If you have heard of reminiscence writing, you may know it has been linked to great therapeutic benefits for people with early Alzheimer's and dementia. But reminiscence writing is for everyone.
Recollecting and writing small vignettes from your life is a reminder of some of your greatest blessings, and a fun way to chronicle your life's experiences. Your grown children will love reading the details of poignant stories from your life, and will share that treasure with your grandchildren and generations to come. So get started writing. Join a Reminiscence Writing group, or form one. To get you started, here's a suggestion for your first reminiscence:
Close your eyes, think of one day for which you have very happy memories, and imagine reliving it with the clarity of a movie. Holiday memories are often easiest to access, but it could be any memorable experience you want to reflect. Don't worry if you don't remember all the details at first. Often the details come as you commit your story to paper. The hardest step is getting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and starting documenting.
Once you've thought about it for awhile, start writing about it. If it's hard to get started, try answering the following questions:
- Where did you go? How did you reach that place?
- What did you enjoy doing that day? Who was there? Parents, brothers/sisters, children, grandchildren, friends. co-workers?
- What was the weather like? What colors and sounds do you remember? What other specific details are noteworthy?
- Was it a special occasion, event, or celebration or a more routine day? What about your story was a break in the routine?
- Why was that particular memory so special for you? What did you discover or learn?
