The pastime of writing memoirs has recently become very popular and people are discovering that it is no longer the sole domain of famous people. Even though most memoirs will not make their authors famous, there are many reasons people decide to write. Some simply want to be remembered. Others want to express their own version of events. Still others, after years of caring for a spouse and children, feel the need to do something for themselves.
Many people just love to write.
Whatever the reason, people of all ages and backgrounds have started to put their recollections on paper, providing a valuable form of self-discovery and exploration. Looking back can be pleasurable. It can help reconnect you to people with whom you have lost touch. Your family and friends may think of your written memories as a treasured gift and legacy from you. Recalling the past, how you grew up and what you experienced, can also be therapeutic by helping to confront painful recollections or complete the grieving process.