“Autobiography is like chocolate for the brain,” said Gene D. Cohen (1944-2009), an American psychologist who specialised in geriatric mental health. And we always need more chocolate.

I love talking to my clients about their experience recording their life stories. Dipping back, remembering gems from their past, long forgotten but when unearthed, giving them that “Ahh” moment. Just like biting into a Snickers bar.

I also love immersing myself in my clients’ stories and found myself a couple of weeks ago chuckling out loud at beautiful shots of my lovely eighty-four-year-old client as a twenty-something-year-old: foot-loose and fancy free. Also lapping up the words of wisdom from her husband who passed away eight years ago and whom I’ve never met: “I try to find something to make me laugh every day.” His eulogy is included in the book we’ve created: his son said, “I think his grandchildren would agree that he was a man that definitely in all parts of his life just got better with age.” Now that’s something to strive for.

Just like when I eat chocolate, recording those words forever gives me a great big, beautiful burst of serotonin.

Doctor Cohen was a wise man.