Choosing to preserve your story is an act of deep reflection and connection.

At My Tale we believe every story has a unique angle, a personal perspective, or a treasure of memories waiting to be shared. Not sure how to begin? Here are a few ways to approach your story:

1. Focus on a Defining Moment
Is there a specific event that shaped who you are today? Maybe it was a career change, a travel adventure, or a pivotal moment in your personal life. These moments often have far-reaching impacts, and by sharing how they influenced you, you offer others a glimpse into your journey and growth. Think about what lessons or reflections you can pass on from those times.

2. Highlight a Relationship
Sometimes, the most impactful stories are those woven through relationships; the bond with a parent, a close friend, a mentor, or a significant other. Whether it’s the deep connection with a lifelong friend, a transformative family relationship, or the story of a love that changed everything, these relationships often shape our identity in profound ways. Maybe you've lived through challenges together that brought you closer, or perhaps you've shared a moment of unexpected connection with someone special. Reflecting on how these relationships influenced you can offer a powerful, personal angle to your story and remind others of the importance of the people in their lives.

3. Share a Family Tradition or Cultural Heritage
Your family history is full of stories, customs, and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Maybe it’s a tradition you grew up with, or a particular practice from your cultural heritage that you’ve carried with you throughout life. Sharing these moments helps to keep traditions alive and strengthens the connection between past and present.

4. Reflect on Your Passions and Hobbies
What makes you come alive? Whether it’s your love for sport, music, gardening, photography, or your obsession with history, your passions tell a story about who you are. It’s in these activities that your creativity and dedication shine. When you share your passions, you allow others to see what brings you joy, what keeps you motivated, and what makes your heart beat a little faster.

5. Tell Your Life Lessons
What are the important lessons you’ve learned through the years? Maybe it’s something you learned the hard way or wisdom passed down from others. Stories of resilience, love, hardship, and triumph are always powerful, especially when they share something that can help others navigate their own paths. This is your opportunity to leave behind pieces of advice that might resonate with the next generation.

Recording a family member’s life story is powerful for several reasons, and many studies support the benefits of preserving personal and family histories. Here are some key statistics and findings that highlight why families benefit from capturing these stories:

1. Emotional and Psychological Benefits

• Strengthening Family Bonds: Research shows that storytelling within families enhances emotional bonds. A study by Emory University found that children who know more about their family history tend to have a stronger sense of control over their lives, higher self-esteem, and a more positive family dynamic.

• Reduced Depression and Increased Resilience: Studies also suggest that when individuals hear the challenges and achievements of their relatives, they feel more resilient. Knowing family history can reduce depression and anxiety in children by helping them feel part of something bigger than themselves.

2. Cognitive and Memory Benefits

• Memory Retention: Recording stories is a valuable cognitive exercise, especially for older adults. Research has shown that recalling life stories and family history helps seniors with memory retention, and the act of storytelling can improve brain health by keeping neural connections active.

• Delayed Cognitive Decline: A study published in Neurology journal found that life review and cognitive activity reduce the risk of dementia. Older adults who actively engage in storytelling have better cognitive outcomes over time.

3. Legacy and Continuity

• Passing Down Values and Wisdom: A recent survey conducted by Ancestry.com found that 3 person out of 4 feel it’s important to preserve family history. For many families, sharing life stories offers a way to pass on values, life lessons, and a sense of cultural identity, creating a lasting legacy for future generations. By capturing these stories, we ensure that memories, voices, and wisdom live on, bridging generations with the richness of shared experience.

• Increased Interest in Family Roots: According to a Pew Research Center survey, over 60% of Americans are interested in learning more about their family history. This interest in personal heritage is even more pronounced among younger generations, who seek stories to understand their identity better.

4. Therapeutic Benefits for the Storyteller

• Improved Mental Health: Research from the American Psychological Association suggests that life story interviews allow people to reframe challenging experiences positively, enhancing their mental health and well-being.

• Sense of Purpose: For older adults, sharing their stories provides a sense of purpose and closure, and studies show that individuals who feel their life stories have value report greater life satisfaction and lower rates of depression.

5. Practical Preservation of Family Knowledge

• Genealogy and Family Heritage: Studies indicate that only 40% of families actively preserve family history, leaving a significant risk of losing unique stories. By recording life stories, families ensure that knowledge is preserved for future generations, offering a comprehensive narrative that may otherwise be lost.

Recording a family member’s life story is a meaningful act that benefits both the storyteller and listeners across generations. The lasting impact of preserving these stories is well-documented, and it provides emotional, cognitive, and relational benefits that enrich families' lives.

At My Tale, we believe that preserving a family’s history is not just about telling your own story. It’s also about keeping the stories of those who came before us alive. Whether it's your own journey or the extraordinary lives of your ancestors, our service helps you capture and share these rich legacies.

I discovered something truly incredible about my family when I was 17, and it changed the way I see not only my past but also my future. My older cousin, on my dad’s side, had decided to dig deeper into our family’s history. He interviewed my grandmother’s sister (my grandmother had already passed), and started looking into archival records. What he uncovered was a story I had never heard, even though we spent so much time together as a family.

We all grew up visiting our family house in Yport, a small village in Normandy, where we’d gather, laugh, and make memories. This house, actually my great-grandfather’s house, was filled with little clues about his extraordinary life (old medals displayed in a cabinet) but none of us had ever stopped to ask why they were there or what they meant. My cousin’s research uncovered something that changed everything: my great-grandfather was a true hero.

Not only was he one of the most renowned fishermen in Yport, a highly competitive fishing town, but he was also a leader and a visionary who brought modern innovations to the region. He was the first to add motors to small fishing boats, a major leap forward at the time, and installed the first electric capstan to a beach with no port. But what really set him apart was his bravery. He was known for saving countless lives, risking his own life time and again to rescue people from the stormy sea when others wouldn’t even dare to go near. He was a man who changed the course of lives, not just for his family but for his entire community.

Learning about my great-grandfather's incredible achievements made me realize how much we owe to him. We wouldn’t be who we are today without him. And yet, for so many years, we had no idea what kind of man he was. To not know these stories, to let them fade away, is like closing our eyes to the remarkable legacy that shapes us. It's a powerful reminder that our family history is not just a collection of old memories—it's full of inspiration, courage, and lessons that still echo today.

I’m forever thankful for my cousin’s work and the book he created, which ensures that I can pass this incredible story down to my heirs (and that they, too, can pass it down to theirs). This is exactly why I created this service: to help others preserve their own stories and the rich legacies of their ancestors, so that these invaluable histories continue to inspire and connect generations for years to come.

Robin, founder of My Tale.