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How to Use Technology to Strengthen Family Ties
Preserving and sharing memories
The “here and now” is so dominant in our daily existence, it is almost preposterous to think that any considerations other than those relating to getting over today’s hurdles, could become important to our youth.
And yet somehow we must accomplish introducing potentially powerful “other dimensions.”
I am going to speak primarily of influencing the young. The rising generation. Those in their formative years.
I submit that a powerful tool to add a “family” dimension to the lives of our children and grandchildren is by preserving and sharing memories.
When I retired in 1996 I began writing my own life’s story up to that time. Following were my introductory remarks:
“I have more recently become aware of the value of preparing a personal history for the benefit of Ardythe’s and my posterity, and have started to do so on two or three occasions, but never followed through. In looking back through journals, I have been writing diary entries fairly regularly since 1979 and note that daily entries started in October 1983, a very dark period in my life, when Elizabeth was having serious problems, and we were strapped financially. Interesting that I would start then.
Recently I have pondered what I could do to be more influential in the lives of my grand¬children, Elizabeth and Chuck’s children, who live far away, and who might benefit from our influence, although their parents are fine people, doing their best to raise righteous and good citizens. It came to me that sending them excerpts from my life’s experiences might be beneficial. Thus, my primary motivation now, is to help these young people.”
I further stated:
“It seems reasonable that to know me you must know something about my immediate an¬cestors whom I have known personally and who have influenced me significantly during my growing-up years – and whose genes I carry.”
So there you have it. My motivation. A strong urge to help our youth know us better. For them to be awakened to our struggles, hardships, successes, heartaches, joys. To help them see the broader picture. To become aware that others do or have experienced the same day-to-day challenges they are now experiencing.
So preparing a biography of your life-to-date is one way to accomplish “sharing and preserving memories.”
Although not exhaustive, here are some other possibilities:
• Compiling biographies of parents and grandparents.
• Photo albums.
• Recounting stories (oral or written) of triumphs, tragedies, humorous incidents, fond memories – of family members. Some specifics are listed here.
• Events surrounding each child’s birth.
• Keeping and sharing journals.
• Scrapbooking.
• Events surrounding love stories and weddings.
• Major health issues experienced by loved ones.
• Family oriented websites.
• Family reunions.
Other pages on this website will give you more detailed suggestions and examples of how you can use these tools to help your youth connect with their family.