Over 70? Join in the NY Times Life Report

Respecting our elders is a cornerstone of society. Regardless of the next leap in technology or society's next flight of fancy, we always look to our seniors for inspiration, wisdom and their stories.

That is precisely why New York Times columnist David Brooks is asking for people over 70 to write a brief report of their lives so far. Brooks plans to write several columns about the submissions he receives and intends to publish the best essays.

This is a chance for seasoned genealogists to turn a critical eye to their personal history.

Although Brooks insists that taking a step back from our lives and trying to form a complete picture is an important aspect of the exercise, he believes that the essays will be most useful for the young:

“Young people are educated in many ways, but they are given relatively little help in understanding how a life develops, how careers and families evolve, what are the common mistakes and the common blessings of modern adulthood. These essays will help them benefit from your experience.”

Said writings strike me as something that could be passed down through the generations of your family. Imagine having such a document from your ancestors; we could all benefit from learning their regrets and achievements in an attempt to re-align our own expectations of life and, indeed, our ambitions.

Why not take some time to write down your successes, regrets and lessons along the way- This exercise could turn out to be quite therapeutic for your soul.

Brooks is accepting submissions to his email: dabrooks@nytimes.com. Read his complete column here.

Have a lovely weekend.