The Life Story Writer
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  • The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature. …I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.

    – Anne Frank

    Sunset Malaspina Gallery Park (1 of 1)
  • Away from the tumult of motor and mill

    I want to be care-free; I want to be

    still!

    I’m weary of doing things; weary of

    words

    I want to be one with the blossoms

    and birds.

    – Edgar A. Guest

    butterfly on lilac
  • There is something of the marvelous in all things of nature.

    – Aristotle

    arbutus tree reduced size
  • There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

    – Albert Einstein

    Full moon Drumbeg Park May14 2014JH (1 of 1)
  • Look!
    Look!
    Look deep into nature and you will understand everything.

    – Albert Einstein

    Eagle (1 of 1)
  • Sunset Malaspina Gallery Park (1 of 1)

    The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature. …I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.

    – Anne Frank

  • butterfly on lilac

    Away from the tumult of motor and mill

    I want to be care-free; I want to be

    still!

    I’m weary of doing things; weary of

    words

    I want to be one with the blossoms

    and birds.

    – Edgar A. Guest

  • arbutus tree reduced size

    There is something of the marvelous in all things of nature.

    – Aristotle

  • Full moon Drumbeg Park May14 2014JH (1 of 1)

    There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

    – Albert Einstein

  • Eagle (1 of 1)

    Look!
    Look!
    Look deep into nature and you will understand everything.

    – Albert Einstein

Let’s begin the journey today!A Life Story is a Gift…

Shaw TV Interview – How I became the Life Story Writer

There is no greater gift than sharing the experiences and wisdom of a lifetime with family and friends.  How do family members know who they are if they don’t know where they came from – their roots? But the challenge is in getting started.

In his book On Writing Well author William Zinsser said:
One of the saddest sentences I know is “I wish I would have asked my mother about that. Or my father. Or my grandmother, or grandfather”…

It is sometimes difficult to write about yourself in a detached manner that provides an interesting read for others.  Many people put off this activity and never find the time. With some encouragement and a good guide, however, it can be a pleasant, rewarding journey to tell your own unique story.

I live on Southern Vancouver Island and can travel to record your memories of past events and the people who have made your life special.  In the comfort of your home this process will be relaxing and enjoyable. It will no doubt be fun too. We will add photos and special documents if applicable, and then we will have your story professionally printed. What a gift – for you, your family, the next generations, and friends – can you imagine holding the book in your hands, seeing it on your coffee table, in your bookcase, reading stories to your grandchildren?  It will be much cherished.

How often have you wished that your forebears had left written stories of their lives?  A family tree may appeal to some, and facts may appeal to others, but stories are how we get to know people and the times in which they lived.

You may not think you have led an exceptional life, but I am sure that through this process, you will end up thinking otherwise. You will have fun, perhaps shed some tears, and remember details you may have forgotten, but overall, you will be thankful that you made this journey into your past. It will be the creation of a special legacy for your sons and daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren, or friends; they will be so grateful that your stories are preserved.  Don’t wait – give me a call and let’s get started.

Family and Friends
If you are a family member or friend, here’s the most special gift you will ever find for your loved one. Give the gift of a life story book to a beloved parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend.

Retirement Gift
A book of photos and stories from coworkers makes an amazing and unique retirement gift.

Your Company History
Make it work for you! A short publication packed with personal anecdotes and interesting photographs can be an ideal gift for clients, and a wonderful coffee table book in your office. Highlighting projects and giving clients the opportunity to learn more about the special people who work on them can be a determining factor in developing trust. Posting the business memoir to your website will make your company stand out from all the rest!

  • Brandon, Manitoba – Aug. 11, 2012

    Posted on September 26, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

    August 11th, Brandon, Manitoba – 432 km from Moose Jaw (Wal-Mart Parking Lot $0.00) Brandon Wheat Kings – those words stick together in my mind like peanut butter and jam.  The name of a junior hockey team based nearly 2,000 km from my home: I wonder how I know that piece of trivia? It was […]

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  • Rejoice in the way things are

    Posted on November 21, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” Lao Tzu

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  • Sun shining through maples

    Posted on November 4, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now. Goethe

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  • A Rule for Every Decision of the Future

    Posted on December 5, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Then and there I invented this rule for myself to be applied to every decision I might have to make in the future. I would sort out all the arguments and see which belonged to fear and which to creativeness, and other things being equal I would make the decision which had the larger number […]

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  • A cup of java on a rainy day

    Posted on November 10, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Have you found that you are growing both more tolerant AND more discerning as you get older? We grow tolerant because we see that life evens things out…On the other hand, we grow more discerning as well, as we realize that our time is precious…” Jennifer Boykin Creator and CEO lifeaftertampons.com

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  • To love is what’s important

    Posted on February 11, 2017 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “It is better to love wisely, no doubt: but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all.” — William Makepeace Thackeray (English novelist of 19th century – Vanity Fair) Thackeray’s quote is delightful! I smiled when I read it. Another quote by Thackeray “The world is a looking glass […]

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  • An eagle – fierce and independent

    Posted on October 10, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    The light can be fierce and direct, and unrelenting. It feels good not to hide.

