Why Capturing Your Story Matters:
5 Reasons to Start a Legacy Journal Today
The Dream That Started It All: How The Story We Leave™ Was Born
When my husband died, my world shifted forever. In the days that followed, I found myself drifting through a fog of grief — unsure of what life would look like without him, unsure of what I would look like without him.
But the night he passed, he came to me in a dream.
In this dream, my husband was with me — not sick, not suffering — but calm and certain. He spoke to me in a voice that was both familiar and reassuring and he told me what my future would be.
When I woke, I couldn't recall exactly what he said but I knew I would carry what we had lived through — the love we shared and the memories we created — and help others preserve and honor their own. I knew that my pain could be transformed into something meaningful, something that would outlive both of us.
I was changed.
In the six months that followed I threw myself into editing and publishing my husband's manuscript of a story he had written years before. I learned all I could of the process and was successful in publishing it for his family and friends.
In that moment, I understood—the dream had planted the very seed that grew into The Story We Leave™.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
I realized that we all carry stories inside of us — stories that deserve to be told, remembered, and passed on. Too often, those stories go with us when we go, leaving our families with questions, fragments, or silence.
The Story We Leave™ was born out of a promise: that no one’s story should be lost, and no one should have to leave this world without knowing they were heard.
What This Means for You
Every page, every prompt, every journal I’ve created since that dream has been guided by that vision. When you sit down with a TSWL journal, you aren’t just writing. You’re weaving your life into a gift — for your children, your grandchildren, and even those you may never meet.
It’s more than journaling. It’s a legacy.
Why I Share This Dream
I share this dream because it’s the beating heart of this project. It reminds me, every day, why I keep going — even when I’m scared, even when I doubt myself. It reminds me that this is bigger than me.
My hope is that TSWL becomes part of your story — that it gives you the same sense of peace and purpose that my husband’s words gave me in that dream.
Because when we write, when we share, when we leave behind our stories — we live on.
Every life tells a story — yet most of us never write it down. Our memories stay scattered, locked in our minds, and risk being lost with time. That’s why legacy journaling isn’t just a hobby — it’s a gift to your family, and generations you’ll never meet.
5 reasons to journal-
1. Your Story Deserves to Be Remembered.
The little moments of your life — childhood adventures, first jobs, favorite meals, big wins and hard lessons — are part of a bigger picture. Writing them down turns fleeting memories into a record that lasts long after you’re gone.
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2. It Brings Families Closer.
Sharing memories sparks connection. Legacy journals become conversation starters, helping kids, grandkids, and loved ones learn things they never knew about you — and about themselves.
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3. It Helps You Heal and Reflect.
Journaling is powerful therapy. Putting experiences into words helps you process emotions, find meaning in your past, and see how far you’ve come.
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4. It Preserves Wisdom and Traditions.
Your story holds wisdom no one else can share — recipes, traditions, life lessons, and family sayings. Writing them down passes that torch forward.
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5. It’s Easier Than You Think
You don’t need to be a writer to leave a beautiful record of your life. Guided journals like The Story We Leave™ give you simple, heartfelt prompts that make the process easy and meaningful.
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Ready to Begin?
You can start today — even with just 5 or 10 minutes a week. Choose a single memory, answer one guided question, or tell a favorite story.
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📖 Start Your Legacy Today
Get Your Guided Legacy Journal and
Give yourself, and your loved ones the gift of your story. Because the memory lives where the story is told™.