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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!

  • The call to adventure – and courage

    Posted on July 19, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts

    “If what you are following, however, is your own true adventure, if it is something appropriate to your deep spiritual need or readiness, then magical guides will appear to help you. If you say, ‘Everyone’s going on this trip this year, and I’m going too,’ then no guides will appear. Your adventure has to be […]

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  • Loneliness – where the deepest activities begin

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

    Yet it is in this loneliness that the deepest activities begin. It is here that you discover act without motion, labor that is profound repose, vision in obscurity, and, beyond all desire, a fulfillment whose limits extend to infinity. -Thomas Merton   A different thought… “Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of […]

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  • Planning a Happy Life?

    Posted on January 3, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” – Albert Einstein Photograph © Janice Henshaw 2015

    Read More

  • Beautiful Spring

    Posted on April 10, 2016 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Like a garden, worth every ounce of effort. Cherry blossoms spring © Janice Henshaw

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  • Travel memories and photographs

    Posted on July 3, 2016 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Remember when? This photo appeared suddenly today while I was supposed to be doing something important. It made me think about how photos jog our memories and transport us back to a place and time that we may have forgotten, a moment when we were in awe of nature’s magnificence, admiring an architectural delight, creating […]

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  • Risk Anything!

    Posted on March 11, 2016 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others … Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.” ― Katherine Mansfield If we risked everything to create a world that respected the fragile limits of our home, our planet, its people and living things, it may well be […]

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  • Stop ruining love by wanting what no longer exists

    Posted on October 31, 2017 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Love is a lost gift. Why wish for its return. Why beg for its flame when you’ve already been burned? Is it not enough to live from day to day remembering its tune like a beautiful melody you heard years ago- is it not enough to see a bruise and remember how it blossomed? Love […]

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  • “Zen in the Art of Writing” Ray Bradbury

    Posted on June 16, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “And what, you ask, does writing teach us? First and foremost, it reminds us that we are alive and that it is a gift and a privilege, not a right.” ― Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing

    Read More

  • About me – the lifestorywriter

    Posted on October 20, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Life Stories

    About Me – The Life Story Writer I am a professional writer with a Bachelor’s degree specializing in English and Business Administration. My name is Janice Henshaw and I live on Vancouver Island. Here are a  a few other facts about me. A business woman – An Executive Director for ten years so I have […]

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  • Contentment

    Posted on April 14, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” ― Lao Tzu “A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is […]

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  • “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

    Posted on December 31, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C. S. Lewis 2014 – Let’s make it our goal to encourage everyone we know to “dream a new dream” in working to save our beautiful planet and all of its miraculous living creatures and amazing life giving plants. We […]

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  • Living through the questions

    Posted on March 11, 2016 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    There are no easy answers, there’s only living through the questions. ~Elizabeth George, Missing Joseph I find it difficult to respond when people start to expound on all the definitions and facts they know about spiritual matters. I appreciate the depth of their spiritual longings and intellectual exploration but for myself, I have found peace […]

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  • Look! Up there! It’s the sun coming out!

    Posted on October 8, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    I was walking to the Village Center on Gabriola Island, and all of a sudden this girl pointed right in front of me and said  ”look up – up there!” She was smiling, delighted, and pointing at the sunlight coming out from between the clouds. My 3rd day of looking for the light, and already, […]

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  • “I have forgotten so much…”

    Posted on January 31, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in Life Stories

    “I’ve forgotten so much. Please, please let me keep more than a photograph. When age finally takes the folds of my mind and collapses them, when all goes gray and confused, Let me remember love. ~Michale D. Heilman

    Read More

  • Golden light just before dark – a promise

    Posted on October 20, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Grayton Beach, Florida Golden light just before dark – a promise.

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  • “This very moment is the perfect teacher…”

    Posted on November 23, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us, with […]

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  • Small Miracles are Everywhere

    Posted on March 23, 2020 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Taking a refreshing deep breath and a moment to look for small miracles in our day can make a whole lot of difference! I noticed in the grocery store that people were keeping their distance, but forgetting to smile at each other. We don’t have to look so grim! Exercise those lips and the lovely […]

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  • Dreams and Magical Moments

    Posted on November 8, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Dreams and magical moments don’t give a hoot about logic and explanations. So laugh, breathe them in and enjoy the spaciousness and warmth that feels so good when you just let go. -Janice Henshaw Photo © Janice Henshaw  (Joyce Lockwood Park)

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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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  • “Joy arises from within”

    Posted on December 20, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.” Eckart Tolle

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Blog Categories

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

Testimonials

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.

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

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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