writeyourlifestory
Write Your Life Story
This page gives you a tool that you can use to make writing your life story for your children and grandchildren as easy as it could ever be. All you have to do is to cut and paste the questions provided below into your preferred wordprocessor and start writing out your answers to the questions. Answering just 10 or 12 questions a month will get you finished in one year.
Your family would probably appreciate very much your writing your life story to leave for the children and grandchildren. I wrote mine that consisted of just over 100 printed pages. So far I've gotten nothing but appreciation from my family. You will too.
It is much easier to do using this template of questions. There are 10 or 12 questions for each of 12 months. That makes it very easy to complete a personal history or biography in a year. All you have to do is download the questions into your Microsoft Word program and start answering them. How detailed you wish to be is entirely up to you. The questions really do help in recalling things that might otherwise be overlooked.
You don't have to be a slave to the questions. Modify them as appropriate to your particular situation. I did. Using the questions provided increases the likelihood that you'll finish with a product that will provide good coverage of your life and will be something that will be treasured by your family for generations.
Feel free to use or modify the questions to better fit your own life and experiences. I hope you'll do it and, I wish you well in your effort. The return in blessings for your family will be worth many times over the cost in your labor doing it. Just cut and paste these questions into your wordprocessor and begin typing in your answers. Before long you'll have a valuable personal history to leave for your children and grandchildren.
January
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
What did you enjoy doing most as a child? Did you prefer doing it alone or with someone else?
Who gave you your name and why? Did you have a nickname? How did you get it?
Describe your childhood home. What was your favorite room?
Were you baptized or dedicated as an infant? If so, where and by whom?
Did you attend church as a young boy? What are your earliest memories of church?
Where did your father go to work every day and what did he do? Did his work interest you?
Did your mother have a job or did she work at home?
What was your favorite sport or outdoor activity? Why was this your favorite?
Did you pray as a young boy? If so, can you remember a specific prayer? Who taught you to pray?
Where was your childhood home located? Did you enjoy living there?
Describe your grandparents. What did you enjoy most about them?
Can you remember being afraid as a boy? What was your greatest fear? How did you deal with it?
Recall for me five of the most important lessons you have learned in life?
February
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
Did the pastor or visiting missionary ever eat dinner at your house? Did they have an impact on your life?
Did you ever feel that God had a special calling on your life?
Describe the most memorable Valentine you ever received. Who sent it to you?
How far did you have to travel to attend elementary, junior high, and high school, and how did you get there?
Who gave you your first Bible and how old were you when you received it. How did it influence your life?
When did you become a Christian? How did your life change?
Did you go to ball games as a boy? What kind of food did you eat?
When you were growing up, did you have any animals? What were their names? Was it important to you to have a pet?
Tell me about your mother’s cooking. Can you recall your favorite meal? What made it your favorite?
Did you ever get into fights with others kids? Did you ever start a fight? Or stop one?
What chores did you have to do when you were growing up? Did you get an allowance? How much was it?
Who gave you your first job? What kind of job was it? How much money did you make?
Share your idea of what makes a good friend.
March
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
Do you remember your first communion? What influence did it have on you and your family?
Describe your favorite pastime or hobby as a child.
What mischievous prank did you pull on someone? How did it affect you?
Did you have a television when you were growing up? What was your favorite program? Why?
What were some crazy fads from your school days? Did you participate in them? Why or why not?
Who was your favorite teacher? How did that teacher influence your life?
Did you ever have a special hideaway or clubhouse? Describe it for me.
In high school, what extracurricular activities did you enjoy most? Why did you choose those activities?
What is the nicest thing you ever did for your mother and father?
Did you admire a famous person? What made that person admirable?
When did you have your first date? Tell me about it.
What do you remember about your first kiss?
Share some of your insights for working well with others.
April
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
Did you enjoy reading as a boy? What were some of the most memorable books you read?
What were your family finances like when you were growing up? How did that affect you?
Was there a special person who helped you in your Christian walk? Share something about that person.
When did you first learn about sex? Would you recommend the same for young people today? Why or why not?
As a teenager did you rebel or do things your parents wouldn’t have approved of? How do you feel about that now?
List three things you wish you had done during your junior high and high school years, but didn’t.
What did your family like to do on weekends? Describe one particularly memorable one.
During childhood, who was your best friend? Share some of your fondest memories of fun times together.
Did you ever keep a scrap book of photos, autographs, or memories of special occasions? Describe what this meant to you.
What is your favorite memory of your mother? Why is it so special to you?
What image of your father is the most striking in your memory? Why that image?
List one special memory about each of your brothers and sisters.
Share with me your father’s attitude toward life and how that affected you.
May
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
If you were to find an old toy box in your attic, what toys would you remember most fondly? Why?
How old were you when you understood that God loves you? How did that affect your life?
Describe a time in your life when you feel God led you in an unusual way.
What kind of car did your family drive? Were you proud of it or embarrassed by it? Why?
Did you ever go to a dance? Tell me about it.
How often did your family go to church? What pastor or Sunday school teacher do you remember most? How did that person influence you?
Did your family attend family reunions? What activities did everyone enjoy? Tell me about your favorite cousins, aunts, or uncles.
When you were young did you ever go to a funeral? How did that affect you?
If you had brothers and sisters, did you feel your parents treated you all the same? Why or why not? If you were an only child, did you wish for brothers and sisters? Why?
Did your high school have college or career days? What field interested you most? What did you want to become when you grew up?
If you went to college or to a career training school, where did you go and why?
Where did you live when you were going to college or developing a career? Describe an unforgettable experience from that time in your life.
Share some principles from Scripture on which you have chosen to build your life.
June
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
If you learned to play a musical instrument, tell me your memories of lessons, practice, and your music teacher. If not, what instrument did you want to play and why?
What were your youthful goals and ambitions for life? Which ones have you been able to fulfill?
How old were you when you met Mom? What attracted you to her?
When did you know that Mom was the “one and only one” for you? How did you know?
Share a memory about the way you proposed to Mom?
Tell me about your wedding day. What happened? How did you feel? Were you nervous, scared, happy?
Where did you go on your honeymoon? Describe at least one humorous thing that happened to you and Mom.
Do you remember the first meals Mom cooked for you? Do you dare comment on them?
Describe where you and Mom lived after you got married. What was the view like from the kitchen window?
When did you and Mom start talking about having children? Why did you want children--or did you?
If you could go anywhere in the world on a second honeymoon, where would you go? Why?
What do you love best about Mom now?
Record here your ideas on what it takes for a husband and wife to maintain a healthy marriage.
July
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
Describe the most fun you ever had on a Fourth of July.
Tell me about your family summer outings when you were young. Did you go camping? Fishing? Swimming?
Did you ever travel abroad? How old were you and where did you go?
What is the most interesting foreigner you have ever met? What did this person help you learn about his or her culture?
If you served in the armed forces, describe how your time in the service affected your life. If you did not serve, how did this affect your life?
Have you ever believed so strongly in a cause that you marched in a rally or demonstrated in protest? What was the cause? Why was it important to you?
What is the greatest thing you ever did in your life? Why did you do it?
Where do you stand politically? Do you lean toward the left or the right? