Why did I save that picture?

This morning, I received one of those memory notifications on my phone. I find it a little creepy that my phone knows it is my friend’s birthday today and can go through my photos, select pictures of her, and put them together in a lovely slide show.

At the same time, I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. The hairstyles alone deserve their own slide show. Maybe in the future, I can instruct my phone to create a slide show of all the different cuts and colours I have experimented with. It would be entertaining for sure. (This technology may exist, but I have no desire to spend any of my time on it.)

What those slides don’t tell me is exactly what we were laughing about in the photos. No one will know why I took and saved the photo. Labelling the back of physical images is easy, but digital pictures will be a challenge. And what about other memories? Our stories matter.

I’ve been reading Florida Scott-Maxwell’s book, The Measure of My Days. There is a quote in the book you may be familiar with,

You need only claim the events of your life to make yourself yours. When you truly possess all you have been and done, which may take some time, you are fierce with reality. When at last age has assembled you together, will it not be easy to let it all go, lived, balanced, over?

I put together The Summer Legacy Project to give you an easy way to write down some of the stories that shaped your life. Reflecting on your life is a way to claim the events of your life. It’s not about perfection here. It’s about getting started and having a structure to support you. We all have good intentions!

This ten-week guided writing journey is designed to help you look back, gather some stories and offer something meaningful to those you love (or for your enjoyment!) You can also use this project as a life review. It’s a great way to reflect on your experiences. Whether in the third act of life or just feeling the pull to reflect, this is for you. You don’t need to be a writer; all you need is the desire to show up with honesty, curiosity, and maybe a cup of tea or your favourite beverage.

Each week, you’ll receive a carefully crafted journal prompt—one question at a time—to help you remember what mattered, who shaped you, where you grew, and how you want to be remembered.

Why do this?

1. Life review helps you make peace with your past and live more intentionally now. Looking back thoughtfully can give you insight, healing, and direction. Writing it down turns those insights into a gift—for yourself and those who come after you.

2. You have good intentions, but sometimes need a gentle nudge. If you’ve ever said “I should really write that down,” this is your chance—one prompt each week, delivered to your inbox. No pressure. No deadlines. Just meaningful reflection, made easy. As many of you know, I have inattentive ADHD, and procrastination is my superpower. When I put something like this together, it offers a manageable way to tackle an important project. I’m with you doing it!

Join from anywhere. Do it at your own pace. Finish with a deeper understanding of your life—and a beautiful collection of stories to pass on. Find out more here. (Note: my prices are in CAD.)

And just to get you started. Here’s a picture from my photos. Any ideas what was happening?

I’m not training for the Hunger Games, although I do feel better equipped to hide in the woods! It’s about an experience that prompted me to name my substack A Crone in the Woods. The rest of the story will be written during The Summer Legacy Project!