My sincere hope....as I end this blog...

....is that you will catch the vision of the importance of writing your life story...of leaving it for your posterity to have. Each of our lives and how we lived it, is of great value to our family. They come to know and understand us through the things we share with them. I have given you many topics to help you write about, and I am sure that with many of them, they have jogged your memory of many more events and happenings in your life with which to write about. May you have the joy in your writing as much as your family will have the joy of reading it.

I am still here...

I hope to post to this blog again, soon.

Returning

I have been ill for many months but I am back and hoping to post on my blogs again.

Jogging your memory, 34

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)

~ Write about special Holidays and Celebrations that you remember.

~ Write about costume parties you went to.

~ Write about showers you attended or that were held for you.

Jogging your memory, 33

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What was your most favorite fun thing you loved to do as a child/youth?

~ Did you feel safe in your neighborhood?

~ What were the special sights, sounds and smells that made up your neighborhood?

Jogging your memory, 32

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)

~ Did you have neighborhood socials?

~ Did your family grow a garden?

~ Did you live on a farm or visit one?

Jogging your memory, 31

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Write about the house you grew up in. What was the address? Describe the rooms and the view out the windows. Tell about the yard.

~ Write about the town you lived in as a child. What stores do you remember going to?

~ Write about your neighbors when you were young, and their children you used to play with.

Jogging your memory, 30

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Do you remember any special stories your grandparents told you? Have you told these stories to your grandkids?

~ Did your grandparents live nearby? Did you visit them often?


~ What pictures come to your mind when you think back to when you used to play with your siblings?


~ Did anyone in your family do handiwork? Needlework? Woodworking? Was anyone mechanical?


~ Was your family considered rich, poor, or middle class? Were times ever tough for all of you?


~ Do you have a piece of furniture or any family heirlooms that belonged to your parents or grandparents? Describe it?

Jogging your memory, 29

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What were some of the hardest choices that you ever had to make? Do you feel like you made the right choices? Why or why not?


~ Was there ever a time when you were challenged on your core beliefs or values? What happened? Did you stand up for them or not? What did you think about it shortly afterwards, and now, with a longer perspective? Is there anything you wish you had done differently? How did that experience shape your life?


~ Of all the people in your life who have passed on, which of them had the most impact on your life? How? Who do you miss the most? Why?

Jogging your memory, 28

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What do you do to relieve stress in your life? What kinds of activities relax you? How did you discover they were helpful? Have those activities changed over the years? What is your preferred mode of relaxation?

~ What phrases or sayings have you found yourself repeating over the years? These may be words of wisdom, philosophies, knee-jerk reactions, slang, etc. Where did these phrases come from? In what circumstances do you repeat them? How do people react to these phrases when you say them? It may help to think of what people have told you, you always say. You might even ask friends and family members for help.

~ Think either of your relationship with your siblings growing up, or the relationship with your children as they were growing up. How would you describe the relationship? What was the general mood among you (or them)? Was there a lot of competition? How did it manifest itself? Was it mostly harmonious, supportive, angry, bitter, joyful, fun . . . ? How did it affect you, change you, shape you? How did you contribute to the mood or participate in it? How have those childhood interactions shaped the relationships of the siblings as adults?

Jogging your memory, 27

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Recall a memorable family gathering as an adult. Was it your family or your in-laws? What time of year was it? Where did you gather? What was the occasion? Was it joyful and loving; argumentative and explosive? Was it typical of such gatherings? Why was it that way? Who seemed (or seems) to most affect the personality of the gathering? What specifically happened, and how did it affect you? What part did you play in the events?

~ What was one of the biggest trials or challenges in your life? How did it come about? How did you respond to it? How long did the situation last? How did you finally overcome it or come to terms with it?

~ What would you identify as your best character traits? Did you come by them easily or have you had to work over many years to develop them? How did you go about developing them?. Are there any character traits you wish you had that you don't, or that are not as strong as you would wish?

Jogging your memory, 26

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Tell about a time when God answered a specific prayer for you.

~ What best describes your life, and why?

~ What advice about life do you want others to remember?

Jogging your memory, 25

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ How did you choose your children’s names, and why?

~ What is your most poignant memory about your children?

~ What family custom or tradition would you like to pass on to your children and grandchildren?

Jogging your memory, 24

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Write about all the clubs or groups you have ever belonged to.

~ What individuals have had the greatest impact on your life…and how did they?

~ What is your most treasured possession and why? Describe it in detail.

Jogging your memory, 23

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)

~ What special talents did your parents nurture in you?

~ What would you do differently in life if you could?

~ Write about any accidents, surgeries, or long illnesses you have ever had.

