Perhaps the most common reaction I get after completing a personal history is surprise. People are taken by surprise at just how satisfied they feel about the process of reflecting upon and recounting the stories of their lives--particularly because often this sense of satisfaction comes after initial reluctance to participate. Many of the clients with whom I work agree to be interviewed only as a "favor" to their children, who want a record of their parents' lives. Either they are worried that they won't have enough of interest to say, or they won't be able to remember or say what they want well enough, or they just don't want to be in front of a camera. And yet, once the camera starts rolling, and we (the client and I) begin to converse, really without exception, a certain transformation of attitude seems to occur. There seems to be something almost soothing about having the opportunity to talk about one's life (e.g., about one's childhood, parents and grandparents, personal challenges), knowing that not only am I listening, but that their words will be available for posterity. Below is a link to a NY Times article about the healing potential of telling and listening to personal narratives. Consistent with my own observations, patients who listened to personal narratives of other patients actually showed significant improvement in health status! |
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CategoriesFamily history, creativity, creative options family histories, cousins sharing family storiesFamily stories Fun things to do on Thanksgiving hanukkah family traditions, hanukkah traditions, memories of hanukkah, hanukkah activities, Holocaust recipes, Recipes Remembered: A Celebration of Survival by June Feiss Hirsch meaningful gifts, gifts that matter, do it yourself personal histories, life stories, oral history Passover memories, Easter memories, modern day exodus from Egypt personal history, oral history Personal history, oral history, holocaust testimonies, Columbus Jewish Federation, community service Pictures telling stories preserving memories for those with cognitive impairment, alzheimers reminiscence, life review, personal narratives in medicine,satisfaction in storytelling social service, hospice volunteers, Dan Curtis, Association of Personal Historians Thanksgiving activities Thanksgiving recipes, Heirloom Cookbooks, family history, recipes as family history Thanksgiving stories |
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