Memories = Wisdom

I, recently, reread one of my favorite books - The Giver by Lois Lowry. Yes, you probably remember reading it as a student, or if you are old, like me, you remember your children reading it as students. In any case, the book is awesome and teaches us (adults and kids alike) so much about valuing our memories and the memories of others.

The Giver (former receiver of memories) is the only community member who has memories of the past. The elders of the community turn to the Giver in times of needed wisdom because with memories comes wisdom for decision making and dealing with emotions. 

Imagine if you had your memories, and the memories of those who came before you...like say...your grandparents?? You could be the wisest. person. ever! Yes, you. Wise. Full of memories. Full of wisdom. 

Memens is here for you. We can help you harvest those memories of your parents and grandparents, giving you the wisdom of many lifetimes! Think of your children, too. Not only will they have the wisdom of memories that you give them, but the wisdom in memories of the elders in your family. What a great legacy to leave to those you love! 

What are you waiting for? Harvest those memories. Harness that wisdom. Create a brilliant future clothed in memories for your children and their children.  

For more information, visit www.memens.com! 

What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. The turkey-coma is getting closer. I will be thankful for stretchy yoga pants; what will you be thankful for? Or, who will you be thankful for?

I am thankful for Memens because next weekend we are recording the video footage of my grandfather for his documentary (hint hint Christmas comes shortly after Thanksgiving). The videographer, graphic designers, and interviewers are brilliant! I am so excited to see the final product.

I've just completed my interview questions. It was so easy! If you haven't made an account with Memens, do it now! Start with the DIY and build up from there. You will not regret it. The questions will make you think about your own life, too.

So, who are you thankful for? Show them how thankful you are by making a video documentary for them. Share it with your family, friends, and have a living memory for years to come of that one person for whom you are most thankful.

For information on video documentaries, visit www.memens.com.

MCMXIV - Full Steam Ahead!

In 1914, Ford Motor Company announced the 8-hour workday. Babe Ruth made his major league baseball debut with the Red Sox! The Panama Canal was inaugurated. George Reeves was born. FDR Jr. was born. And, my neighbor, a 97 year old woman, was born. She drives (and yes, she drives well!). She has two dogs, 6 cats, and a salt water fish tank. I nearly had a heart attack when I watched her climb a 4 step ladder to feed the fish! She takes care of herself, her pets, and still manages to put her 'two cents' into the company that her husband built before he passed. But, how does she do it?

That's what I'd like to know! She is the powerhouse of all powerhouse women. Her legacy is worth all the recording time in the world. So, how do we enable her story to be shared? I guess I need to talk to her children and grandchildren and tell them about Memens and what a wonderful documentary we can build for their family.

Do you know someone who deserves to be documented in video? I challenge you to tell someone about Memens this week. Tell them how their 97-year-old grandmother's legacy can be immortalized!

For more information about video documentaries, visit www.memens.com.

Out of the mouths of babes...

My grandparents have so much they can teach me. They grew up before technology transformed the modern world. They attended school when schools still used book and school buses were non-existent. They became adults, earning income for their family, at the age of 12. They can teach me a lot about life.

But, when a child is diagnosed with a rare form a brain cancer and she responds by saying, "I'm so glad this happened to me and not one of my friends. I am strong and I can handle this. Not everyone can," it's mind-blowing the silver lining lessons I can learn.

When a young man is told he may die before his 16th birthday and decides to start a foundation so that after he dies, research can still continue for others sharing his illness, I am humbled.

When children are more prepared to face Goliath than adults are, I want to hear what they have to say. I want my children to know the incredible people I knew before illness took them. I'd like the siblings, and future nieces and nephews of the boy with the fatal illness to know their brother and uncle years from now.

Memens isn't just for those who are at the end of a long and full life. It is also for those at the end of their young life, fighting and living everyday.

For more information on video documentaries, visit www.memens.com.

Mem

Getting to know you!

We so often think of capturing the memories of someone before they die, so our children can know the elders of our family. But what about us? How well do you know your mom? your dad? Over the past several weeks, I've talked with many of my friends about this. The thought occurred to us that it's great to preserve the memories of our grandparents for the sake of our future children, but what about the memories of our parents for our own sake? What is preventing us from making a video documentary of our parents now, to get to know them better, to learn about their childhood and upbringing, to remember them how we know them? Nothing!

So, who do you want to get to know? Who would you like to remember the way they are now?

For more information on starting your video documentary project, please visit www.memens.com.

What Grandma says...

This past weekend I spent a lot of time with my friend’s grandmother. I visited her 5 times throughout the weekend, each time for about an hour. Of all the coffee dates I’ve had with my friends, I think my visits with grandma topped them all. We chatted about the Yankee game and Derek Jeter’s 3000th hit! She told me stories of her own grandchildren and their endeavors in baseball and how she would use this historic event to teach her grandson about the importance of sportsmanship! 

We oohed and awed over her son’s beautiful golden lab. Grandma paused for a moment (I could sense she was reminiscing) and then looked at me and narrated the story of her son’s first dog - the wanting of the dog, the finding of the dog, and the puppies the dog had, etc. This story was wonderful and the way she told it - I felt like it was yesterday, despite the fact that it was over 40 years ago. 

I couldn’t help but wish I had a video camera handy to capture those stories so I could share them with her children and with the grandchildren. She was the perfect reminder for me of “sharing the story”! 

For more information on capturing the stories of someone you know, visit www.memens.com. 

Bringing Stories Back...

I just started reading this book by Randy Frazee and his opening paragraphs are synonymous with the ideas that led Memens to develop a video documentary mission. 

Randy writes: 

“Before the rise of the printing press in the sixteenth century, stories were passed down orally. The older people in a community shared the important stories of the history - all the principles and values of life woven within these gripping narratives. They shared these stories with each other, and with the next generation. It was part of their culture...their lives.

For the past few centuries, though, our communication primarily has been written - people sitting alone with a book open on their lap. 

Now however, with the explosive rise of technology (TV, movies, YouTube, and other visual communication tools), the world is returning to pictures and stories. We are once again becoming an oral culture. Indeed, many people learn best by hearing and telling stories.” 

I could hardly believe I was reading what we’ve been discussing for months.  A reverberating Yes! Totally! It makes sense! - were streaming through my mind. It’s so true. I’d like to add, under the “other visual communication tools”, videography, which is our focus at Memens. Through videography, we can capture the stories of our returning oral culture. Furthermore, with videography and documentaries, we can enhance oral culture by making the captured stories available as a primary source of communication for decades to come. 

For more information, visit www.memens.com