Packing Grandma’s Trunk

Helping others tell their story

Everyone has a story to tell.

We discover too late that we didn’t listen.

And we didn’t preserve the stories.

Family history is important

• It can be the tie that binds generations together– Strengthens individual bonds– Increased interest in stories

Family history helps students relate to historical events and people

• Brings textbook information alive

• Can change the course of life for younger family members

Family history provides a sense of belonging

• Establishes roots-a sense of “group”

• Provides sense of family accomplishment

• Can reduce attraction of gangs for adolescents

Provides foundation of values and beliefs

• Improves child’s ability to deal with life from perspective of his/her family values and beliefs

• Increases understanding of expectations

• Teaches life lessons

• Increases understanding of failure and success

Reminiscence therapy

• Provides sense of focus and purpose for life

• Increases mental sharpness/physical health in elderly population

• Organizes events of one’s life in their mind– Places positive and negative in perspective– Helps to deal with unresolved issues

• Helps them discover meaning

Reminiscence Therapy

• Raises self esteem– Increases understanding of value of life– Provides platform for sharing

• wisdom • lessons • instruction

• Strengthens sense of identity– Recognition of strengths/weaknesses– Recognition of accomplishments/failures– Recognition of “who am I/who was I”

Reminiscence Therapy

• Helps deal with anticipatory grief– For those who are dying or those nearing end

of life, in final phase– For the family– Increases ability to cope with the future or

lack of future

How to begin…

• Many ways

to get started…

But…

Let’s take a look at using our

STUFF

We all have it…

• Americans are obsessed with our stuff– Memorabilia– Items of value– Keepsakes– Family heirlooms

…It holds our memories

But have we shared them?

Like an antique watch or a pair of old eyeglasses passed down generation to generation, the passing on of someone’s story can be a treasure for the family that will encourage celebration and memories each time it

is read, heard or seen.

Packing Grandma’s Trunk is one way to do that

Use trunks, hat boxes, suit casesDoesn’t matter –

the important part is tellingthe story, sharing the memory

associated with each item, making sure the story is with the item.You can even write down the stories and leave the “stuff” in

place for generations to find later.

“This packrat has learned that what the next generation will

value most is not what we owned, but the evidence of who we were and the tales of how we loved. In the end, it’s the family

stories that are worth the storage.”

--Ellen Goodman, The Boston Globe

Sherry LittleExecutive Director

Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke & Fannin CountiesP. O.Box 2306

Sherman, Texas 75091903.868.9315

sherry.little@homehospice.orgwww.homehospice.org