Thursday marks the start of celebrations across the country for the Queen’sPlatinum Jubilee. Celebrating her 70-year reign, Brits are encouraged to reflect on the monumental societal milestones Her Majesty has witnessed. From the British Empire’s transformation into the Commonwealth of Nations, to the rise and fall of Britain in the European Union – the Queen has remained a constant throughout some of the most historic global events. Highlighting the critical role history has in enabling us to understand who we are as a nation, the UK’s leading biography-writing service, StoryTerrace, discusses the importance of knowing our own family history in understanding who we are as individuals.

Documenting and learning more about our family history has been linked to boosting emotional health, increasing compassion, providing a deeper sense of cultures and traditions, and becoming closer to our roots. In their unique and enlightening research, StoryTerrace found that 23% of Brits agree that finding out more about their heritage would significantly improve their mental health. However, over half the population (56%) have lost out on the chance to learn about their history because they are too late to have conversations with the person who knows most about it. Aside from the Queen being one of the most prolific figures in the world, perhaps the reason we know so much about the her enriching history is because it is well-documented to be read and shared for generations to come. So, the question arises, why is it that this isn’t replicated on a smaller scale within our own families to preserve this priceless history?

CEO and Founder of StoryTerrace, Rutger Bruining, shares his views on the importance of preserving one’s life story, whether the individual is in the public eye, or not. He comments:

“Documenting one’s life story can also be beneficial for future generations in finding out more about their own identity, providing a sense of belonging, or helping them through their own moments of adversity. With big global events such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the value and importance of history really comes to the fore. However, what is so interesting, and often saddening, is the lack of knowledge we have of our own family history.

“Half of the people who come to StoryTerrace are interested in writing heritage stories – ones which document their rich history, experiences and upbringing. What is so beautiful is to see how these are cherished and passed down to family members so they can learn about who their relatives are and where they came from. We can only hope that days such as these encourage families all over the world to reflect on their own history and seize the moment whilst they still can.”