4 Reasons to Begin Writing/Filming/Recording the Story of Your Life

  Posted on by Kendall Fredrick Person

  109 Comments

4 Reasons to Begin Writing the story of your life

Intro

In northern California, the various microclimates can be extreme. Extremely hot inside the valleys. Extremely foggy along the coasts. And an extreme amount of snow in the Sierra Nevadas. But this time of year, mid-Fall, the north state’s weather reaches a near consensus. Beautiful sunny days, clear cold nights and the anticipation of rain to mercifully bring the long dry season to an end.  But along with the debut of winter clothes and piles of leaves, that are in constant flutter,  as they fall from trees, comes the holiday lights and Christmas trees, and travel plans and Thanksgiving dinner and shopping sprees. The Kings and Warriors will be added to our calendars, already occupied by  Raider Nation and the 49ers. There will be parties and shows, events will come and go as this tends to be a busy time of year.

And rather we like it or not, when the temperatures drop, we are reminded of our homeless citizens, that seem to blend in or disappear during the warmer time of year. We are reminded because we cannot look away or pretend they are up early, enjoying a walk before the sun blazes the streets holding walkers at bay.  Because rather we think they are lazy, or shiftless, addicts or bums, when we see them shivering in the morning air, we are reminded of our humanity and that we are our brothers keeper. So even if we avert our eyes, our hearts cannot look away.

The sandman bypassed my abode another night, and rather than toss and turn, or make an attempt at a useless fight, I decided to go for an early morning stroll. The moon was still out, the darkness had yet to yield control, and the temperatures hovered just above 40F. Halfway along my course, I walked passed a homeless man. He was an older gentlemen, perhaps in his late 60s, but difficult to tell. His clothes were old and worn, but they were not dirty and while he shivered in the cold, he made eye contact during our brief exchange. He did not ask for a thing, just nodded his head and I returned the nod with a good morning. “Getting, cold.” was his response. He let out a quiet cough, then resumed his train of thought.  I wished him well. Prayed he was okay and as I walked away, I wondered  if somewhere in his bag, were the worn pages of his autobiography.

∞∞∞

My Life
by Mary J Blige

∞∞∞

 

4 Reasons to Begin
Writing/Filming/Recording the Story of Your Life
by Kendall F. Person

 

Four –  Snowflakes

Snowflakes

Snowflake macro: machinery of winter by Alexey Kljatov

It is thought that no two snowflakes are  exactly the same. Difficult to fathom, but not impossible to believe. And the same holds true of human beings. There are no two people with the exact same dna, less identical twins, but even they grow and develop in their own unique way. While there are bound to be similarities in our autobiography, in some chapters, I imagine, word for word, it is the subtle differences, like our perception of or reaction to popular events, is what makes us an individual, yet our story a part of society. Most importantly, the story of you is what will make it special for generations along your bloodline, allowing the family historian to create a forest built out of the family tree.

∞∞∞

Three – the Butterfly Effect
the butterfly effectOnly in our dreams and in motion pictures of make believe, can we go back in time to right a wrong. But even then, changing history is risky, for the ripple effects could have far worse consequences than the original deed.  But what if someone you knew, a child, a best friend, was heading down the path of self-destruction, a road you are familiar with, and have recorded it chapter and verse. What if the mistake they are about to make, can be prevented by the power of the written word and those words make up your autobiography?

On March 13, 2005 the largest manhunt in the state of Georgia’s history was peacefully brought to an end, when the hostage of the accused murderer began to read him passages from The Purpose Driven Life. The words and their message behind them brought a calmness to a life that had seem to embrace only violence, leading to his surrender, with no further bloodshed. I wonder if the written words or recorded story of a father to his son, could have the same life-changing effect, even if the father was absent during his upbringing? There is great wisdom in discoveries or obtaining a PhD, but there is also wisdom in knowing how to  use our own experiences to prevent the same pitfalls of the ones we love, or to somehow make a positive change.

∞∞∞

Two –  Bucket List

Old Bucket

Ye Olde Bucket by Kurt Bauschardt

If there is one phrase most everyone will utter at least once in their lifetime, I would wager, “I should write a book about my life” will reign right at the top of the list. But writing a bestseller or a template to a blockbuster movie does not have to be the set goal.  Modern technology has gifted us a myriad of devices to record our voices that can be used to privately formulate our autobiography, without pressure to publish or even the need to be read.  We can move at our own pace, write a paragraph one day, and utilize a video recording for the next few entries we make. A journal, diary, audio or visual recording or blog are resources, that not only allow us to actually scratch an item off our list, they also serve as tools to seamlessly tell our own story, in our own words, at our own pace; creating both a biography of the life we led, as well as, insight into the hopes, dreams and aspirations of a life that never escaped the imagination.

