The English writer Virginia Woolf said that memories expand; “the past is beautiful because one never realises an emotion at the time.”
When Bowen local Cheryl Stanton saw her father lose sight of his own beautiful past in the fog of Alzheimer’s disease, she understood the fragility of memory and that the rose tint of yesteryear counts for nothing if it is lost.
A passionate photographer her whole life, Cheryl captured her family memories on film, and realised the potential of taking photography and the written stories of her life in combination to craft Life Story Books.
She’s now taking her Life Story Books online, assisting families to share their stories before they lose them forever, allowing future generations of families the privilege of reading them.
“I am sure all families can relate to the many stories they hear from their parents and grandparents,” Cheryl said.
“The laughter and passion, love and sorrow, heartbreak and despair, success and hardships, fun and adventure and the many tidbits of everyday life along the way.
“These are the stories that should be told and these are the stories that will be lost in time.”
Over 12 months, Cheryl sends clients one prompting question per week, like what is your fondest childhood memory? Describe your life at school in the early years. Tell us about your favourite family tradition? Or what was the fashion of the era?
You can choose from a suggested list of questions or write your own.
These answers are then compiled into a hardcover Life Story book – 200-page collections created for “all generations to enjoy.”
Cheryl said the prompting questions are also a fun way to reminisce, and a journey that loved ones can cherish.
“Every moment creates a memory; every memory creates a story.”
Cheryl Stanton is helping people across the country keepsake their treasured memories
