MEMORY
your life OF
A GIFT FOR LOVED ONES
your career
“Every job from the heart is, ultimately, of equal value. The nurse injects the syringe; the writer slides the pen; the farmer plows the dirt; the comedian draws the laughter. Monetary income is the perfect deceiver of a man’s true worth.” By Criss Jami 22
You worked for Your role was Length of employment Reason you left Your memory of working there was
You worked for Your role was Length of employment Reason you left: Your memory of working there was
YOUR CAREER
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your beliefs
“Habit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do).� By Stephen R. Covey 38
Throughout your working life you would have developed many skills and attributes, and your values may have changed as you aged. What are they? If you are unsure ask someone close to you, they probably know you better than you are willing to admit to yourself. Some of the most common skills are below: Communication Problem solving Innovation and enterprise Self-management Learning, organisation Team work Planning Technology
List your skills
YOUR BELIEFS
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your story -
memory one
“I’m happy, I would say that I’m one of the happiest people I know. But I’ve certainly had periods of profound sadness, depression and heartache, and those are the kind of things that are interesting to me to write about.” By Richard Marx 60
Introduction: Now that you have spent some time working on your past its time to start writing some of your stories. The stories you want to share with your children, your grandchildren and the generations to come. The stories significant to you, the stories you lived, the stories you want remembered. You may want to write what you can in detail or with bullet points; write as much as you can about it without stopping. Definitely don’t analyse what you are writing at this stage, that can all be done later, the important thing here is to just write. Once you recall the event build the picture around it, what was happening? Who were you with? Where were you? What time of the year was it? What was said and by whom? What emotions were you feeling? What music or songs do you remember as being significant to this event?
Memory One: Think about the happiest day of your life. This may be one of the following examples or anything that made you feel extremely happy: Your first romance Your first job Your high school graduation
Your engagement Your wedding day Your first child
Your story may go something like this:
MEMORY ONE
“I remember as if it was yesterday, it was (date), the sky was brilliant blue with only a few clouds to be seen. Through the open window the smell of jasmine filled the room and the radio was playing Cliff Richard’s ‘Living Doll’. In the next room I could hear my sisters arguing as they did so often. I wasn’t interested in their argument; my thoughts were fully focused on the mirror in front of me. As I stood there on my wedding day looking deeply into the image staring back at me I wonder where the child had gone, at what point had the transition occurred? . . .”
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your story -
memory six
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation .� By Robert Kennedy 90
Introduction: sourced from Avia Venefica: Ever heard the term ‘Wise Old Owl?’ In certain cultures (China, Egypt, India) the symbolic meaning of owl is associated with death, but you must understand that the owl is not a symbol of death per se. Rather – it was revered (honored) as being the guardian of the after-life – a highly respected emblem indeed. Throughout many cultures, the symbolic meaning of owl deals with • Intelligence • Brilliance • Perspective • Intuition • Quick-wit • Independence • Wisdom • Protection • Mystery • Power Be a wise owl; use all of your knowledge and wisdom to write what you would like to say to your loved ones. What lessons have you learned that generations to come could benefit from? MEMORY SIX
Maybe through these words you can undo years of feuding, mend bridges, right some wrongs or forgive and forget. Maybe your words can help others to do the same, who knows – but it’s worth trying isn’t it? Be as emphatic, upfront and truthful as you can.
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