A How-To Guide To Preserve Loved Ones' Stories

Alright — tightening this up while keeping your heart, faith element, and original intent intact:

Have you ever wanted to help your parents or grandparents preserve their stories for your children — or for generations to come?

That question was the driving force behind my recent volunteer project with Masonicare in Connecticut. I wanted to explore how modern AI tools — transcription, interviewing assistance, and writing support — could be applied to something deeply human: preserving memories, stories, and personal histories for residents and their families.

The program faced a few setbacks and challenges along the way. But with perseverance — and the guidance of the Holy Spirit — I was able to secure volunteers, conduct interviews, and use AI tools to help bring their stories to life.

Let’s define success.

• Emotionally: I walked away energized. Sharing these stories with the volunteer storytellers, their families, and the broader community was deeply rewarding — both personally and spiritually.

• Product: The book turned out beautifully. As someone who had never created or published a book before, I discovered that today’s tools make it surprisingly accessible. That said, preparation matters. Formatting, layout, printing specifications — those details are important and worth getting right.

• Process: Most encouraging of all, I confirmed that this process can absolutely be replicated. With tools like ChatGPT and Otter.ai, the workflow is approachable and manageable. There are ways to streamline the timing, but overall the process was straightforward.

If you want to do this with your mother, father, or another loved one — it’s possible.

If your organization wants to do this with clients or members — it’s possible.

You can review THIS DOCUMENT for an overview of the process, lessons learned, and practical steps to do it yourself.

My recommendation: If you feel called to preserve history, help someone reconnect with their past, or draw out the storyteller within them — do it.

It is meaningful.

It is impactful.

And it is deeply rewarding.