Share The Stories Within
It was such an insightful day today, that I am dedicating this entry to today's Life Lesson:" Share The Stories Within."
This afternoon I had the pleasure and honor to chat with Cyrus Webb on Conversations Live Book Club Radio : http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2010/03/02/author-susan-violante-on-conversations-live-radio
As always his thought provoking questions kept me thinking for the rest of the afternoon so I decided to channel the Lesson of the week on tonight's broadcast "I have Something To Say Live" , and came up with a couple of tips on getting the stories from your elders:
1) Don't be afraid of being judged and share yourself with your elders. Telling them your own stories will prompt them to tell theirs.
2) Stop judging and listen. No matter what and how they are saying. Don't judge, just listen.
3) Record it. If they do not like to be taped, record it yourself or write it down as soon as you get home. Even if a small visit, at a time. It will add up.
4) Go online and research about the time and place their stories take place. The next time you visit with them, mention what you've learn. This will show interest and will prompt them to be more enthusiastic and speak more openly.
5) Let your elders know you want to leave their legacy for their grandchildren, and let them participate. You will be amazed on how many heirlooms they will share with you. Pictures, documents, old newspapers...make copies, scan them and keep them safe.
6) Organize your story and build their legacy allowing them to participate. Enrich this process by starting to collect your own stories.
7) Enjoy the ride and watch yourself grow and enrich your life as you build a relationship with your elders, and even with your youngsters when you share the stories within.
For the whole blog Broad cast vist http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/75910.
This afternoon I had the pleasure and honor to chat with Cyrus Webb on Conversations Live Book Club Radio : http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2010/03/02/author-susan-violante-on-conversations-live-radio
As always his thought provoking questions kept me thinking for the rest of the afternoon so I decided to channel the Lesson of the week on tonight's broadcast "I have Something To Say Live" , and came up with a couple of tips on getting the stories from your elders:
1) Don't be afraid of being judged and share yourself with your elders. Telling them your own stories will prompt them to tell theirs.
2) Stop judging and listen. No matter what and how they are saying. Don't judge, just listen.
3) Record it. If they do not like to be taped, record it yourself or write it down as soon as you get home. Even if a small visit, at a time. It will add up.
4) Go online and research about the time and place their stories take place. The next time you visit with them, mention what you've learn. This will show interest and will prompt them to be more enthusiastic and speak more openly.
5) Let your elders know you want to leave their legacy for their grandchildren, and let them participate. You will be amazed on how many heirlooms they will share with you. Pictures, documents, old newspapers...make copies, scan them and keep them safe.
6) Organize your story and build their legacy allowing them to participate. Enrich this process by starting to collect your own stories.
7) Enjoy the ride and watch yourself grow and enrich your life as you build a relationship with your elders, and even with your youngsters when you share the stories within.
For the whole blog Broad cast vist http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/75910.
Posted by Susan Violante at 3/2/2010 8:45 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Writers Politics memoir Family WWII War parenting history Books ancestry Blogs
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Writers Politics memoir Family WWII War parenting history Books ancestry Blogs
This is great advice. Some people are intimidated by a tape recorder (although, today, they are so small and unobtrusive). But if you apply yourself to the task---as soon after the interview as possible---you can write down (record by hand) the story or stories you have just heard. If you write it down double-spaced, you can actually review it with the elder and let him or her correct and embellish what you heard the first time.
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