Can you remember a time when coffee shops weren’t on every corner? It wasn’t long ago that these venues were quite uncommon, yet now they seem to be everywhere. They emerged as something we didn’t even know we wanted until they became a fixture in our daily lives. Once merely an unrecognised longing, their appeal is now undeniable. They have seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, making it hard to picture life without them.

Your Life Story mirrors this phenomenon. It's a creation you may not yet realise you need. Imagine if your Life Story remains unwritten. What legacy will those you leave behind share about you once you’re gone? Reflect on the things you've always promised yourself you'd say  'one day,' yet that day has often remained out of reach...until now. When you consider the sobering fact that one in two people are predicted to face a serious illness, it resonates deeply. We all know someone who has died unexpectedly, whether from sudden illness or a condition that offered no chance for farewell...That 'one day' was their last.

As grown ups, we all get the importance of making a will or designating a power of attorney for unforeseen circumstances, yet we often think that such things are for when we get older, when we’re young, fit, and healthy.  We all tend to dismiss such thoughts as we've got plenty of time for all of that boring stuff, right?

I recall my days in the gaming industry, where part of my responsibility involved ensuring that ‘Death in Service’ beneficiary forms were completed. These forms were often seen as just another boring piece of paperwork, a task distracting from the creative process of game creation. It was always a struggle to get those forms filled in, signed and sent back until one day, I took a different approach. I posed a question:-

"Who would you least like to see gain access to all that money if you were to die in service, and how do you feel knowing that because you've not filled in that form, there’s a chance they could end up with some or all of that money?"

Once the team realised the potential consequences, the completed, signed, and dated paperwork came back and pronto! This brings me to the crucial point that everyone should write their own Life Story. It's akin to the importance of completing a beneficiary form or organising financial matters, once you’re gone, you’re gone—and nothing can alter that.

Your financial matters might be in good shape, but what about your emotional matters? What about all those heartfelt messages that you intended to share with your loved ones on that 'someday' that you keep putting off, that never seems to come? While it may not seem pressing now, consider how your loved ones might be left with nothing more than a eulogy that doesn't truly reflect who you are. By writing your Life Story and documenting those crucial messages, you'll be able to offer solace at a moment when your family needs it the most. Though you may not be able to put your arms around them, your Life Story will provide them with comfort once you are no longer here.

Just reflect on all those treasured memories, family anecdotes, funny moments, and extraordinary experiences from this journey we call 'Life' that could be lost forever. Ultimately, if you haven’t captured your own narrative to convey what you want to be remembered for, that opportunity could slip away before you have the chance to tell them what truly matters to you. 

What about your children and grandchildren? They may not ask immediately, but one day they will seek to understand your life. The common lament is ‘I wish I had asked them while they were still here’ or ‘Why didn’t I take the time to sit down with them, talk to them, and ask all the questions that I now want the answers to?’

By writing your Life Story, you can answer the questions that are bound to emerge, sharing your truth, your experiences and enriching your family tree, not just with your name, but with the details and significance of your life journey. You matter. Your Life Story matters.

For just £14 you can buy buy the book here 

With chapters covering every aspect of your life from childhood to adulthood, each chapter has carefully researched questions to help tease out those often long forgotten memories and help you write your life story, in an easy and fun way. If you'd like help getting started, get in touch - Mandy@WriteMyBook.co.uk.