Lou died last week. I am still in disbelief.

After I wrote about her in a blog on Oct. 16 and linked it to my Facebook page, she commented: “Thanks for the story.” Her real name was Pat. She died at age 78 on the eve of Thanksgiving.

I will be forever grateful that I got to work with her and that she affirmed for me the value of writing one’s stories — to the extent that she continued writing hers as long as she was physically able. She is my latest motivation for encouraging — and helping — seniors to write about their lives. About their childhoods and growing up, about their careers and pastimes, about getting married and having families, about retirement, about reflective questions like “What do you consider your biggest achievement?” and “Who or what has had the biggest influence on your life?”

If writing your life stories (or requesting a loved one write theirs) is something you ever have considered doing, in honor of Pat I ask you not to postpone doing so.

#writing