Over the past few months, each and every one of us have lived under the constant reminder that anything is possible at any time. Many of us have faced some kind of great loss—a job, school, a vacation, a planned celebration, the ability to see friends and family—and on top of that we’re forced to face the notion of how much more it is still possible to lose.

In this crisis, we cannot even rely on the proximity of each other. We have to isolate from the ones we love for the reason that we love them. This pandemic is a transition, entering us into a new world.

 

It’s natural to worry if you’ll have a place in this world. But now more than ever is the time to look back and take inventory of your life. To think back to when you felt lost before, and remember how you did find your way, how you managed to live out a story unlike any other. No matter your age or career or position, you didn’t just make your way in the world—you changed it, maybe in ways you haven’t even noticed.

 

Our memories and beliefs are more than just our identity, they’re a map to better living, a key to discovering who we are and why we’re here. When you need to solve a mystery, you follow the footsteps back to the beginning. When we tell our stories, we’re able to not just see the past, but understand it more fully and interact with it. We can reawaken that buried feeling of childhood wonder or finally recognize the moment where trauma began. We can use our stories to heal not only ourselves, but the ones we leave behind.

 

I like to play with the idea of having lived my life as a gift to the ones I love. I’ve made mistakes, acted selfishly, and faced my own demons. But when looking at the page, I can now see that it was all there to make me stronger for the people around me, to bring me peace. I want to give all of myself so that my family will not be left with questions after I’m gone. They’ll remember me as I was, and I’ll be there with them long after I’ve passed. In this way, I want to die empty.

 

That’s why we created the Legacy Commemorative Project, to help others tell their stories as a way of healing and preparing for the unknown. What we offer is a book, a book of You. Over several interview sessions, we listen to your story and get to know you. You’ll send us photos and show us meaningful items to include. We’ll make a timeline of all your milestones and turning points, referencing the culture of the time and place. No matter where you are, you’ll be with us every step of the way. Because while we will be doing the writing, you’re the author of this story, you always have been, and we are dedicated to capturing the essence of that story with perfect accuracy. What you walk away with at the end is a forty to sixty-page story of you, told in a way which is engaging, layered, and honest.

​

Nick Moschetto

&

Laura McWilliams

05/03/2020