Dear Nunno,
One of the reasons I'm grateful that I've been writing this blog for 10 years is that it has become a collection of family memories, many that I would have forgotten, others that are now recorded. One such memory is this letter from 9-year old Zayd to my dad, his Nunno, in 2012 when the theme was '30 Gratitudes'. I had read an article that writing a gratitude letter and reading it to the person addressed has a hugely positive effect on our health. I asked the kids to chose one person to write a gratitude letter to. Saanya chose me; I keep hers in my bedside table . Zayd chose his grandfather. I wouldn't have this beautiful missive had I not been writing this blog. Reading it now brings back a flood of memories of their beautiful relationship.
This is why I am so passionate about capturing our personal stories - and why I set up a storytelling consulting business to help families capture theirs. Arif just shared a saying from the rural south - that stories are our inheritance. Yes! They are also what gives us comfort and solace when loved ones pass, and conjure up priceless moments of happiness and bliss.
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Dear Nunno,
I wanted to tell you that I am very grateful that you are my grandpa. I love that when we just walk in the door to your house, no matter what time, you are there to give us great big hugs. As soon as I start to talk to you, you let out a laugh before I even finish my sentence. Then you laugh again when I start speaking again. My favorite thing to do with you is snap circuits or any experiment kit. Remember when we made that ever-lasting top. I learned a lot from you. Without your help I could not have done any of the experiments I can now. Especially snap circuits, but I still have trouble with those. By the way, your high- ceiling house is amazing for helicopters.
I can’t wait to come again and fill my ShopRite truck full of fruit ready to go!
Love, Zayd
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(PS: I love the vivid details in this letter - great example of writing in specifics which makes a memory much more meaningful).
For info on my storytelling consulting: https://www.salmahasanali.com/consulting
For info/purchase book: https://www.salmahasanali.com/shop