“He’s a good guy,” I said to my husband last week, describing a friend’s adult son. Those four words were empty, though, until I told him a story to back them up.

Jay, a soft-spoken young man, had stood up against destructing bullies at a house party, protecting a young woman from their verbal abuse. Garnering support from a couple of friends, they then gently escorted the ruffians out of the house.

If I hadn’t extrapolated with the story, my description of Jay wouldn’t have made an impact. Stories make an impact. It’s the same with history – learning dates and names and facts of history is one thing, but it’s not until you hear the stories behind the events that they sink in.

I learned a tonne about Australia’s new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Sunday when I read a story in The Sun Herald about Tom Uren being his father figure. The article describes Uren – a man of steel, yet with heart – who in turn was influenced by Weary Dunlop on the gruelling Burma-Thailand Railway.

I loved this line, revealing another layer of the power of storytelling: “Tom Uren may as well have been flying along with [Albanese],” as he flew to Tokyo on Tuesday. Everyone who has influenced us through our lives is always flying along with us.

Life story writing records the stories behind the important people in your life, not only helping you to carry their wisdom on to your future generations but also reminding you that they are always beside you, every step of the way.