From Overwhelm to Clarity

Not Everything Gets Told—But Some Stories Must Be Shared

Some stories aren’t meant to be lost.

That idea has been circling my mind for a while. After years spent tracing ancestors through dusty archives and photographs that have seen better days, I decided to take a step back. I want to gather the fragments of my own life—and decide which ones are worth keeping and sharing.

Memoir writing isn’t quite like genealogy. Genealogy wants names, dates, places. Memoir asks how did it shape me? What does it say about the life I’ve lived? The relationships I’ve had? The lessons I’ve learned, sometimes in silence?

A big spark came recently, when I watched Lisa Louise Cooke’s video “End Genealogy Overwhelm: My Personal Breakthrough!” It really hit home for me. She talked about how she got out of feeling overwhelmed with her family research by figuring out what really matters to her, especially after getting a cancer diagnosis. Then she focused on telling her own story first. I might not have a life-threatening illness, but I do feel like I'm on the downhill run of life.

Quote from the video:

“When one person dies, it’s like a library burning to the ground.”

“Genealogy is a family thing, I don’t want to hoard it for myself. We’re not responsible for doing it all. What a gift would it be to hand over that beautifully done research with little nuggets and clues for the next generation.”

That message hit home. Thanks Lisa. It gave me permission to slow down, prioritise, and be selective. To honour my own journey thoughtfully.

I've named this project on my WeAre .xyz archive Fragments Worth Keeping. It’s not really a tell-all memoir. Some stories are too personal, too mixed up to share. Instead, I’ll share the moments that stick with me—those bright, dusty, shiny little pieces that made me who I am.

For the past three years, I've been working on my memoirs with a group of fellow memoir enthusiasts from the Writers of the Coral Coast. Each month, we get a prompt that inspires us to share our stories. Sometimes it just clicks, and other times it takes a bit of thinking, but then suddenly I’ve got a memoir to share!

I’ll be sharing some stories about growing up on a farm in Western Australia, the exciting nerves of starting a new school year with fresh colouring pencils and shiny new shoes, life at boarding school, the laughter and little losses of family life, and the gradual shift from busy days to reflective mornings—sipping a muggaccino or enjoying a glass of vino in the evening.

If any of this sparks a memory for you or makes you think about your own story, that’s more than enough for me. Memoir is just one person’s honest way of figuring out life and connecting with others through those shared moments.

Check out my archive site, Fragments Worth Keeping, where I’m adding pieces bit by bit. Not everything I write goes there—just the ones that feel right, warm, and worth holding onto.

Thanks for joining me on this journey!

Regards

Jenny

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