THE STORY I WISH I HAD

by Phyllis Jenkins

Have you ever longed to know more about your grandparents or great-grandparents—not just the birthdays and hometowns, but the essence of who they were? What made them laugh? What broke their hearts? What dreams carried them through difficult times?

I find myself in that very place today, holding onto old photos and vague memories, aching for the stories that were never told. I regret that I didn’t ask more questions, didn’t sit longer at their feet, didn’t press beyond surface-level conversation. And now they’re gone. So are my aunts and uncles, who might have filled in the gaps. When I reach out to other family members, I often hear, “I’m not sure,” or “I never thought to ask.”

That silence has weight.

My heart longs for something in their own handwriting, a letter, a note, even a scribbled recipe card with a comment in the margins. A glimpse into their world, their mind, their spirit. But what I find is a trail of missed opportunities. The deeper truths of who they were remain unspoken, perhaps even unknown.

So I’ve turned that longing into a mission.

I realize now that someone in a future generation—maybe a great-grandchild I’ll never meet—might feel the same way about me. They’ll want to know what drove me, what filled me with joy, what got me out of bed in the morning. I don’t want to leave them guessing. I don’t want to leave them empty-handed.

That’s why I’ve started telling my story.

It’s about legacy. About giving voice to the life I’ve lived, the lessons I’ve learned, the values I’ve cherished. I write in journals. I record voice memos. I tell the stories of my childhood, my dreams, my mistakes, and my triumphs. What matters is that my truth is captured in my own voice.

If you’re reading this, I want to invite you to do the same. Write it down. Record it. Share it with someone. It doesn’t have to be fancy. A simple document or a video on your phone will do. You can even contribute to a collection of stories—an anthology—so others can be inspired to do the same.

Don’t let your story go untold.

Don’t take your voice with you in silence.

Our lives matter. Our stories matter. And one day, someone will be grateful that we took the time to leave behind more than photos. We left behind ourselves.

So here’s my simple plea: Start telling your story today.

For them.

For you.

For all of us.

I’ve created a ‘Start Telling Your Story Guide’ to help you get started.

Happy Writing! Happy Storytelling!