    Read More

  • Moose Jaw Saskatchewan – Aug. 10, 2012

    Posted on September 21, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

    Swift Current to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan 174km (38’C) Where to today? I couldn’t wait to get out of the Swift Current campground, King of Grunge, and travelling anywhere else sounded good. I am now in Moose Jaw, camped at River Park Campground, a private campground – they only take cash, $32.00 thank you, and they […]

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  • Rest over the holidays!

    Posted on December 20, 2017 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “The purpose of a vacation is to have the time to rest. But many of us, even when we go on vacation, don’t know how to rest. We may even come back more tired than before we left.” Thích Nhất Hạnh Instead of trying to figure out how much we can fit in on a […]

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  • Nests in your hair?

    Posted on October 24, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “That the birds of worry and care fly over your head, this you cannot change, but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent. ~Chinese proverb Photo © Janice Henshaw 2015

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  • Why bad things happen to good people?

    Posted on January 10, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Is there an answer to the question of why bad things happen to good people?…The response would be…to forgive the world for not being perfect, to forgive God for not making a better world, to reach out to the people around us, and to go on living despite it all…no longer asking why something happened, […]

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  • Rocking on the porch

    Posted on June 10, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Is life not a hundred times too short for us to stifle ourselves?” – Friedrich Nietzsche Now why is it so gosh darned hard to throw away that never ending, always multiplying “to do” list and spend time richly – by slowing down, and just plain old taking it easy. Allowing ourselves to rock on […]

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  • Backing up – it’s not as easy as it looks

    Posted on January 7, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

    I did it. I packed up all my goodies, stowed everything away, followed my step by step “Pack up the trailer” instructions that I had written out, took several deep breaths, and then started driving around the campground, and practiced backing up the trailer. Having never done this before I realized right away that it’s […]

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  • Happiness is actually pretty simple, isn’t it?

    Posted on January 10, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Happiness is…gosh, I read a whole book on it! (Ok, at least 3 books, and a zillion articles). Research, facts, surveys, stories, how-tos, and after all of it I wasn’t any further ahead than when I started. But I kept thinking about happiness and noticing that sometimes the people I meet, and myself, are struggling […]

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  • It’s good to feel lost

    Posted on December 17, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Yesterday, the morning light came late because a grey blanket of fog lay settled between the trees. I thought that it would be the perfect gloomy and intriguing day to explore the Cedar Tree Park Reserve. After finding the trail head off North Road, I parked and then Baloo and I followed the path into […]

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  • “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

    Posted on January 7, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    ‘Does it hurt?’ asked the Rabbit. ‘Sometimes,’ said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. ‘When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.’ ‘Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,’ he asked, ‘or bit by bit?’ ‘It doesn’t happen all at once,’ said the Skin Horse. ‘You become. It takes […]

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  • Reflections – Look Inside Yourself

    Posted on September 18, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Do you know what you are? You are a manuscript oƒ a divine letter. You are a mirror reflecting a noble face. This universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you are already that.” ― Rumi Photo – reflection in Victoria Lake © Janice Henshaw 2015

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  • Let it all go…

    Posted on November 21, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Sometimes the best thing you can do is sit back close your eyes and let the world go by.   Photograph © Janice Henshaw 2014 – Baloo enjoying the sun in PEI

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  • How can you hesitate?

    Posted on December 11, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    How can you hesitate? Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth. -Katherine Mansfield   Photo © Janice Henshaw 2014

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  • Be Gentle With Yourself

    Posted on September 18, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Be gentle with yourself You’re doing the best that you can. And so is your friend, your sister, your children, your co-workers, and all those other people… Photo © Janice Henshaw 2015

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Blog Categories

  • Meditative Reflections and Photos
  • Life Stories
  • Vagabond Girl – Travel Stories

Testimonials

What a great book you wrote for our family! It doesn’t get much better than that! MH

I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your web blog.
Keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one today.

Rosalie

I found your writing to be lovely and the pictures are just as wonderful.   Keep writing from your heart.  It shines through your words. Clear, simple and profound.  Thank you for sharing this.  It drew me in and warmed my heart.

Patricia D.

Just lovely!  The photos are beautiful, and the articles are interesting.  I was left wanting MORE! I love, love, love what you are creating.

Lori W.

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Janice Henshaw

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