When someone shares an important memory or story from their past, they’re inviting you to connect with them on a deeper level. From a grandfather's time helping out on the family farm as a child to a great aunt remembering how she met the love of her life, family stories unite one generation with the next and bring everyone together.

Sharing these stories is more than a fun and sometimes emotional activity—family storytelling also has important benefits for our emotional and social well-being. At Storyworth, our mission is to connect people through meaningful stories, and we’re proud to be the trusted leader in family storytelling since 2014. Here are just a few reasons why we believe in the power and value of family storytelling.

Why sharing family stories matters

Fosters creativity

Storytelling is for everyone, not just professional writers. Sharing stories and memories only requires describing events in a way that evokes emotions and allows others to find them as entertaining or meaningful as you do. This creative process encourages deep connection which can promote self-esteem, relaxation, and personal fulfillment, making it an emotionally nurturing experience for both the person sharing the story and the one listening.

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One of the most important reasons families tell stories is to build bridges between generations. The stories and memories families choose to share with younger generations reflect values and lessons that provide insight and encourage understanding. 

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Most importantly, time spent listening to these stories and learning about the lives of older family members provides enduring memories for children. With Storyworth Memoirs, even when they’re grown, children and grandchildren will have a memory book written in their loved one’s voice as a tangible reminder of that legacy.

Promotes mental stimulation

Storyworth’s prompts are made for telling stories collected over a lifetime, so our books are popular gifts for grandparents and other older family members. And this gift is more than a sentimental one: Emerging research indicates that storytelling is a promising approach to memory support and emotional health. Sharing stories and recalling memories allows older adults to process their experiences and reflect on their feelings. Thinking about how they may have changed over time can also help them feel more connected to and engaged with loved ones. 

Creates opportunities for quality time

Today’s families are busier than ever, but that doesn’t mean sharing family stories is limited to the holidays and other gatherings. You can have your children write letters or postcards to grandparents during vacations or special events at school, schedule periodic family video calls where someone new shares a story each time, or choose Storyworth Memoirs as your way of keeping storytelling alive year-round.

When you sign up for Storyworth Memoirs and select your recipient, you can choose from a list of prompts or create your own that will be sent to your loved one to answer. They’ll receive one question per week via email and can answer in their Storyworth account or by replying to the email itself. At the end of the year, their responses are bound into a beautiful keepsake book that captures their most important stories and leaves a legacy for generations to come.

Storyworth is proud to be family-owned, and we believe in the power of family stories. Join our community and discover the stories that make your family one of a kind.