Your Story Matters: Why are legacy projects important?

Storytelling is fundamental to the human experience. It serves as a bridge between generations, cultures, and individuals. Stories allow us to make sense of the world, conveying complex emotions, values, and lessons in ways that resonate deeply.

Storytelling in the Amazon

I first realized the importance of stories when my wife and I were volunteering with a Kichwa tribe in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest. We slept in thatch huts five hours hike and six river crossings from the nearest hint of civilization. For over a month we ate from the forest, learned from their culture, taught English to the children, and helped the men build a greenhouse to grow vegetables.

In the evenings, the elders would somehow make a roaring fire from sopping wet rainforest wood, and the tribe would sit around the flames, sharing stories, the way they had for thousands of years. We became quietly honoured spectators to share in such an ancient and revered tradition.

The elders would start by telling stories of weeks spent lost in the jungle, how they survived, and avoided the prowling jaguars and anacondas. They spoke of communication with visiting spirits of ancestors, and rains that lasted for months, causing rivers to rise so high they feared the world would be swallowed whole.

They spoke of how to hunt from the river to catch dinner, and how to grow vegetables using ash from the fire in the unforgiving jungle soil. They taught which plants could be used for medicine, which trees to use for building huts, and which to use to creating poisonous blow darts for hunting.

My eyes would be drawn, not to the elders telling the stories, but to the audience of enraptured youth on the other side of the fire. From toddlers to teenagers, their mouths hung agape, and they clutched onto every word; eyes wide, and leaning so far forward, I worried they would topple into the flames.

Returning home to New Zealand, I couldn’t help but notice the severe lack of similar interactions between old and young in the West. It could be argued that the stories being passed between generations in the Amazon had an element of survival and necessity attached to them. But I wonder if, although veiled, that necessity of wisdom passed between generations might be just as necessary for those of us living in the developed jungles of the West.

Studies are showing that the deeper a young person’s knowledge of their family history, the easier they can develop a sense of self. Furthermore, that connection with family history is a useful clinical indicator of psychological wellbeing. On the other hand, almost half of the elderly population report feeling medium levels of loneliness and lack of connection from their families.

To be clear, what I witnessed in the depths of that jungle, far from the luxuries and conveniences of our everyday life, in both old, young, and everyone in between, was genuine, pure contentment for life and unadulterated happiness. Health of the body and mind were at the forefront of their priorities, and their sense of community, humour, curiosity, awe, and compassion shone through in every interaction we had. Laughter was a huge part of their daily life and I would often go to bed massaging my cheeks from smiling for twelve hours straight.

It seems many in the West avoid the sometimes awkward and difficult conversations that help us discover the true essence of who we are as families and individuals. But in avoiding such conversations, what type of disconnection are we creating? And what type of disharmony are we creating within ourselves and those we love? How hard is it for each new generation to wade alone into the increasingly treacherous oceans of ethics, morals, and beliefs without a foundation of wisdom from their own family?

The end of life is a sacred moment we all must come to know and inevitably find ourselves in. When our memories are no longer clouded by braggadocious pride or ego, the true essence within each story can be seen in its poignant and truthful essence, and the true wisdom learned through our experiences shines through.

Because at the core of our stories are our lessons. Lessons that can be gifted as a roadmap for future generations to connect with their ancestors, learn from their successes or failures, and discover a tried and true foundation to build their own values, morals, beliefs, and ethics upon.

After witnessing what was possible between generations around those fires in the Amazon, I was inspired to develop and recently launch my company, Legacy Lab.

About Legacy Lab

Legacy Lab is a New Zealand-owned and operated business that transforms life stories and photographs into contemporary hardcover and digital books, to preserve lessons, morals, beliefs, and legacy for future generations.

We do this by granting secure access to our online, private Story Dashboard, which can be accessed anywhere, anytime, from any device. Within the Story Dashboard, we prompt each client to dive deep into the stories of their lives through a series of curated questions that delve into your journey and what it has taught you.

You work through our questions and upload photographs of each memory at your own pace and with personal support from our team. When you are ready, you submit your answers, and our team of award-winning authors and graphic designers polish everything to perfection and arrange your stories and photos into beautiful hardcover and digital books which are delivered to your door and email.

The most important part is to then share your stories, lessons, and wisdom with those you love. This is about creating something that outlives us all so our loved ones have a tangible record of who we are and what we stand for, and our stories can create a bridge between us and future generations.

Stories shape our understanding of ourselves and others, fostering empathy by letting us step into different perspectives and lives. They preserve history, communicate traditions, and inspire change, giving voice to those who may otherwise go unheard. At its core, storytelling is how we connect, find meaning, and share the essence of what it means to be human.

It is our honour to bring this tradition back to New Zealand whanau and to pass the wisdom of today’s ancestors through generations.