Have you ever thought about writing your life story?

Putting pen to paper and writing down your story can be an empowering experience. The process is equally, if not more important than the final product. In writing down the events of your life you may experience a sense of fulfilment and gratitude for the life you have lived. It can serve as a way to pass on important lessons, wrap up loose ends and document unique points in history, from your own unique perspective. Passing these stories on to family members can be especially satisfying, particularly to those who are younger than you.

There are many ways to go about this task, it can be as long or as short as you like! There are no boundaries; if you are a more visual person perhaps you would prefer to sketch out the significant events of your life. Most people find it quite difficult to start at the very beginning without a “refresher”. Get out the photo albums or call an old friend; when you bring these memories to the surface you can begin to write about them more clearly.

To help you begin writing, we have included a few prompts below. Remember, you don’t have to write in chronological order; in fact most people find writing chronologically quite hard. You can start with what comes naturally and piece it together in chronological order at the end.

Prompts: Can you recall your childhood best friend and some of the things you used to do together? Do you remember places you used to go or games you used to play? What were some routines/traditions your family practised during your early life? Do any of those traditions survive to this day in your family?

Close your eyes and “tour” the prominent places of your life. This may be your childhood home, the place you went to school or the place you got married. Think about the small details and the memories they evoke.

Describe a turning point in your life. Was there a particular event that changed the trajectory of your life? Did you move cities or meet someone important? Explore the past, present and future surrounding that experience.

Reflect on the “spirit of the time”. In addition to detailing personal events, many enjoy reflecting on significant events and how they were felt in their corner of the world. Reflect on the attitudes of people at this time and how the world moved. This can be particularly interesting for younger relatives to learn about.

Think about a period of time that challenged you, one where you had to be resilient. What lessons did you learn from this experience? It can be hard to think about these periods, but you often come out the other side with a sense of strength and pride.

So what are you waiting for? If you have some time up your sleeve why not embark on this meaningful journey? When things settle down and return to normal we would love to hear some of your stories and peek into the past with you.