With Remento, I Told My Life Story Through 30 Objects

Martie has spent years helping other people tell their stories. As a memory facilitator, she starts with an object, like a photograph or a keepsake, and asks about it until a chapter of someone's life comes back into view. Then she did the same for herself. Her Remento book, Martifacts: Things That Matter, tells her life through 30 objects. Each story pairs a photo of one object with the memory behind it, and a QR code beside each story plays Martie telling it in her own voice.

Discovering a Way to Tell My Stories Without Writing

My friend Sky Bergman told me about Remento. Sky is a filmmaker and photographer whose work celebrates the experiences and wisdom of older adults, and we share a belief that every life holds stories worth hearing.

"With Remento, I don't have to write everything down. I can just share my stories by talking."

I've always been more comfortable telling a story than writing one. When I talk, the memory unfolds on its own, and what comes through is the voice and personality of the person remembering, along with what happened.

See how Remento works, step by step

Connecting My StoriesRemen to the Objects That Hold Them

In my work, I almost always begin with an object. A photograph or a treasured possession can bring back a person, a place, or a moment whose meaning only becomes clear with time. So when I told my own stories, I did what I ask everyone else to do: I picked up my things, one at a time, and talked about them.

"Remento felt so intuitive from the very beginning."

Answering prompts by video or audio felt natural to me. The written stories preserve my recollections, while the original recordings hold the laughter, the expressions, and the pauses that make a memory feel alive.

Creating My Life in 30 Things Book With Remento

I used Remento to create my Life in 30 Things book, bringing together photos of meaningful objects and the memories attached to them. Each one connects me to the people and experiences that have shaped my life.

The printed book links each written story to its original recording through a QR code, so my family can read my memories and hear me tell them. I love the thought that, years from now, these stories might bring someone closer to a moment, a familiar voice, or a part of our family history they never knew firsthand.

See inside a Remento book

Helping Others Tell Their Stories Through Meaningful Objects

My work has taught me that people don't need to write a memoir to share something meaningful about their lives. Often, all it takes is a photo of an object, a thoughtful question, and someone willing to listen. I'm beginning to coach others who want to preserve their own stories, drawing on my experience with oral storytelling and meaningful objects.

"I'm definitely won over by Remento."

What matters most to me is that these stories are told at all. We can't keep time from passing, but we can leave behind pieces of our lives for others to discover.

Starting Your Own Book of Things That Matter

Remento's Life Story Book is built for people telling their own stories, not only for gifts. Many self-buyers say they'd wanted to tell their story for years and simply didn't know where to begin.

"I had always wanted to write my life story but didn't know how to get started, but Remento made it easy…"
‍Roberta, Remento Storyteller

For $99, you get a year of prompts and recordings, Speech-to-Story™, and one full-color 8" x 10" hardcover book of up to 200 pages, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Start your own book of things that matter