The Stories We Pass Down

Simple Ways to Capture Family History During the Holidays 

When most people think about leaving a legacy, they think about wills, trusts, or financial assets. 

Those things matter. We spend a lot of time helping families build them. However, they are just vehicles to get to your destination, not the destination itself. 

Some of the most valuable things you'll ever leave behind can't be held in an account or a safe. 

They're the stories your family tells around the dinner table. The traditions everyone looks forward to each year. The lessons that shaped who you are. The character that is instilled and lived out daily. 

Holidays have a special way of bringing generations together. That makes them one of the best times to preserve the stories and wisdom that might otherwise be forgotten. 

You don't need professional equipment or a perfectly planned interview. You simply need to be intentional. 

Ask Better Questions 

Instead of asking, "What was your childhood like?" try asking questions that invite stories. 

A few favorites: 

• What holiday tradition did you look forward to as a child? Why was that so special to you? 

• Who has been influential in your life? Why did they come to mind? 

• Tell me about a time you got to experience generosity impact someone’s life. 

• What's one lesson you learned the hard way? 

• What family recipe has the best story behind it? 

• What's something you hope future generations never forget? 

• If you could only be remembered for one thing, what would that be? 

Sometimes one question can unlock an hour of conversation. 

Capture It Simply 

Don't overcomplicate it. 

Use your phone to record a conversation. Take a picture of a handwritten recipe. Write down a funny story before you forget it. Save old photographs with names and dates while someone is still around to identify the people in them. Take new photographs and make notes on them to capture the moment. Try to tell the story back to them once they have finished (repetition enhances memorization). 

Small moments become priceless over time. 

Protect Your Family Rituals 

Not every legacy must be written down.  

Some are just lived.  Experienced. 

Maybe it's making cinnamon rolls together on Christmas morning. Maybe it's serving at a local nonprofit every Thanksgiving. Maybe it's reading a favorite book before everyone opens presents. 

Those traditions tell your family who you are and what you value. 

As your family grows, don't be afraid to create new rituals while holding onto the ones that matter most. Continue to evolve your rhythms to best reflect who you are and what you want to be known for.  

Legacy Is More Than What You Leave 

True legacy comes from the imprint we leave on other people who will carry the torch after we are gone.    

One day, your children and grandchildren may not remember the gifts they opened. 

But they'll remember the stories that made everyone laugh. They'll remember the recipes, the traditions, and the people who gathered around the table. They’ll remember how you loved them and how you made them feel. 

Financial planning helps prepare your family for the future. 

Stories help them remember where they came from. 

Both are worth protecting. Both are worth investing in.  

As you gather with loved ones this holiday season, consider setting aside just a few minutes to ask a question, record a memory, or start a new tradition. Small seeds that, when cared for over time, will one day bear fruit. 

What you don't use, you tend to lose. Take steps to make sure you capture and keep some of these sweetest things that life has to offer.