From Dairy Farmer to Retail Sales: Witnessing a Transition
Preserve Your Memories. Write Your Life Story for Posterity
The world has changed dramatically during your lifetime.
Like previous generations, yours is witnessing a transition from older technologies that are fading out to newer technologies that are gaining wider adoption.
Examples of old technologies no longer used by the masses: Paper maps, phone books, carbon paper, landline telephones, VCRs, VHS tapes, typewriters, analog watches, telephone booths.
Examples of emerging technologies yet to be widely adopted: crypto, digital wallets, artificial intelligence, cashier-less stores, the metaverse, and quantum computing.
From Dairy Farmer to Retail Sales
Every generation presides over a gradual phase-out of its current lifestyle. For instance, the most common job in America 100 years ago was dairy farmer. The most common job these days is retail sales. Getting ice delivered for the icebox and milk delivered on the doorstep are relics of a bygone era.
In a generation or less, our current way of life is likely to change drastically. Writing your life story for posterity is your chance to describe for future generations your lifestyle as well as your experience living through major events.
Many will write about the Coronavirus pandemic, the 9/11 attacks, floods, fires, and elections, as well World War II and all subsequent wars. A major part of your story will center on family events such as schooling, hobbies, interests, births, deaths, major moves, and holiday rituals.
You also can chronicle how you adapted to such lifestyle changes as televisions, computers, the Internet, cell phones, social media and other inventions.
Creating a narrative of the events of your life is a powerful way to convey a sense that your life mattered, according to Dr. Dhruv Khullar.
The Decade-by-Decade Method
Whether you've ever thought of yourself as a writer, you CAN pass down your life story if you follow the foolproof, free method explained on my website. (Subscribe below). A factual, straightforward approach suits everyone, whether they think they can write or not.
Decade-by-decade posts detailing questions to answer for each decade is a simple way to capture a lot of information. If you've lived five decades so far, for instance, you could draft a manuscript in short order by writing about a decade every week. The pages add up quickly.
Each decade post prompts you to write about a series of topics such as school, sports, religion, family life, events, games, pets, clothes, movies, health, hobbies, music. You'll write about relationships with siblings, friends and others who were influential in your life along with your thoughts and aspirations. You'll note inventions and national and world events that had an impact on your life.
Once you start writing the process becomes nearly effortless. One decade leads to the next, each spurring memories.
Start writing today. Your life story is your legacy.
Maureen Santini is a writer, researcher and former journalist who spent years attempting to piece together a family history without the benefit of first-hand accounts of the lives of her relatives. She created Write Your Life Story for Posterity to encourage everyone to preserve the facts and memories of their lives. © All Rights Reserved.