Recollections Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Recollection recordings take place?
Mindfulness Plus provides this community service in partnership with other South Shore civic organizations, including the Cohasset Historical Society, Cohasset Senior Center, Hingham Unity Council, and Hingham Historical Society. Recollection sessions take place weekly at the Beechwood Meeting House in Cohasset, or at another mutually location for the storyteller. Whether you are connected to one of our community partners or a South Shore resident who would like to share your story, please reach out! We would love to connect.
What does a Recollection session look like and who conducts them?
The storyteller sits down for a 30-45 minute relaxed and casual conversation with a trained oral history volunteer. Through simple, guiding questions, the volunteer invites the storyteller to recollect upon their life stories: upbringing, family history, education, career, military service travels, hobbies & interests, or a particular topic of interest....wherever the conversation goes, whatever stories one wishes to share. The session is recorded (audio & visual) and made available to the storyteller via an unlisted YouTube channel. No one can search or see the recording except the storyteller, and the recording can be shared as the storyteller wishes.
Why share and record my stories? Do I have stories to tell?
Everyone has a story to tell! Grandparents sharing life-lessons learned and wishing to pass along to their grandkids; retirees reflecting on long or varied careers; anyone who has experienced a difficult chapter in life and is making sense of their journey. Some might think, “I don’t have anything important to say.” This never ends up being the case! All it takes is sitting down, being open to talking, and the stories will come. We welcome all storytellers.
Are you interested in being a Recollections Volunteer?
The Recollections volunteer team is open to anyone. We meet the last Tuesday of each month, 4:00-5:30, at the Beechwood Meeting House in Cohasset. We coach volunteers in the art of interviewing and recording a storyteller. The biggest thrill for Volunteers is hearing people share their stories. We learn something new in every story we hear.