On April 9, 2015, I posted “The Lottery of Birth” — a recognition that the spark of life that became each one of us was a confluence of genetics, luck, Divine providence and/or serendipity. Why weren’t you born a thousand years ago? Or last Sunday in Ghana? Germany? Kazakhstan?

Each one of us has a story. It is our birth and upbringing that begins the story. And there are many factors that continue the story – with family, schooling, religion, attitudes, work, environment, politics, likes and dislikes. And it is our story that we pass down to family and friends.

Several years ago, our daughter Lauren gave Donna the gift of a book — a book that Donna was obliged to write. Provided by Storyworth, a series of more than 50 questions were sent to Donna – usually one or two per week. And Donna had to answer them (or she could make up some of her own). There were questions like what makes you happy? Did you have pets growing up? Favorite TV shows? Most positive influence as a child? Favorite cartoons? Hobbies? First date? Family traditions? Grandparents? Donna’s book Donna Petersen – A Collection of Life Stories – runs nearly 200 pages and is complete with pictures. It is a great legacy to Donna and to our family.

Each one of us has a story. If you are looking to tell your story, you can do it at a cocktail party (“well when I was a boy. . . .”), you can run for Congress or you can start writing. Answer the questions that are meaningful to you. And record those answers. There’s certainly no downside – and you might just learn something about yourself that you’d forgotten. Or stuffed under the mattress. . . . .