When Time is Running Out ... Rewrite Your Story

Write Your Life Story for Posterity

By Maureen Santini © Copyright 2017-2025. All Rights Reserved.

Older people tend to reevaluate events in their lives from a happier perspective. Image by Tung Lam from Pixabay

My perspective about the events of my life has changed drastically as I’ve aged.

With the passage of time, I appreciate the good things that have happened but they are no longer as dominant in my life story as they once were.

The bad things — I could have done without them — but they, too, have less influence in my memory now.

These changes are consistent with research showing that, for many, our outlook switches as we age, toward greater happiness and well being.

One theory says that, in later life, people tend to move from a rational and materialistic view to a more cosmic view, which often increases life satisfaction.

This shift is characterized by less preoccupation with self, greater need for solitude, and a deeper understanding of life, death, and time.

Some think these changes amount to a “positivity effect.”

The perception that time is running out leads many to re-interpret some of the events in their lives, often for the better.

This phenomenon explains why an important but under-appreciated benefit of writing your life story is the opportunity to change the narrative to reflect the person you’ve grown to be.

This reevaluation process enables seniors to reconcile past conflicts, resulting in a sense of wholeness and integrity.

For anyone who is reluctant to write his story for fear of having to relive negative experiences from the past, being able — even driven — to change the narrative, as part of the aging process, to reflect a more holistic view of life is good news.

Similarly, a negative childhood experience may ultimately be reformulated in an older adult’s memory as a valuable life lesson. This is partly because every time a memory is retrieved, it is re-stored with a slightly different cast reflecting current levels maturity.

In effect, you get to “rewrite” your story, aligning with who you are now, separate from your (past) problems.

Several theories purport to explain these tendencies. For instance, “cognitive reappraisal” advocates broadening a person’s perspective to see a bigger picture, thereby diminishing the impact of a difficult event. Similarly, the “positivity effect” holds that people shift goals to prioritize emotional well-being when they realize time is running out.

These and additional theories explain how older adults reframe negative experiences from their past into learning experiences or examples of resilience. What’s called a self-enhancement bias is part of developing a meaningful life story.

A75-year-old, for instance, might shift from a problem-focused narrative to a meaning-focused narrative, portraying challenges as opportunities for growth and resilience.

A major reason to write your life story is for the benefit of future generations. Perhaps equally important, however, is the opportunity to “update” certain events and threads to arrive at a more integrated view of your life.

Through the process of aging, older adults may undergo a redefinition of fundamental life concepts such as death, time, space, and the self.

“They tend to shift toward a more cosmic outlook, decreased ego-centrism, increased altruism, enjoyment of simple experiences, and a greater need for solitude and inner peace.

The incentives to write your life story keep multiplying, as do the benefits.

Maureen Santini is a PR strategist and former journalist who created a simple way for everyone to write their life story for posterity. For details, subscribe here or at maureensantini.substack.com/subscribe. Choose the “no pledge” option to subscribe for free.

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