Tips and prompts for conducting your own life story interview, perfect for this shelter-in-place order. Getting Started Talk to your loved ones ahead of time...

This unbelievable turn of events caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has forced most of us to stay indoors and drastically change up our routines. Jobs are uncer...

During my childhood, it seemed that everyone knew my mom: my friends, the neighbors, my teammates, etc. She was the Girl Scout Cookie Mom and she baked choco...

We all have those moments when our confidence shakes a bit. We compare ourselves to others. We question our beliefs and ways of doing things. I’ve recently l...

My Aunt Alice passed away shortly before Christmas. She was my mother’s oldest sister and sometimes referred to as the family historian thanks to a sharp mem...

The holidays are here, along with the pressure from all of our preconceived notions of what this time of year SHOULD look like. Everywhere we look, from soci...

It seems fitting to use November, the month of Thanksgiving, to send a note of gratitude to my clients over the years. I never forget how lucky I am to hear ...

I go about my life like most people, with a range of emotions from boredom to excitement to anxious to zen—sometimes in the same hour. Typical woman, the les...

September is here which means kids are back to school and my house is eerily quiet, aside from my dogs’ constant barking at everyone who walks by our front w...

Last week, I spoke about capturing life stories at Ignite Chicago, a monthly event where people discuss their passions in five minutes or less. (Highly recom...

The latest from our series highlighting extraordinary people on the Northwest side of Chicago that are true local heroes, as nominated by their neighbors. Th...

This month, in honor of Father's Day, I wanted to share some of my favorite dad anecdotes from our life story projects over the years. Here’s to Dad: the ult...

This month, in honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to share some of my favorite mom anecdotes from our life story projects over the years. Here’s to Mom: the kee...

Interviewing people about their lives has given me a unique perspective on life. I can't help but note the similarities, draw conclusions, and then apply som...

The latest from our series highlighting extraordinary people on the Northwest side of Chicago that are true local heroes, as nominated by their neighbors. Th...

I love capturing the life story of a couple. I take down their tales separately, so they each get the time and space to share their own experience. We start w...

Last night my daughter accidentally locked the door to her room, and then shut the door. Problem was, nobody was in the room to unlock it. I was downstairs a...

Three Things I Learned Reading The Opposite of Fate: Memoirs of a Writing Life by Amy Tan Penguin Books, $16, ISBN 978-0-14-200489-0, 2003 1. I read the book...

“It takes a great man to be a good listener.” ― Calvin Coolidge When was the last time you put down the phone, the work, the remote, the [fill in the blank],...

This month, I’m officially over 40. I joined the club last year and had no misgivings around it, probably because my husband and I spent the weekend in Bosto...