A life well-lived deserves to be examined and shared with the world. A terrific way of doing that is to write down stories and facts that will be appreciated and enjoyed by future generations. Families especially may benefit from them and build upon these narratives, and when the time is right, add new information to them. Workshops that help participants decide what to write and how to write it are available online and in many senior centers and continuing education classes. These forums may provide an opportunity to discover that what began as a short story may be better expressed through poetry, or perhaps journaling may be the most enjoyable format.

Writing your memoir can lead to other opportunities. You may write a personal cookbook, edit your book club’s monthly notes, or do your social group’s newsletter.