| |
| Welcome to Life History Today . |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life History Today’s Story
From Founder Sheila Anderson Bruce
Passion for history – personal history in particular. The ability to use words to tell a story, to evoke emotions. A lifelong interest in our society’s elders. A spirit of volunteerism. Computer-age technology. A respect for life as well as for the dying process. This all combined to create Life History Today.
I have always loved to hear and read of others’ life experiences. I have learned so much from taking time to do that. Over the years, I realized that all these stories people were telling me would be lost when they left this earth. My memory and that of others wasn’t always going to be able to recall those valuable stories. I just had to write those stories down for myself, as well as for the loved ones of the people who were sharing part of themselves with me. I already had a background in writing and loved talking one-to-one with others, so my next step was to put those skills toward a worthwhile cause.
A few years ago, while training to be a hospice volunteer, I learned that one way I could serve patients was to help them do their “life reviews,” which I think was the first time I had ever heard of that term [coined by Robert N. Butler, MD, president of the New York-based International Longevity Center]. I immediately thought with excitement, “That’s for me!” I wanted to help people preserve their life stories.
Since that time, I have helped several hospice patients compile their life stories, completed a 65,000 word personal history of a family member, and have created a tribute book for my mother who passed away in 1998. Regrettably, death took my father too early in his life and I have very little written of him.
I learn so much from each of the narrators as they lovingly leave a real treasure for their families and future generations. With them, I have had amazing experiences doing this marvelous work. I’ve witnessed in person the powerful effect reminiscing had on those wonderful people who shared their personal histories with me. They were truly motivated knowing that others were interested in and would benefit from having those stories preserved.
I eventually came to the point of this wonderful journey through life history gathering where I realized that many other people could benefit from my seasoned interviewing
and writing skills; that my sincere interest to listen to and preserve what they had to
leave behind could be invaluable for them and their posterity. I especially loved working with seniors, but knew that my gift could be used to help anyone – someone with early-onset dementia or Alzheimer’s who wanted to share his hopes and dreams and love for his family before it was too late; or perhaps a family who had recently lost a child to cancer, as well as that same child who had a great need to tell someone her story of dealing with the disease in her own words.
So, I began researching the rapidly growing field of personal history, including memoir writing, life reviews, and ethical wills and soon came across a wonderful organization called the Association of Personal Historians. There I discovered others who were as deeply committed and passionate about gathering and recording personal stories for the generations.
I am so pleased to have started Life History Today and grateful for the opportunity to provide services that will benefit many people. I hope that someday soon I will be able to meet you, or greet you again, and be the answer to your desire to preserve your story and that of your loved ones.
Contact me to get started on your Life History Today.
We all want to be remembered.
Today is the day … Share the memories now!
Memorably,
Sheila Anderson Bruce
|
|
|
 |
