Do you wonder how you’ll be remembered or what mark you’ll leave behind to your loved ones? Want to give a lasting gift to your grandchildren? A legacy journal can provide a treasure trove of wisdom, memories and love that will last for generations. Learn how to create a unique and valuable legacy journal to pass on to your loved ones, even if writing isn’t your strong suit.

Why create a legacy journal?

A legacy journal is a creative way to preserve your history. In a digital age, it gives future generations a tangible connection to you.

You could choose to journal about your life to give grandchildren a glimpse of who you are, beyond the grandparent they know. If your grandchildren are older, your legacy journal could also record your relationship with them.

Share recipes from a favorite family holiday meal or photos of a special event with a brief explanation to bring your memories to life. As you add to your journal, you can also share life lessons and wisdom with the reader.

Make journaling part of your routine by setting aside time to write daily or weekly. Schedule journaling sessions into your week to help you stay committed.

Your children and grandchildren aren’t the only ones to benefit from your journal. Research has shown that journaling and scrapbooking can help the writer emotionally. A recent study also found that writing may also help delay dementia in older adults.

Creating a legacy journal could also be a good option if you’re looking for a new project or feel ready to find a new hobby.

What should I include in a legacy journal?

You don’t need to be a prolific writer to create your own legacy journal. If you want to share information and memories about your family history and culture, create a scrapbook-style legacy journal that includes various mementos.

These items may include photos, old passports or driver’s licenses, newspaper clippings about family members, ticket stubs for important events, documents, recipes, or even letters you received from your parents or grandparents.

Perhaps you have a small piece of material from your child’s baby outfit or a scrap of wallpaper from the kitchen of the house you grew up in. Add it to a page in your journal. Choosing what to include in your journal depends on the legacy you want to leave. A handwritten family history in chronological order might be a good start, beginning with your birth.

Some people include family trees, important dates and ancestors’ stories. Others choose to write out personal anecdotes about family traditions or holidays. You could include greeting cards, baptismal and funeral cards, and even report cards. Here are a few examples of memories and messages you could share.

1

Major Milestones

Consider the events you want to record in your legacy journal. These may include graduations, marriages, children’s births, and educational and professional successes.

Reflect back on your personal achievements, struggles and triumphs. Consider including reflections on key life events and how they shaped you. Then, flesh out your words with photos, cards and announcements where applicable.

2

Wisdom and Life Lessons

Part of your grandparenting role may include sharing lessons learned from your mistakes and successes. Reflect on the values and beliefs you want to pass down to your grandchildren. Share the spiritual teachings or words of wisdom that have guided you.

3

Personal Messages

If you have the time and inclination, share personal messages in your legacy journal for specific family members.

Include a folder in your legacy journal for dated letters to a granchild to open at significant events, such as their 18th birthday, graduation from college, wedding day or even the birth of their first child—your great-grandchild.

Stock up on tools and supplies.

Your legacy journal can be as simple or elaborate as you like. In addition to your treasured memorabilia, you’ll need a few tools and supplies, such as a photo album, lined journal or large scrapbook.

Recommended writing tools may include:

  • Pens and paper or notebooks.
  • A laptop.
  • Voice recorders for oral histories and scrapbooking supplies.
  • Scrapbooking supplies such as small paper pockets to hold ticket stubs, etc.
  • Scrapbooking tape for affixing photographs, letters, recipe cards, etc.

Involve your grandchildren.

Consider getting your grandchildren involved in your legacy journaling project, unless you plan on surprising them. Ask for their questions and what they’d like to know.

Are they curious about stories from your childhood? Do they want your famous apple pie recipe? Or perhaps they’d love to see old photos from when their parents were growing up.

Don’t forget about insurance considerations.

When it comes to sentimental items such as a legacy journal, remember to include them in your estate plans. Your legacy journal holds priceless memories and wisdom for your grandchildren, so make sure it’s protected and passed on according to your wishes.

This involves clarifying your intentions in your estate planning documents and talking to your attorney about how to include personal items like journals in your will or trust. You should also review your insurance policies to understand how you can safeguard your estate and support the seamless transfer of your belongings.

No two legacy journals are alike.

There isn’t a wrong way to create a legacy journal. Your journal is a highly personal collection of items that may include written recollections, mementos and records of your own life.

Don’t wait to begin this project. Grab your laptop or notebook and list what you want to include in your legacy journal. Get started today on creating a written legacy for future generations!

Share your journaling tips or experience in the comments!