Do you ever scroll through your photos on your phone or riffle through your box of pictures and find yourself in another time and place? You get a glimpse of your third grade class picture, and stories from decades ago parade across your mind like a movie. Or maybe you drive past the hospital and you remember the time you fell out of a tree or were treated there for cancer.

So many memories. So many stories.

Memories can be triggered by a whiff of perfume as someone passes by; a child’s wind blown hair as he rides his bike; an ambulance siren; a roasted marshmallow; the softness of a kitten who sits in your lap. Sometimes questions, like those below, spark memories. And memories have a way of bringing stories to mind.

You have likely faced difficulties, loss, or trouble in your life. How did you cope with these things?

Who were your friends when you were growing up?

What are your favorite foods, flowers, books?

What makes you laugh?

Where have you traveled? How did that impact you?

What life lessons did you learn through the years?

Dad was a storyteller

Over dinner when we were growing up Dad often told us stories about his work day. As the guy who would go to people’s houses to install a new kitchen floor or bathroom countertop, he came home with some great stories. One day, when he already should have been retired, he had a roll of carpet strapped onto his dolly and turned to lock his van. Turning back around he saw the dolly rolling down the hill! He had to run to catch up with it.

Dad was just sharing his day, but without him intensionally hiding lessons in his story, he was teaching us some good truths. It’s good to be able to  laugh at yourself. Storytelling is a good skill to cultivate. And hard work keeps you on your toes.

How about you?

Are you sharing your stories with your people? Do the younger generations in your family know the answers to some of the questions under the heading So many memories. So many stories?

You have a lifetime of stories. If you haven’t shared them with your “youngers” maybe it’s time to give it a try.

Who in your family would you like to reach out to? Think about what common interests you and this person share. What stories would help you connect?

You need no other reason to tell your stories than love and friendship. But if you want to share a lesson you learned or focus on something like the beauty of a place you visited, that would be fine. This isn’t something you need to manipulate, unless you want to invite your younger to bring a friend and come for a meal. Just enjoy conversation and, when it seems appropriate, tell a story.

Benefits of sharing stories

To do so will begin to build a bond between you. It will need nurturing over time, but it will be a start. It will give them a look into your life so they can begin to see you as your own person (not just “my grandma’s sister” or some other very personal designation!). Depending on the stories you share, it will give your friend a glimpse into what was going on in the world at an earlier time, as well as expand his or her sense of family. Perhaps some life lessons will be brought up or some wisdom shared. And you will have given each other a gift of sharing and listening and taking steps toward one another. And all of this will bring joy and laughter.

My guess is that you’ll have such a good time nurturing this sweet relationship that you’ll think of another person with whom you want to share some stories. And pretty soon you’ll be the one hosting the family parties for the 20-somethings!

Go ahead. Take the first step. And let us know how it goes.

Ginger