Mindset Preparation

When we think of tributes, we often imagine award speeches, obituaries, or grand ceremonies. But some of the most beautiful tributes are quiet ones—stories that whisper of ordinary moments made extraordinary through love, consistency, or care. As you prepare to write about someone who made a lasting impact on you, set aside the urge to highlight accomplishments.

Instead, spotlight a single recurring or one-time act or gesture that made you feel seen, safe, or special. One that you still  remember years later.

Take a breath. Picture a person in your life who may not have changed the world, but changed your world in some small, lasting way. That’s your story to tell.

Writing Tip

Choose one meaningful trait or repeated gesture.

In the my story about my dad, find out the remarkable deed that became a legacy of love.

Write from that same spirit:

• What is the one thing they always did for you or others?
  
  
• Why does that memory stick with you?
  
  
• How did it shape your view of love, parenting, family, or commitment?
  

Encouragement

This is not about perfection. The person you honor will certainly have flaws (who doesn't?)

That’s okay. This isn’t a eulogy—it’s a memory captured in time about a specific thoughtful act.

Even a single gesture of love can reveal a beautiful part of someone’s character.

Don’t worry about making it poetic or polished.

Just write the story you would tell a friend if they asked, “What did they do that made you feel loved?”

Takeaway

We often think legacy is built through awards, big achievements, or titles. But true legacy can also live in small deeds.

• A phone call every birthday (My kids are middle-aged now, but they still look forward to Mom's singing phone call.)
  
• A church member who gave your family a ride to and from church every Sunday because your family didn't own a car.
• A laugh you can still hear in your head
  

These are the stories that connect and endear us to each other across time.

Enjoy the story featuring my dad 
⬇️

Insider Tip

Use sensory detail to bring the tribute to life. As you write:

• What sounds filled the space?
  
  
• What smells remind you of them?
  
  
• What colors, textures, or tastes pull you back into the scene?
  
  

Choose small, specific details that draw the reader in and make the story linger, like the unique aroma  I mentioned in my story.

Final Note

Take time this week to write a tribute to someone who showed up for you—not with a grand gesture, but for a deed that was special to you.

I never got a chance to tell my father know how much taking us to the movies throughout my childhood meant to me. 

But if you have the chance to share with a living person, I urge you to do so. 

It could be a neighbor who voluntarily began taking your trashcans out to the curb for you when you were restricted to a cast while recovering from surgery.

Or, an aunt who saved all your childhood school drawings and gave them to you when you became an adult. 

If you want to express your tribute as a well-written letter to someone special, I recommend getting help from the book, Heartfelt Letters to Treasure for Special Occasions and Occasions Made Special by Lynette M. Smith. 

Or, you could  just write about the small deed, and make it part of your life story.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your life story journey.

Flora M. Brown, Ph.D.

P.S.  I enjoy coaching and cheering on aspiring life story writers. My mission is to open the door and point the way.

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