Telling Sacred Stories: Alumni Spotlight on Whitney Myers

In any one lifetime, the passage of the years, like the pages of a book, have a story to tell. There are favorite chapters, some of their lessons highlighted, the pages dog-eared and worn from being read and re-read. The lines of words encompass heartbreak and joy, defeat and triumph, and somehow it all comes together to form a glorious story that carries the kind of wisdom that can only come from living a life.

Everyone has a story to tell-and the stories of our lives are sacred. Whitney (Daum) Myers, TLU class of '98, holds that to be true, and she's built a business on it.

It all started with a personal project back in 2017. "I wanted to capture the stories of my husband's grandmother," she says. She got the idea to create a film as a way of preserving the old family stories. "I solicited the help of a videographer to film, and I conducted the interview. It was a wonderful experience, and I received positive feedback from the whole family-including Grandma herself!"

That was just the beginning. Soon, friends were asking Myers to do similar projects with their loved ones, and before she knew it, a business had been born. She named the business Sacred Stories. "In addition to learning how to run a business in recent years, I've learned about video production and the art and science of reminiscence," she says. "I'm so grateful for my previous professional work and volunteer leadership roles and what they've taught me to help me build my business now with passion and care."

The signature product at Sacred Stories, the Legacy Film, hearkens back to Myers' very first project with her husband's grandmother. It involves the creation of a commemorative film in which individuals, families, or groups share wisdom, tell stories, and capture memories for posterity. Perhaps they do it in celebration of a birthday, an anniversary, a retirement-and what they end up with is a gift that can be treasured for generations to come.

"I love my work because there is no 'typical' day," Myers says. "In any given week, I meet with families to discuss their projects, work with videographers, sound technicians, and editors, serve as the host and guide for interview days with a family's special storyteller, review footage, or do administrative tasks. I'm often out in the community networking or speaking to groups about the value of storytelling and reminiscence. I'm always thinking about how to help individuals and families tell, capture, and preserve their stories."

The children of Austin philanthropists Dick and Sara Rathgeber recently had Myers record their family stories as a Christmas gift to their parents, just before Dick's 90^th birthday. Known as one of the most generous men in Austin, Rathgeber says that he and Sara, his wife of 63 years, have given roughly half of their annual income to charity every year for over 40 years-amounting to a few hundred million dollars-worth of giving, which has set unfathomable positive changes into motion. Rathgeber is the author of the book Deal-Making For Good: Smart Giving = Significant Living, and together, he and Sara have supported a wide range of organizations including TLU, the Salvation Army, Austin's Dell Children's Medical Center, the SAFE Alliance, Meals on Wheels, and Manos de Cristo, to name a few.

That kind of life carries with it countless stories-stories that should be preserved and carried forward. So when the Rathgebers began planning Dick's birthday celebration, they chose Myers to capture their stories. "Whitney does an excellent job of publishing a project," the Rathgebers say. "For us and our family, she preserved memories. We hope our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will know us through the times we lived."

Myers is quick to give some of the credit for her success to her alma mater. "TLU has given me a network that I love," she says. "Clients who have hired me because they trust me, friends who encourage me, professionals who coach me, and contacts in other related fields for networking and collaboration."

Back when she was still deciding which college to attend, she visited her older brother at the University of Texas at Austin. "After visiting him there, I knew I wanted to attend a smaller school." As a New Braunfels native, Myers had heard about TLU. "I wanted to be a high school English or Math teacher and studied these disciplines at TLU. I was proud to be a Bulldog then, and I still am."

Looking back over her college years, she wishes she'd recorded some of her own stories back then-"though I imagine some classmates reading this might be glad I didn't!" she adds. "I've never been a big diary keeper, but, in recent years, I've discovered other creative ways to journal. The box of photos I have from my time at TLU is great, but I wish I'd been even more intentional about marking some important moments."

Like the time she and her best friend led a chapel service senior year. "We stayed up late one night talking about what we could do that would be meaningful and impactful for a short worship service," she recalls. "As we talked and shared stories, we said, 'Let's do this! Let's be in our pajamas in the chapel simply talking.'" They got Pastor Greg Ronning's permission to move their bunk beds into the chapel the night before the big day. "We spent the night in the chapel. As classmates and staff filed in the next morning, we simply 'rolled out of bed' when the bell rang and had a conversation. Of course, we had a script, songs, and a few close friends who participated on their cue, but the main focus of the worship was on two soon-to-be graduates talking about our stories of life, faith, and plans for the future. It was a fun memory that I cherish."

Other TLU memories include involvement in Greek life, the Student Government Association, and campus ministry, where Myers forged so many close relationships. "These groups encouraged a sense of community that taught me a lot about leadership, engagement, and compassion."

What advice would she give to current students as they prepare to embark on their own careers? "Just because something isn't good forever doesn't mean it wasn't good," she says. "Things we've learned, work we've done, people we've known, roles we've played-all of these add to the story of our lives. Don't expect what you know and value now to be a perfect fit forever, but don't diminish the previous experiences that shaped you." Good advice from a true storyteller.

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