∞∞∞

 

One –  The Remembrance
The RemembranceWhen I returned from my walk, and stepped inside a warm home, my mind immediately returned to the elder homeless man. My hopes are that he is not alone. That somewhere, there is a family or a friend who loves him and that when the day comes and the cold takes him, there will be someone to mourn his memory or cherish him in thought. But there is a chance, he is all he has left. Rather he burnt every bridge or lost his entire family in a flood, makes no difference in the end, for only God can judge him then. But what does matter, is if there is no one on hand to say a good word about this man? What if all he will ever be is a homeless man sitting on some street and if not for the Fall temperatures, invisible to society? But what if the city worker who is tasked with going through his belongings comes across the worn pages of his book and learns of the good deeds or the failed plans or the broken heart, that was more descriptive of him? Even a life that may appear empty and insignificant is deserving of a performance, a chance to close out the show, with kind words of truth in remembrance of him.

Many of us will make big contributions. We will invent or be the first or break records or do what no man or woman has ever done before. A few will make history in the evils that men do, and historians will give them all their proper due. But every one of us will contribute. And the size of the audience should not dictate our voice. Rather you are telling your story for your family or for the millions that follow your show, record your autobiography with passion, with honesty, and with the wisdom in knowing that someone, somewhere, somehow may learn from you, be inspired by you, or bypass a certain unfortunate path, all because of you.

this is… The Neighborhood 

 Category: #thelists, the lists      Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

109 Comments on “4 Reasons to Begin Writing/Filming/Recording the Story of Your Life”

  2. This is such a tender, persuasive and thought-provoking piece of writing. So many of the thoughts you’ve expressed about our responsibility to others, leaving a legacy, taking risks, etc., have entered into my heart and mind countless times. Thank you for validating those principles and for the encouragement to continue thinking this way and to act.

    Like

  3. Incredible site. Much to deeply consider as I visit here – and much to embrace. You take a statement from Socrates to a whole new level: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Thank you.

    Like

  4. Pingback: 4 Reasons to Begin Writing/Filming/Recording the Story of Your Life | A Life's Journey [mrnwdotme]

  5. it’s a great posting that I ‘press this!’ on my blog! been blogging pretty much for such reason as well.. Im not a super diligent writer yet, but it’s slowly getting there.. 😀

    Like

  6. Pingback: 4 Reasons to Begin Writing/Filming/Recording the Story of Your Life | The Pitkanens' Journey

  9. Thank you for checking in on, and following, my blog.
    I came to check you out and see what you are about. This post grabbed my attention, as I intermittently write about my own life.
    You write with sensitivity and meaning, and with an open heart. I will be coming back. 🙂

    Like

    • You are quite welcome as it is a pleasure for me to get to know you in your community too. And I thank for your kind and sincere words and welcome you with open arms to The Neighborhood. You are welcome back at any and every time.

      Like

  10. Thoroughly enjoyed reading your words. Took me 4 months to finally write first of a Trilogy of books [The Journey of I & I] after years of being told my writing was powerful & inspirational. 🙂

    Like

  12. I am all about recording my life in journals and videos. It’s part of the reason I started my blog, and I am excited about it! Great post.

    Like

  13. Reblogged this on my blog Flora’s Secret. I have acquired a collection of 130+ year old letters that belonged to my (insert a number of greats) Aunt Flora from friends and family. My blog is dedicated to the transcription of those letters. I feel so blessed to have letters handrwritten by my great-great-great grandfather to his only daughter, and to be able to transcribe the letters to share with other family members that might not otherwise know they exist. It is a treasure to have a glimpse into the lives of my family in 1880 as they headed west….. tales of covered wagons, sheep herding, bears, births, deaths, and flirting old women at church functions. Thank you for this post. I have wanted to start a journal for years. Your snowflakes and my family letters are a reminder that no matter how mundane my life may seem to me, it might be appreciated further down the road. We all have a story.

    Like

  14. Reblogged this on Flora's Secret and commented:
    Saw this post today on thepublicblogger. I have wanted to start a journal for years – this might be my motivation. Snowflakes!

    Like

  15. Thank you for writing this! I have begun doing exactly this! Perhaps in a different way then most, but then again, I am different! 🙂
    Love,
    Amy

    Like

  16. The most heartwarming and thought provoking blog I’ve read in a very long time. Remembrance, so very important.

    Thank you for a wonderful blog post.

    Like

  18. Reblogged this on niki1k and commented:
    I just told someone today in so many words – that we have to accept responsibility for the choices we make in our lives- and learn that EVERYTHING we go through is an experience for us to learn- and if we learn the lesson well enough- maybe we can teach another what not to do!!!

    Like

  20. Reblogged this on sharonsdarrow and commented:
    Wonderful blog that I just had to pass on. Great words for everyone to think about very seriously.

