World Storytelling Day — an invitation to begin
Welcome to The Back Verandah.
Today (20 March) is World Storytelling Day — an invitation to remember what holds families together: our stories.
Stories of where we came from.
Stories of what people valued, how they coped in hard times, what made them laugh, who they loved, and the small decisions that shaped the course of a life.
These stories form the fabric of family life and strengthen our sense of belonging and connection.
But unless they are written down, they will disappear.
For many families, this realisation comes when a loved one passes away, or when memory begins to fade. Dementia is now part of life for a growing number of Australian families, bringing with it a particular kind of sadness. Not only the loss of independence, but the gradual loss of memories and stories that once seemed safely stored.
I understand this personally. My dad lives with dementia, and there is a feeling that… we missed it. We missed the chance to sit down, ask the right questions and capture his life story while his memory was still clear. We assumed there would always be more time, or he would write it himself, “one day”.
Writing a life story does not need to be complicated, and you don’t ned to be an author. It can begin with a simple conversation and a handful of questions.
Where did you grow up? What was school like? What work did you do? Who influenced you most? What challenges shaped you? What are you proud of?
One memory often leads to another. As people talk, details return, and the shape of a life becomes clearer.
Writing your life story helps preserve what matters. For children and grandchildren, these stories can become a lasting source of comfort, identity and connection.
World Storytelling Day is a reminder, and also an invitation.
If there is someone in your life whose story you value — a parent, grandparent, partner or old friend — perhaps today is a good day to begin.
And if you have ever thought about writing your own life story, but don’t know where to start, I am always very happy to help.
With care,
Natalie
With care,
Natalie Stockdale, The Memoir Writer
