She left properties, expensive jewelry, and fine pottery, but forgot to leave the most important thing: the knowledge of her healing herbs. Years later, I realized what a great loss that knowledge was. No material inheritance can be fully enjoyed without good health. I’m now taking responsibility not to experience such loss again for my family and other families.
The year was 2000. I had moved from Nigeria in 1992 and was still living in London, United Kingdom. Every year, I would make a promise to myself, to go back and visit my grandmother. Every year, I broke that promise. Juggling full-time education, a part-time job and my personal life made it challenging. I was never able to save up enough money to buy my ticket. Taking time off work was also a big deal. I needed every penny! Finally, the day came that I was finally able to keep that promise. I bought my ticket, packed up and was ready to leave in 3 days. Two days before my departure, I got a phone call from my mum letting me know that my grandmother had died. I wept bitterly!
My Grief Period Took Longer Than Usual.
My crying and grief period took longer than usual. In fact, there were days that specific experiences would make me grief all over again. A year after my grandmother died, I gave birth to our second child. Six months after her birth, she was covered with eczema from head to toe. It was a traumatic experience for the whole family. Sleepless nights, bleeding from broken skin, constant scratching, and when a large portion of her skin broke around her feet, she would literally be unable to walk. The best the doctors could do was put her on steroids, which had side effects, not just on her skin, but also on her bones. As I watched her suffer everyday, I would long for my grandmother. You see, growing up with her, I had watched her cure children like my daughter with the knowledge of the herbs she possessed. I had watched her nurse new mothers back to their full strength and cure children with common ailments, all with herbs.
When my grandmother died, I not only lost a loved one; but also the knowledge I so desperately needed to make living more pleasant.
When my grandmother died, the knowledge died with her. So, not only was I grieving the death of a loved one, but also the loss of knowledge that I so desperately needed. As I watched my daughter suffer, I would wish my grandmother was still alive, or that she had shared her knowledge, wisdom and life in the form of a written autobiography.
Legacy Writing is not a luxury. It’s a must!
It was through this experience that I came to the conclusion that legacy writing is not a luxury. It’s a must! It’s a must that you strengthen the generation that comes after you. It’s a must that your genealogy gets better. It’s a must that you transfer generational power and authority through written words. I know that some of you might worry that it’s probably too hard or you’re too old to write your life story, but with basic step-by-step instructions, you can do it and we are here to make it possible.
Fill out the form below to attend one of our Autobiography Workshops.
Fill out the form below to attend one of our Autobiography Workshops.
LP
