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Family Journals

Whether you are writing a journal or are helping an elderly relative write, this NebGuide will provide tips on how to make that process work.

Deborah J. Weitzenkamp, Assistant Extension Educator

Have you ever wished that you could read about the lives of your grandmother or grandfather? Where did they live? What were their lives like? How did they meet their spouse? What were the major turning points in their life? A family journal can answer those questions for generations to come.

A family journal provides descendants with a firsthand account of family members’ lives, but the benefits begin long before the journal is read.

Research indicates that individuals who pursue reminiscence work, such as writing a journal or verbally sharing personal history, are more likely to implement change in their own lives. Through reflection, they are able to understand who they are in the present and how they are shaped by their past experiences. Research also indicates that elderly participants are more likely to achieve a sense of life satisfaction, reduce signs of depression, and reconnect with their social networks.

When beginning the journaling process it is important to understand that everyone’s life is a series of unique events. Everyone has a story to tell, each story being as unique as a snowflake.

For those concerned that their story is not unique, consider this:

How to Get Started

Each and every one of us today is a sum of our experiences. We all have made decisions that have been turns in the path of our life story. We do, however, have some common conceptual starting points.

Begin by writing down some important dates. These include significant dates like birth dates, marriage dates, dates children were born and so forth.

Your journal becomes much more interesting when you start to fill in the stories surrounding these dates. At this stage of writing it is not important to worry about spelling and grammar. Focus on giving an in-depth description of the event. For example, you could simply give the date that your first child was born, or you could talk about the anticipation of your first child, how you decided upon a name, what it was like to hold your baby, and other things you remember from that time. Telling the family story instead of just reporting a date helps the reader really understand the story and helps the writer achieve a sense of identity and purpose.

Here are a few of the life story turns that you may choose to include in your family journal:

Early years:

Childhood family and relatives:

Adult years and vocations:

Marriage and descendant family:

Community activities:

Military service:

Who in your family served in the military? What did they do? Where did they serve? Do you know any of the friends that served with them, and where their friends were from?

Friends:

Big events:

Making the Process Easier

Following are a few suggestions to help you with the journaling process:

The process of writing and sharing your family journal can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Remember though it’s a process and you don’t have to write it overnight. Take your time, enjoy the process, and you will learn more about yourself and your family.

Resources

To read more about journaling, look for the following at your local library or on the Internet.

Birren, J., and Cochran, K. (2001). Telling the stories of life through guided autobiography groups. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University.

Collins, C. (2005). Autobiography Workshop: Personal Narrative as a Wellness Tool For the Elderly. Journal of Extension, Retrieved December 28, 2006, from http://www.joe.org/joe/2005august/iw1.shtml

 


Visit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension Publications Web site for more publications.
Index: Families
Relationships
Issued July 2007