Legacy
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Capture audio or video of loved ones to preserve how they sound, since memory of a voice tends to fade.
It is likely that you will forget the specific tone of someone's voice as time passes.
- One person reported developing an unhealthy fascination with recordings, making it harder to move on.
6 people, independently
Convert old analog recordings, like microcassettes or answering machine tapes, into digital formats to keep them safe.
Hearing their voices brings comfort; video captures more than photos do.
3 people, independently
Record yourself reading favorite books aloud to leave audio legacies for children or loved ones.
It allows them to hear your voice and feel your presence even after you are gone.
2 people, independently
Back up audio recordings to multiple locations, including cloud storage and local drives, rather than relying solely on a phone or hard drive.
Phones become outdated, mobile providers may erase data, and hard drives can fail.
4 people, independently
Back up photos and videos stored on phones to external storage or cloud services.
Phones can die suddenly, resulting in permanent loss of photos.
one person who lived it
Digitize old audio tapes so that younger descendants can hear the voices of relatives they never met.
It allows descendants to connect with ancestors, such as hearing a great-grandparent named after them.
one person who lived it
Capture candid videos and photos of everyday moments and spontaneous expressions rather than just posed shots.
They make for great memories of people being themselves, capturing genuine emotions, laughter, flaws, and spontaneity.
3 people, independently
Record videos of parents laughing and interacting spontaneously to capture their personality and joy while life is fragile.
Life is fragile, and these moments provide proof of their joy and presence.
one person who lived it
Take photos and videos that include you with family members rather than just scenery.
Photos including people are more interesting than landscape shots.
one person who lived it
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With permission, record family members singing or playing instruments while they are alive, acknowledging that some may dislike being recorded.
Recordings of shared music become cherished memories after a loved one passes.
- Some people do not like being recorded.
- Some people perform poorly when recorded.
2 people, independently
Record voice memos of young children to capture unique phrases, mispronunciations, and storytelling before their voices change.
Children's voices change in a short time.
one person who lived it
Record mundane daily conversations and routines, as these ordinary moments often become cherished memories later.
Seemingly trivial interactions, like discussing dishes or weather, become treasures decades later.
2 people, independently
Consider recording yourself reading bedtime stories to children, but keep such recordings private and avoid normalizing constant documentation of kids' lives.
These recordings can become valuable keepsakes later, as seen in personal collections of 'daddy tapes'.
- Keep bedtime private.
- Do not normalize recording everything in your kids' lives.
one person who lived it
Film specific moments like first dances at special events such as weddings.
It is always appreciated.
one person who lived it
Be aware that relying solely on photos and videos can alter your memory of how events actually happened.
Visual records can change your recollection of reality.
one person who lived it
Video older parents or grandparents while asking them questions about their past to preserve stories for future generations.
Getting on video preserves the content for future generations.
one person who lived it
Film important people in their natural environment rather than staging forced recording sessions.
It is more casual and better for everyone.
one person who lived it
Have elderly loved ones write personal notes or cards for family members to open later.
one person who lived it
Create backups of backups for digital messages and recordings to prevent data loss.
This provides safety after experiencing the loss of messages.
one person who lived it
Save voicemails from loved ones to listen to during family gatherings.
one person who lived it