Jogging your memory, 22

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What types of things have you volunteered for in your life?

~ What do you consider to be your spiritual strengths?

~ What are your talents and how have you developed them?

Jogging your memory, 21

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What was the most tender day of your childhood?

~ What was your most frightening time of your childhood?

~ What was the most fun and exciting time you had in your childhood?

Jogging your memory, 20

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Did a tragedy ever strike your family? How were you affected?

~ Did you have a collection when you were growing up? Why did you begin it?

~ Did you ever live or spend time on a farm? Write about it.

Jogging your memory, 19

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Write about anyone in your family who has or is serving in the military.

~ Write about any travels you have done outside your country.

~ Write your feeling about peace and war.

Jogging your memory, 18

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ As a newly married couple, what was your first house/apartment like?

~ What do you love and appreciate most in your spouse?

~ Write about any struggles and adjustments you had in your very early marriage years.

~ After marriage, if you had to live a considerable ways away from your parents…write about how you felt.

~ What, if any, changes within yourself did you willing make for your spouse.

Jogging your memory, 17

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ How old were you when you met your spouse and what attracted you to him/her?

~ How long did you date before marriage and what were some of the fun dates you had together?

~ How did you know you wanted to marry your spouse?

~ How did you/he propose?

~ Write about your wedding, reception and where you went on your honeymoon.

Jogging your memory, 16

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Did you go to church regularly with your parents when you were a child?

~ Write about some of the experiences that happened at church.

~ Share some insights from scripture that have guided your spiritual journey.

~ Write about your spiritual thoughts.

~ Write about how you have grown spiritually.

Jogging your memory, 15

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What are the things that you are most glad you have done in your life?

~ Describe your mother and father.

~ What did your family like to do on weekends?

~ Share some of your mother’s favorite recipes.

~ What were your favorite toys as a youth?

Jogging your memory, 14

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What was the hardest thing you ever had to do?


~ Did you like to read as a child? What are your favorite types of books?


~ What were your family finances like when you were growing up? How did they affect you?


~ Were you ever a rebellious teenager? How do you feel about that now?


~ What things do you wish you would have done as a youth?

Jogging your memory, 13

Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What was your favorite pastime at different stages of your life?

~ Write about your religious/spiritual feelings and beliefs.

~ Write about some of the most important lessons you have learned in your life.

~ What scent or sounds immediately takes you back to your childhood? Describe your feelings.

~ Did you ever feel that God had a special mission for you to perform?

Jogging your memory, 12

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Write about what you think the best age is to be, and why.

~ Write about the most special time period in your whole life, and why.

~ Did you build or design anything special when you were a youth?

~ Did you ever make any hand-made Christmas gifts or other types of gifts? What were they?

~ Write about any special family celebrations.

Jogging your memory, 11

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Tell about someone who had a big influence over your life.

~ Were you ever in a life-threatening situation?

~ How was your health when you were a child?

~ Did your parents have a favorite remedy for what ailed you?

~ Did anyone from your school or community grow up to be famous?

Jogging your memory, 10

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ When you were a child, how did you keep your house warm?

~ Who was the President when you were born?

~ At what age did you first vote and for whom did you cast your first Presidential vote?

~ What was your most prized possession as a child?

~ Do you have a story about standing up against odds for something you really believed in?

Jogging your memory, 9

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What was your most embarrassing school moment?

~ Can you remember all your teachers names and the grade they taught?

~ What style of clothing was popular when you went to High School?

~ What kind of grades did you get? Do you have any of your old report cards?

~ What were your school colors? What was your school mascot?

Jogging your memory, 8

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Have you ever ridden on a ferry, bus, train or plane? Write about it.

~ Describe your childhood home.

~ Are you adventuresome? Do you like to camp and hike? Write about it.

~ Are you outgoing or shy? A people person or a loner? Write about it.

~ Draw the floor plan of the homes you lived in. Describe the details of the home.

Jogging your memory, 7

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ What were some of the games you played as a youth?

~ Write about holiday traditions your family had.

~ What are some special birthday memories you have?

~ Did you ever experience bad weather that frightened you?

~ Write about family vacations together.

Jogging your memory, 6

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Write all about your first job.

~ Were you ever in a parade? Tell about it.

~ Write about your happiest memory as a youth.

~ Write about your saddest memory as a youth.

~ Where and how did you learn to swim?

Jogging your memory, 5

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Write about a favorite memory of your mother and father.

~ Tell about some good advice your mother and/or your father gave you.

~ What were your favorite songs, celebrities, and dances when you were a youth.

~ Tell about if you ever played a musical instrument, or sang, or acted in a group at school.

~ Write about the neighbors you had and about any special people in your town.

Jogging your memory, 4

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story).


