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!

  • Thunder Lake, Aaron Provincial Park, Ontario Aug. 13-14, 2012

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

    Thunder Lake, Aaron Provincial Park, Ontario ($32.00) August 13th I made it to Ontario! And am camped out alone on a narrow piece of land surrounded by the lake (An isthmus? Is this what we studied in geography? A more boring class couldn’t have been designed!). The campsites are lovely, private, forested sites. My initial […]

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  • Obatanga Provincial Park Aug. 18, 2012

    Posted on September 27, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

    Up at 8, and straight to the laundry which is a ½ km walk away. It sure feels good to have fresh sheets on my bed. I had an awesome shower too, the best one so far because of the decent pressure. This park is large – it has 9409 hectares and its park lakes […]

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  • Joy can find space to enter

    Posted on May 17, 2017 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath […]

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  • Stop and smell the roses

    Posted on June 20, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” Epictetus quote Oh, the angst on hearing the news it settles upon us like a dark heavy cloud and for awhile it’s hard to think of anything else. But as time passes […]

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  • Waterton to Medicine Hat, Alberta, August 8, 2012

    Posted on August 12, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

    Medicine Hat, Alberta, Wednesday, Aug. 8th I left Waterton with no regret while knowing that I was being unfair, I did not explore many of its most beautiful trails. The drive to my next city, Medicine Hat was about 300 km, and as I left the mountains behind, I was entranced by the beautiful colours and […]

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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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  • Cherish those who lift your soul!

    Posted on May 23, 2016 by Janice Henshaw in all posts

    “Some people will never ‘get you’. Do not spend eternity asking why. People will see you differently, just cherish those who lift your soul.” ~Dodinsky’s Garden of Thoughts Such a relief when we get this. And staying kind, respectful, and curious without worrying about the “why” gives us such peace. Photo © Janice Henshaw 2016

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  • Can I appreciate that today is a gift?

    Posted on March 11, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Nothing is worth more than this day.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Dawn over Skyway Bridge, Florida Photograph © Janice Henshaw 2015  

    Read More

  • Imitating Cormorants

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

    Children imitating cormorants are even more wonderful than cormorants. – Kobayashi Issa

    Read More

  • Your path – so different from mine

    Posted on November 27, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Your path So different from mine Yet together We can offer support In myriad ways. We are like sentinel trees in the forest Each one unique and separate Connected by roots That grow gnarly and strong Able to withstand storms and drought. The light that fosters their growth Can be felt as we walk And […]

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  • Kindness and Courage

    Posted on October 19, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own.” – Adam Lindsay Gordon   Photograph © Janice Henshaw 2014

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  • “Truly, it is in darkness that one finds the light,”

    Posted on January 23, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Truly, it is in darkness that one finds the light, so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest of all to us. Meister Eckhart

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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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  • “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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  • This moment

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

    “Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” ~ Omar Khayyam Photograph © Janice Henshaw 2015 Cortes Island

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  • “Life will go on but never be the same…”

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

    My February article in Seaside Magazine is available at this link: http://seasidemagazine.ca/ The article is called “Life will go on but will Never be the Same.” “Your heart, beating away – counted upon, mostly ignored, often short on maintenance – until one day, it falters, and your whole life changes…”   *Photograph courtesy of http://www.nuttycake.com/

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  • The other side of fear

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

    We are born without any fear. As we grow, we learn to dress in layers of popular fears, there are so many to choose from. We try fears on to feel if they fit, and breathe them in, and make them ours. We often share them with others. We may have generalized anxiety, or trauma […]

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  • Early morning light on bamboo

    Posted on October 11, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

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  • Walking on the earth

    Posted on January 14, 2018 by Janice Henshaw in Meditative Reflections and Photos

    “People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the […]

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  • Ordinary heroes

    Posted on December 13, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos

    We have within us the strength to be a hero. Unsung, unremembered may we be, but from somewhere deep inside we dredge up buckets of tremulous courage and top them off with undaunting determination. A hero nonetheless. When we meet up with others, we never know what they too are silently facing, and thinking of […]

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

Testimonials

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.

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

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

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.

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Janice Henshaw

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