Building Your Family Legacy Through Planning

Creating Your Own Heirloom

Heirlooms carry heritage, memories, and purpose; transcending time across generations. The Heirloom Collection is specially designed so that you can create your own unique heirloom. The long–lasting leather is meant to be reused for both sustainability purposes and to highlight how priceless your own legacy is.

An heirloom doesn’t become an heirloom just by existing. Add your own personal touch by actively using your planner. Eventually, your planner may display typical signs of wear – that’s your mark being recorded within the leather! There’s a common saying: Nice things are meant to be used. Perfumes are meant to be sprayed, candles are meant to be burned, clothes are meant to be worn. Your planner is meant to be used. Write in it, fill it with all of your favorite inserts, pictures, cards; add all the paperclips, carry it anywhere and everywhere – let the beauty of your everyday life embed itself within its stitches. Stop waiting for a good day to use nice things; use nice things to have good days.

Then, your planner will become a special heirloom that can be passed down to loved ones who are ready to manifest their own legendary journey.

Archiving the Family Dynasty

What’s the purpose of archiving? Preservation. Your family history – way of life, names, family tree, familial traditions, lore, goals, accomplishments – all deserve to be recorded. The España Spiral Notebook Collection is designed with archiving in mind. The front exposed spiral construction allows for you to label the spine (try an oil-based marker like the Uni Pin Pen) to then display within a bookcase or other organization system. Then, keep delicate loose cards, papers, photos etc., within the Pocket Folder, which fits our spiral notebooks. Alternatively, for more expansive paper archiving, store a few sets of our CEO Folders. Dedicate each folder for certain items based on your needs: “Dated Photos”, “Undated Items”, “Letters”, “Records”, “Genealogy Tracking”, etc. 

With the España Notebooks’ simplistic designs, you can record your family history in a variety of ways. The Dot Grid, Lined, and Graph interiors may be customized with sub-headers, such as “Family Tree,” or each page can be dedicated to a year, a person, or a family story. For example, I plan to sit down with family members and use a recording device before transferring our conversation to paper. This means an entire notebook section will be labeled “Familial Oral History Transcript”. 

Planting Your Roots

“If you know where you are from, it will be harder for people to stop you where you are going.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo

It’s typically difficult building a family archive from scratch. So, let’s set up the rest of your familial line for success! One of the most common ways people plant their roots is through journaling. For a unique record, the España Executive interior may be used by recording your own day-to-day with the intent to be passed down your generational line. You can record your day-to-day, as mentioned, or write letters to your past/future self, your descendants, to a religious figure, or to nobody at all. The point is that you are cementing your roots; providing a rich foundation for family to look back on and build from.

Getting the Family Involved

Remember, “family” is a varied community. Whether part of a nuclear family, found family, or mixed family, your familial community is valid and valuable.

For example, my group of non-related loved ones – an example of “found family" – has agreed to create a digital and written archive of our journey together. We will print valued messages and photos to then be stored. We’ll group each set of items together with sturdy Catch All Clips, store smaller photos, movie tickets, and sticky notes within an Essentials Pouch, save birthday cards and Gratitude Cards we’ve written to each other, and keep a record of everything each person has accomplished; each Goal Map we’ve created will be preserved to reflect on in years to come.

Alternatively, perhaps your family does not necessarily want to keep a record of their lives as a group. You can still help build each other up and pursue a positive outlook by adding Daily Gratitude and/or quick Everyday journaling to your daily routine. Try creating a family Bucket List so that you’re always planning and engaging in quality time together while building lasting memories. Legacy isn’t all about leaving your mark on the world, but instead leaving a loving, strengthening influence on your community – your family.