~ Write about your interests and hobbies when you were young. Did you like to read, write stories and poetry, draw or paint, play a musical instrument or sing? Did you like to work in a garden or work on a farm?

~ Write about any physical ailments or handicaps you have.

~ Tell about the first time you got behind the wheel of a car.

~ Write about your childhood fears and how you handled it.

~ Did you ever have a tree house or playhouse? Write about it.

Jogging your memory, 3

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~ Tell about your childhood pets

~ Write about your childhood illnesses and injuries

~ Write about your favorite “hangout” when you were a youth

~ Write about your friends when you were young, and the things you did together

~ Write about what you would change or do differently if you could live your childhood over.

Jogging your memory, 2

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~~ Write about your favorite movies and TV shows as a child.

~~ Write about your favorite foods as a child. Did your mother teach you how to cook?

~~ Tell about your first boyfriend/girlfriend.

~~ Did you go to family reunions? Write about them.

~~ Write about your grade school and High School years.

Jogging your memory, 1

(Note.. see the very beginning of this blog for important steps on how to get started writing your life story)


~~ Tell a special memory about each of your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

~~ Did any of your relatives ever live with you?

~~ What were some naughty things you did as a child and describe the consequences.

~~ Tell about incidents when you and a sibling got in trouble together.

~~ Write about what you did as a child during the different seasons where you lived.

Step 7...Using my topics and questions to help jog your memory.

Be sure to proof-read and make corrections when necessary, as you progress in writing your life story.

You have now been given all the necessary steps to begin writing your life story. If you stay with it, before long your story will be completed and you can make copies to give to your family members. What a wonderful legacy to leave them!

My following posts on this blog will offer you topics, questions or ideas to write about. The topics and ideas I give you are only meant to help jog your memory about possible happenings in your life....maybe things you have totally forgotten all about.....and that you may want to include in your story.

My topics and questions may not be in the chronological order of where you are at in your writing, but jot the title down for later writing...or...write about it now and put it in the right place later when you come to that period of your life story.

As you do your writing, some fascinating things will begin to occur. As you are writing about one topic or incident suddenly it may trigger other memories, thoughts and events. Be sure to make a notation on paper of these other memories that come to you. Then you can go back and write about it and include them, also.

Topics and Questions to help jog your memory:

~~ Write the full name of your parents, siblings and other relatives.

~~ Write the full date, and the town and state of where everyone was born.

~~ Tell a family nickname you had and why it was given to you.

~~ What did your father do for a living?

~~ Name the towns you lived in when you were a child and the address of your home there, if you remember it.

Step 6...Now, what do I do with these items that I gathered?

After I write my life story, what do I do with all these items of my life that I have gathered? (step 3).

You probably have managed to gather a great deal of items pertaining to your life. There no doubt will be a variety, such as paper information, small bulky items, and large bulky items.

1. Paper information....any vital information documents such as birth certificates, baptism certificates, diplomas, photos of you and your family, important letters, and the like....put them into acid free sheet protectors and then into a labeled, 3-ring binder.

Other less vital information, put them into a file folder system of your life, according to year.


2. Small bulky items....things like award ribbons, badges, small vacation souvenirs, postcards, school memorabilia, and the like....label each item with a date and why you saved the item. It would be very wonderful if you could write a little story about the item. Then place the items into a nice decorated box that you have labeled with the name of the contents and the year range of your collection.


3. Large bulky items... such as clothing, craft items, books, dolls, tools, sports equipment, etc. Do the same with these items as explained in #2 above.

Step 5...Begin writing your life story

After deciding which format you would like to use for your writing (step 4), take the box or envelope that says “birth and pre-school” (step 3) and pick up the top item...which should be your birth certificate....because that is the beginning of your life.

Now take your pen and notebook....or open up your word processor (step 2)....and begin to write.... “I, _________, was born on ________, in the town and state of ________. My parents were_______.

Then continue on with your life story, using your chronological items you have gathered, and as your memory dictates, and using the format(s) you have decided upon.

Don’t forget to give your story a title...such as “The Story of My Life, by ________, and the date you wrote it.

A very important reminder....whenever writing about a married female in your life story....ALWAYS give her maiden name, also. This ties her to other families in your story.