    Sharon Darrow,
    “To help change the world,
    first achieve harmony within”

    Like

  22. I love the way you articulated your ideas 🙂 I agree that no matter how seemingly bland or mundane, it is always good to have a record of your history. and it’s good to have a mix of medium to do so, for film can be superficial (overly enthusiastic facebook friends remind me of that every time I see my feed) and writing sometimes too time-consuming. However, for me it is more about charting personal growth and re-evaluating my emotional maturity than anything else, but it is a nice thought that what I write might be a legacy, or fit as a puzzle piece in someone else’s life.

    Like

  23. Yes, we are but grains of sand, but every grain of sand comes from something else and partakes in the continuum of life. Thank you

    Like

  25. Reblogged this on The Daily Mickle and commented:
    A great post by a recent #DailyMickle follower. Reminds me a little of what I’m doing with this challenge, which counts to my general life record. Think everyone should give this a read with serious consideration.

    Like

  27. Reblogged this on Head Space and commented:
    Thought this was a great read and a good idea for every young person with lots of ambition and ideas.

    Like

  35. It IS sad there are many people in this world who are alone. Your post is thought provoking. I like journaling because I like to have my small grandchildren understand me and the world I grew up in compared this this fast-paced world of theirs. So many things to tell and share.

    Wonderful post.!

    Like

  36. What great food-for-thought to share with us, thank you! I stumbled across my old diaries the other day from when I was in the 8th grade and started reading. It was such a shock to read–kind of an out-of-body experience because honestly I don’t know who the heck that girl was way back when….. Thinking about writing a life story now though, Sounds like a good way to set that record straight and describe who I really am today. Not that I will jump on it, but what you said “the size of the audience should not dictate your voice” is so true….all voices can be heard and can inspire. I’ll remember that.

    Like

  37. Yes indeed, every human life has a story. For that matter, every life around us has a story, a lesson, a message.

    Some speak with words, some with their work, and some others by their actions. Many chose not to speak at all about themselves. Not because they cannot but because they have no audience.

    But speak nevertheless you seem to say, for someday, someone will read it !!! Love the snowflake analogy …how true ..our homogeneity is only in our structure but each of us is unique in our minds/thinking. Your observations of life are well researched !!! And you translate them eloquently in words 🙂

    Like

  38. Beautifully written post! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Thank you for sharing!.

    Like

  40. Reblogged this on Depearl's Blog and commented:
    Anyone can write about you, but only you can write about you through your own eyes.. Inspire someone today, tell your story..

    Like

  42. this is a beautiful and timely post…
    this morning i was thinking about two things
    1. i love the phrase ‘i am my brothers keeper’… and was reflecting on the meaning of it, and actions i’ve taken with this as a compass, reminding myself to keep on this path – however microstepish – all actions stemming from this are well worth the effort. laying down threads of the world i wish to live in…
    2. waves & memories… do waves have memories…? does a wave remember that it’s a part of (that is, not disconnected from) the ocean? does it remember that it was a wave when it returns to ocean?…
    your blog was the first i ever read coming into WordPress
    and i want to thank you for your blog
    i felt shy at the beginning to write comments
    or even post
    even still sometimes each post is a leap of faith and courage
    even if it’s a simple blog that i keep/create
    and this post of yours reinforces a practice, a path of simply sharing
    so a grand bow to you
    with a deep appreciation for your view & words & sharing
    wishing you all good things

    Like

  46. that was a great post and really should make us all think about what life is all about, what’s worth doing, whats worth remembering, whats worth recording. Thanks!
    I have thought about writing a book about my life before (really) maybe I’ll get around to it one of these days. 😉

    Like

      • Maybe Kendall, thinking about it is a start of some sort I guess 😉
        You’re welcome!!
        Nice to find so many interesting people around to ‘talk’ to

        Like

  47. There are so many people out there who are just like the gentleman you describe and save for the grace of god– so go anyone of us. I will remember him now and wonder what his biography would be-how many heartaches, joys, failures, grief and love he thinks about as he walks along alone. Thank you for remembering him and sharing it with us. Beautiful.

    Like

  49. I really enjoy your writing. I am trying to find my real writing voice and reading your blog gives me clues.

    In search of Arete
    Steve

    Like

Trending
An Unbroken Lineage. the Sentinelese Bloodline is 60,000 Years Long
The 10 Movies that Define Our Altruistic Self
A LONELY WORLD
WHAT IS SANITY? BY AHMAD AL CHARIF

Enter your email address to never miss a The Neighborhood show

Join 84,467 other subscribers
Full Menu
Support The Neighborhood
Donate to The Neighborhood

You are appreciated. (big smile)

ABOUT ME
Kendall F Person
Kendall F. Person Answers Questions on Quora
Kendall F. Person on Quora
%d bloggers like this: