Today’s culture and technology focus on the stories we all have and how to share them. Whether it’s because of apps like Facebook or the advent of smart phones and self-publishing, it is now easier than ever to preserve your story for future generations.

Easier said than done though… Where do you start? What stories do you include? And is anyone actually interested?

I founded Memoirs & More to help people answer these questions. I lost my father before I graduated from college and my mother in my 30s. I know what many in younger generations don’t: when a parent is gone, they’re gone. There are no second chances.

Inheritance is not just about money. Family history is not just about genealogy. It’s the stories that matter. Your values, life experiences, family history, wisdom. All these elements compose the intangible body of work that is your life.

Here are some tips to start recording your own family history:

1. Modern phones almost all have a record function on which you can record yourself telling a story.
2. Dust off your keyboard or typewriter and write something instead.
3. Start small and do one story at a time. If you do one or two stories a week, you will have a large collection before you know it.

Contributor: Clémence Scouten, founder of Memoirs & More Family History Services, 215-645-7766 or www.memoirsandmore.com