Step 4a....An example of Format A, chronological

(See step 4)

Chapter 1…..Birth and Pre-School Years

Chapter 2….Grade School Years

Chapter 3….High School Years

Chapter 4….My Parents

Chapter 5….My Siblings

Chapter 6….My Grandparents

Chapter 7….My Other Relatives

Chapter 8….My First Marriage and Divorce

Chapter 9….My Children

Chapter 10….My Second Marriage

Chapter 11….My Life as a Widow

Chapter 12….Mid-Life Years

Chapter 13….The Golden Years

Chapter 14….My Religion, Spirituality, and Spiritual Moments

Chapter 15….My Friends

Chapter 16….My Health

Chapter 17….Places I’ve Been, Things I’ve Seen

Chapter 18….Hobbies, Interests, Likes and Dislikes

Chapter 19….Personal Struggles and Growth

Chapter 20….Thoughts About Life and What I Have Learned

Chapter 21….Heartaches and Regrets

Chapter 22….Hopes and Dreams For My Children and Grandchildren

Step 4....Decide on a format for your life story

Now that you have finished step 3, you now need to decide how you want to write your story.

There are several formats that you can use to write your life story. You can even use all three formats, if you want to.


Format A...Chronological order. Write about the important events in your life in the order in which they occurred, such as: the forties, fifties, etc. OR...use a more flexible chronological order, such as: earliest memories, friends and school, fun times, talents, etc. OR...this: birth to 5 years, childhood 5-12, teen years 13-19, courtship and marriage, vocation, married life and children, middle-age and towards retirement, reminiscing, words of wisdom, personal philosophy, etc. It is all up to you as to how you would like to portray your life story.


Format B... Using main topics. Write your story in the form of essays and episodes. Decide on the main topics of your life that you wish to write about. Write them in any order when you are in the mood, then assemble them in an order that seems logical to you.


Format C... Choosing a theme. Perhaps you may feel that there has been a dominant theme that has guided or directed your life—your mission in life. The theme may come from a scriptural passage or event, a spiritual gift, or a talent. In separate essays, discuss this guiding theme.

Step 3...Gather your life together

Have you made your decision to write your life story in a notebook or a word processor? (step 2).

When writing your life story it is beneficial to have a basis with which to be begin and also help you along the way. Your life has many parts or time periods to it, and you supposedly have kept papers and mementos from each part. You will use those items in helping to write your life story...not only writing about the time frame that the item came from, but the item itself will help to jog your memory of a lot of other incidents.

So, to begin this gathering process, obtain a large box and go all around your house, looking in drawers, boxes, closets, attic, garage, basement...and GATHER up all the documents and items that pertain to your life, such as birth certificates, award certificates, diplomas, letters and cards, school memorabilia, photos, souvenirs from trips, plays you have attended, old calendars and date books, scrapbooks, yearbooks, newspaper clippings, report cards...any item or piece of paper that pertains to you and your life.

When you feel you have gathered everything, then begin to sort each item into certain piles: “birth and pre-school”; “elementary school”; “high school”; “college”; “marriage”. Now take each pile and put the items within that pile in chronological order as best you can. When you are finished doing this with each pile, then put each chronological pile into a separate box or envelope and label it.

Step 2....Notebook or Word Processor?

We all have a life story to tell. Some of us have lived longer than others and some of us have lived far more exciting lives than others. It does not matter. What matters is that we write our story down for the benefit of our posterity. Three generations from now I certainly do not want to be forgotten in my families memories.

So now that you are all charged up (step 1) and ready to go......let’s begin. Decide what type of notebook you want to record your life in. There are all types of notebooks from spiral to nice hard bound journal format types. Be sure to choose the kind that will endure time....and contain acid free paper. That is very important.

Pencil is for making mistakes....but ink is lasting. I would go for the ink. Look ahead and be prepared to end up with several notebooks worth of your life story. Remember...your life does not end until you take your last breath....and neither should writing about it end until then.

Pen and paper.....wait.....you might decide you want to write your story in a word processor. One recommendation if going this route....please write PART of your life story on paper in your own handwriting. Your posterity would absolutely LOVE seeing and having your handwriting. The part of your story I would suggest to write in your hand..would be the very beginning of your story.

Using a word processor is easy for editing, for adding in something you forgot, and for printing out lots of copies for family members to have. Just make sure you remember to keep current backup copies of the file.

Step 1....make the decision...to begin to write your own life story, now

Realize the great importance and purpose it is to leave your legacy...the story of YOU... for your family and future generations of your family.

Do you happen to have a deceased ancestor who no one in your family knows anything about? Your ancestor did not leave a journal, or any writings about them self, so the descendants of that ancestor, like you, are left with nothing......nothing that tells what that person was like, what they thought and felt and what they did and accomplished in their life. This is a blood relative of yours that lived...existed....and yet they will remain forever a mystery....their life story forever buried with them.

To learn and know more about who YOU are....it helps to learn about who you CAME FROM.

Don’t let this happen to you. Make sure you leave YOUR legacy...your life story behind. As we never know when our time to leave this life will be....can we procrastinate much longer?