Memories Matter
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Holiday grief: Find comfort & connection in memories
We may yearn for a lost loved one even more during the holidays, but know that shared memories are a balm to the soul, and that grief is another form of love.
The (real) value of your parents’ stuff
When aging parents have lots of stuff, their children often do not want it when they die—but it’s the memories associated with the stuff that makes them heirlooms.
The healing power of remembrance
Allison Gilbert, Soledad O'Brien, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., talk about the power of remembrance in the face of grief, & why family story sharing is healing.
Notes from a funeral
Reflections from a funeral on remembrance & grief: sharing memories about lost loved ones to heal—and why we don't honor our families through story sharing now.
The tyranny of the family heirloom
Maybe it's true that "nobody wants your parents' stuff," but before you donate their things, tell the stories of your family heirlooms, preserving your memories.
How a struggle to tell my mother’s whole story turned into a more intimate portrait of love
The first legacy book I designed was as personal as it gets: a book honoring my beloved mother. But after struggling to find a way to tell her whole story, I realized that simply was not possible. And I didn't want some long, boring biography, anyway. What resulted is a book that is precious to me, and I hope will one day be inspiring to my son...and the children I envision he will someday have himself. May you be inspired to tell the story of one of your loved, ones, too!
Dawn Roode’s curated roundup for the week of Sept. 23, 2026, is overflowing with recent reads on memoir, life story writing, and family history preservation.