Photos, recipes, random stories, even that “who’s that guy again?” moment — they’re all part of your family’s legacy. Let’s make it real, not just remembered. Whether you’re retired and finally ready to dig in, juggling work and elder care with shelves of old albums, or just thinking “It’s now or never,” this month is your moment. Not to do everything. Just to begin.

Betsy C. Baker loves to write. After her husband, David, died, the time was right to create a memoir. Holding Fast combines Betsy’s memories of childhood, her high-profile careers, marriage, family illness, death and loss with her imaginative creative fiction. Through its straight-talking, compelling stories told as truth and fiction, we are reminded to “hold fast” to our family history and memories. It was our distinct pleasure to create this book with her!

We’re in that Spring and early Summer mania – school year endings, graduations and weddings, summer camps and vacations. We’re too busy for another thing in our 24!

Hey, I know BUT I boldly suggest these three simple habits. No extra time – just smart use of it:

Many of us inherit a family recipe collection. What an opportunity! Your recipe collection is a great way to save and share favorite family recipes with family stories and photos. Like these books created by our clients, Liz and Anita.

Your legacy is now definitely digital -- Apple, Facebook and Google, to name only a few. What happens to your data when you die? Who will have access after you’re gone?

Scanning photos and memorabilia – I’ve said alot about it over the years. Spurred on by the contents of a client’s Samsonite suitcase, I thought I’d answer the seven most common scanning questions. But first, the story.

I remember her in a wheelchair, fully dressed every day, in that big apron with the pockets on the underside where she kept her snacks and her .32 pistol. When I was three or four years old, she was my babysitter while my mother was at work. She was also my protector when I misbehaved.

Had I seen these leather-bound books before? Five of them, each with “A Line A Day” embossed in gold on the cover? I must have during at least one of the four packing/unpacking sessions of my parents’ recent downsizings. But, I don’t remember them at all.

“Legacy” is following me. I see it everywhere – in emails, conversations, podcasts, articles. And legacy is not being at all sneaky, but making itself known at every turn.

“So, Jiffy, how do I work with you and Pixorium?”

Someone asked me that question recently. Someone I was sure knew the answer. Wow.

If he didn’t know, then I had explaining to do!

“Help me find my story. I’m not sure I have one.” Yes, you do. They’re hard to see in your own life. I often hear, “Really, what have I done? I’ve just lived my life.”

“Help me tell my story in a book that’s loved, not just sitting on a shelf collecting dust.” Sure thing! A loved book always has your reader top-of-mind. A loved book is intentional in all aspects – what you say, how you say it, how it looks, how it feels.

Can I scan my photos on my printer? Short answer is yes, but should you?

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s: These are the times that families get together and tell stories. But conversations with family members can sometimes stay on a superficial level; it can take a few storytelling, memory-sharing, history prompts for family members to get to the good stuff.

During big gatherings, grandparents can often fade into the background. To keep the conversation going as a group and share the moment as a family, consider asking some questions about the family history.

Why should you put preserving and sharing old pictures and family stories at the top of your “to do” list?