July 2026

Home/Blog/July | Canada day July is one of my favourite months Every life holds lessons, memories and moments worth preserving. July | Canada day Canada Day reminds us of the incredible country we call home. Summer invites us outdoors. Families gather for backyard barbecues, weekends at the cottage, vacations, reunions, and evenings spent around the table long after the meal has ended. If you stop and think about it, some of life’s greatest stories are shared during moments like these. Someone recalls their first job. A Grandad tells the story of meeting Grandma for the first time. Grandma laughs about raising a young family when money was tight. An uncle remembers learning to drive. A family recipe suddenly comes with a story no one has ever heard before. We’ve all experienced these moments. Someone begins a sentence with, “Have I ever told you about the time…”? Suddenly, everyone is listening. As a Guided Autobiography facilitator, I have the privilege of hearing remarkable stories every week. Yet one thing continues to surprise me. The storyteller often believes their story isn’t very interesting. “It’s just my life, nobody is interested”. Sadly, I hear those words far too often. But to children, grandchildren and even complete strangers, those stories are priceless. They reveal where we came from.and remind us how resilient previous generations were. They also help us understand our families but perhaps most importantly, they help us understand and truly appreciate ourselves as we look at our lives retrospectively.. This summer, I’d like to offer you a simple challenge. Askat least one deep and meaningful question. Instead of talking about the weather, ask your mother what she remembers about her first home, ask your father what receiving his first paycheque felt like, ask Grandma about the happiest day of her childhood. ask Grandpa what advice he would give his twenty year old self. Then do something even more important. Listen as intently as you possibly can. The older I get, the more I realize that stories are one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. They preserve memories, create understanding, strengthen relationships, and remind us that every life has meaning. When I left the automotive industry after nearly forty years, I had no idea where life would lead me. Today, I feel incredibly fortunate that it led me here, to helping people preserve the stories that might otherwise be forgotten. During this beautiful Canadian summer, I hope you’ll make time to create new memories but don’t forget to preserve the old ones, one conversation, one question, one story at a time because someday, someone will wish they had asked one more question. Todd’s Story Prompt of the Month “Who was the greatest storyteller in your family, and what is one story they told that you’ll never forget?”  Recent Posts All Post Autobiography Life Journey Life Story Precious Words Professional Writer Remembrance Senior Memoirs Storytelling July | Canada day 19 July 2026 Every Story Matters 17 July 2026 Precious Words Thoughts and insights on guided autobiography<br> preserving family history<br> and creating a lasting legacy. Start Your Story Categories Autobiography (2) Life Journey (2) Life Story (2) Precious Words (2) Professional Writer (2) Tags Biography Writing Services (2) Life Story Writer (2)

Home/Blog/July | Every Story Matters Every Story Matters Every life has a story worth telling. Join me as I share reflections on preserving memories, celebrating lives well lived, and creating legacies that will inspire generations to come. June | Every Story Matters As we celebrate Seniors Month, it seems fitting to begin this blog by sharing a little about myself and how I found my way to this work that has become such an important part of my life. My fascination with stories began long before Precious Words existed.  As a young boy, I spent many wonderful days visiting my grandparents in the small town of Renfrew, Ontario. They loved to entertain, and it seemed there was always company stopping by. Whenever guests gathered around the dining table or in the living room, I found myself captivated by my grandfather. He was an incredible storyteller. I would sit quietly and watch as people hung on every word. They laughed together, they reflected together. Sometimes they felt the sadness of a difficult memory. His stories created connection. They brought people closer. To me, ayoung boy, it seemed like magic. What fascinated me wasn’t just the stories themselves. It was the impact they had on the people listening. Without realizing it, those moments planted a seed that would stay with me for the rest of my life. I have always been curious about people’s stories. I am inspired and educated by the experiences of those who have endured and enjoyed more days of life than I have. Every person I meet has lived through challenges, celebrations, losses, triumphsand lessons that have shaped who they are today. There is wisdom in those experiences, and I have always felt drawn to it. For nearly forty years, I worked in the automotive industry. It was a rewarding career, but after completing a contract in February 2022, I knew it was time for a change. The industry had changed significantly, particularly following the pandemic, and I was feeling burned out. When people asked me what I planned to do next, my answer was always consistent:”I don’t have a clue, but I’ll know it when I find it”. I trusted that something meaningful would reveal itself. Initially, I thought I might help people write eulogies. That idea soon evolved into helping seniors preserve their life stories. The more I learned about the process, the more I discovered the profound benefits that come from reflecting on one’s life, sharing memories and connecting with others through storytelling. Then something unexpected happened. I enrolled in a Guided Autobiography facilitator training program, largely because I thought it would be a useful credential to add to my LinkedIn profile. Three weeks into the program, I had a profound realization that changed everything. This is it! This is exactly what I am supposed to be doing! I knew then that I wanted to bring this experience to as many senior living communities and as many older adults as possible. I wanted to create spaces where people could share their stories, connect with others, reflect on their lives and preserve their memories for future generations. Today, Precious Words is the result of that journey. What I didn’t expect was how much these stories would give back to me. Every workshop participant, every memoir client and every conversation reminds me that there is no such thing as an ordinary life. Time and again, people tell me, “My life isn’t that interesting”, only to share stories of resilience, courage, humour, love, sacrifice and adventure. The truth is that every life contains moments worth remembering. As someone who is deeply spiritual, I often reflect on how fortunate I am to have found this path. I feel revitalized, energized, motivated, fulfilled and above all, blessed. It is an absolute privilege and honour to work with the generation that helped shape our communities, raise our families, and create the world we enjoy today. During Seniors Month, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your own story or the story of someone you love. The memories you carry may seem ordinary to you, but they are often extraordinary to those who hear them. After all, every story matters.   Todd’s Story Prompt of the Month “What’s one question you wish you had asked a parent or grandparent?” Wishing you and your family a wonderful summer filled with laughter, connection, and stories worth sharing. Recent Posts All Post Autobiography Life Journey Life Story Precious Words Professional Writer Remembrance Senior Memoirs Storytelling July | Canada day 19 July 2026 Every Story Matters 17 July 2026 Precious Words Thoughts and insights on guided autobiography<br> preserving family history<br> and creating a lasting legacy. Start Your Story Categories Autobiography (2) Life Journey (2) Life Story (2) Precious Words (2) Professional Writer (2) Tags Biography Writing Services (2) Life Story Writer (2)