that gently float through your memory bank.

1–2–3

That’s all. Momentum will come. Pictures may come later. Write 3 words for now.

• what
• who
• when

YOU leave a lasting impression, a legacy to come — one way (remembered) or another (forgotten). What happened then, who was there with you, when in your life were you there? Keep it positive. Keep on smiling as you write down your pleasant memories. Leave a lasting legacy that encourages those left behind. Let go of the others that were not so positive.

Rhythm is more important than balance

Store that snippet on a card and then…press on. Do it again when a thought enters your head. Keep it going. Start a routine. Stop. Start again. Stop. Less than a minute. Press on. Persevere to preserve those memories for the next generations. Have fun. Remember me.

Little things mean a lot

Start some ideas by “I remember when….” Just press play! For example, if you heard the word “Monopoly” you might remember when you played. Here’s what I wrote.

Monopoly. That board game. That concept. Those hours spent with my cousins on Saturday nights. Making paper IOUs when we ran out of money. Going past GO we got a salary. Get out of jail free card. St. James Place. Pennsylvania Avenue. Park Place. Little did I know 60 years later I would be there on 5th Avenue and Park Place in New York City. It was just the most expensive card on the board to buy. And if you didn’t own it, it cost you a lot to land there. Memories sitting on the carpet in the living room with parents and aunts and uncles on State Street as a child. I didn’t know they were real places with real significance.

Just write it down. Build relationships with your children and grandchildren. They often love the stories of you when you were a child. Maybe even play Monopoly with them now! It has changed a little since then.

Leave a lasting legacy in 3 basic steps

Start here. Start now. Starting a project is often the hardest part. The ideas come. The ideas go. Take a minute. Write it down now because your memories matter.