"Your past is your story up to now. The future is the story yet to come. The present is where you live with that experience, your hopes and your dreams."

Opening Remarks: Our 100th Issue

Thank you to all the new subscribers. I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. You are receiving this e-zine because you signed up for it or someone who is subscribed passed it along to you. If a friend DID forward this to you consider subscribing by visiting our signup page . Also, let me know what you’d like to see more of in this newsletter – simply reply to this email e-zine.

While the main focus of this newsletter is to share thoughts, ideas, and insights on life story writing you should know that I offer various services and also mention some products and services that can be helpful. You are under no obligation to purchase anything, but if any of these products or services are helpful and you decide to utilize them then I am most grateful.

Thanks for reading. – Tom

Featured Article: Your Life in Cards

Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, congratulations and condolences – greeting cards mark all kinds of special occasions and can also hold memories of your life journey.

I’m a bit of a pack-rat. I admit it – I have a hard time throwing things away (much to the dismay of my wife). While it is probably something of a shortcoming, the accumulated stuff also often includes memorabilia, tidbits of my life journey.

The other day I was going through some files and came across a large collection of old greeting cards. As I began to read through them I found myself both chuckling over birthday and anniversary cards and also getting a bit sentimental. Cards sent to mark special occasions, from births to deaths, in sickness and health, hold a wide assortment of sentiments from all kinds of past life events.

Each card was picked out by someone. That person took the time to select it and write a little note. It might be no more than a quick “Merry Christmas” or “wish we could be with you”. But each of these cards matter to me. What to do with them? I just can’t bring myself to throw them away.

A collection of past cards sent from family and friends could be turned into a personal history project. A selection from different years and events assembled into a scrapbook seems like a keen idea, perhaps categorized by theme (birthday cards in one section, holiday cards in another). Looking through them becomes both a fun and poignant walk down memory lane.

We invest money and sentiment in cards. Why not archive them? You could even take the project a bit further by writing brief personal reflections from each event and printing them out to be included side-by-side with the cards.

Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, congratulations and condolences – it is your life in cards.

Read other articles on life-story writing here.

Featured Resources

A great way to keep track of the events in your life, record insight, preserve memories and grow from the journey is by keeping a journal.

I really like the award winning The Journal from DavidRM Software. It is a great tool. It's easy to use and very customizable. It's much more than just a diary. This is a powerful personal journaling tool. Version 6 is now available and the Journal offers a 45 day free trial. Get the scoop here.

Legacy Keepers

Many great packages available to help you preserve your story, be it a book, video or oral history. Click below to find out more.

Closing Information

Any comments, ideas or feedback is greatly appreciated. Just reply to this ‘zine and tell me what you think!

Until next time, – keep your story alive!

Tom Gilbert