It's been a busy couple of months working out priorities, doing editing work, recording people’s stories, looking for new business and a bit of studying. So somehow, I never got around to writing my blog. Note to self. Get organised with that practical list.
Anyway, it means that I haven’t told you about last month's milestone - Giving my first talk: “Telling Your Story: Recording your memories”. I had a delightful experience with a group of fascinating and impressive seniors at Bondi Astra Retirement Village. Thank you all for being my presentation guinea-pigs and being gentle with me!
I have been looking for a way to get this subject in front of people. As many of you know, I lost my husband Bill to an aggressive cancer a few years ago. I understand how important it is to record your loved ones on film, because I didn’t. I have hours of footage of our son’s every step, but nothing of Bill. It's something I regret every day.
Having said that, its not a particularly helpful way to encourage new clients. No-one wants to be reminded of their mortality. If the idea had been suggested to me before Bill was sick, I would have shrugged and thought, “No hurry. One day I’ll get around to it”. (Although, to be fair, it might have reminded me to point the phone camera his way a few times.)
So, what would get people thinking? Why tell your life story? For the presentation, I asked my audience to think of an early memory about a parent, grandparent or other elder. What else would they have liked to know about them? It brought up fascinating stories from all over the world: Canada, Europe and the South Pacific. All reminding us how much we didn’t know about them. What we know about the past isn’t what happened. It’s what is remembered and recorded.
We had a go at The Whispering Game (formerly Chinese Whispers). This illustrated how easily information gets warped when you leave the telling to someone else. We discussed how life can get in the way. When your adult children seem uninterested, its probably because they are too busy working and raising their families. Give them the benefit of the doubt and think about creating a record for them to find when they are ready. Most of us reflect on the past more as we get older.
“I haven’t got anything interesting to say”. It was mentioned here and its a phrase I’ve heard so often. There’s a pervading belief that only “extraordinary” people deserve to be recorded. The truth is everyone’s story is unique.
Besides, we don’t know what is extraordinary. Time changes everything. Ordinary can quickly become extraordinary. If you show a dial up telephone to a teenager, they wouldn’t have a clue how to use it. Back then it was mundane, today it is mysterious.
A younger friend once asked “How did you meet up with your friends before the smart phone?” She was astonished by my reply.
“You arranged to meet someone at a place and time, then showed up and waited, even if they were late...”
During the talk, I went into the practical side of things too. The pros and cons of what’s out there: written memoir, “question a week” template book, audio recording, or of course, video. There’s so much choice now, which I find encouraging. It tells me there is a growing interest.
Speaking in public is definitely out of my comfort zone, but I'm really happy I did it. The experience has given me confidence and the feedback was mostly positive. Comments like “informative and inspirational”, “enjoyed the interaction”. There was also "Stop waving your hands about so much" (noted and true, as you can see from the pictures).
I'd love to do it more regularly to put those public speaking fears to rest. If it's a subject of interest to your circle. Let me know.
Or if you're ready to tell your life story on film, I’d love to help you. Fill in the form at https://www.reelifestories.au/ or email me info@jackiewarren.com.au. And if you’re still thinking about it, that’s fine. I’m here whenever you are ready.
Thanks to Bondi Astra for permission to use the photos
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