Do you wonder how you’ll be remembered or what mark you’ll leave behind to your loved ones? Want to give a lasting gift to your grandchildren? A legacy journal can provide a treasure trove of wisdom, memories and love that will last for generations. Learn how to create a unique and valuable legacy journal to pass on to your loved ones, even if writing isn’t your strong suit.
Why Create a Legacy Journal?
A legacy journal is a creative way to preserve your history. In a digital age, it gives future generations a tangible connection to you.
You could choose to journal about your life to give grandchildren a glimpse of who you are, beyond the grandparent they know. If your grandchildren are older, your legacy journal could also record your relationship with them.
Share recipes from a favorite family holiday meal or photos of a special event with a brief explanation to bring your memories to life. As you add to your journal, you can also share life lessons and wisdom with the reader.
Make journaling part of your routine by setting aside time to write daily or weekly. Schedule journaling sessions into your week to help you stay committed.
Your children and grandchildren aren’t the only ones to benefit from your journal. Research has shown that journaling and scrapbooking can help the writer emotionally. A recent study also found that writing may also help delay dementia in older adults.
Creating a legacy journal could also be a good option if you’re looking for a new project or feel ready to find a new hobby.
What Should I Include in a Legacy Journal?
You don’t need to be a prolific writer to create your own legacy journal. If you want to share information and memories about your family history and culture, create a scrapbook-style legacy journal that includes various mementos.
These items may include photos, old passports or driver’s licenses, newspaper clippings about family members, ticket stubs for important events, documents, recipes, or even letters you received from your parents or grandparents.
Perhaps you have a small piece of material from your child’s baby outfit or a scrap of wallpaper from the kitchen of the house you grew up in. Add it to a page in your journal. Choosing what to include in your journal depends on the legacy you want to leave. A handwritten family history in chronological order might be a good start, beginning with your birth.
Some people include family trees, important dates and ancestors’ stories. Others choose to write out personal anecdotes about family traditions or holidays. You could include greeting cards, baptismal and funeral cards, and even report cards. Here are a few examples of memories and messages you could share.
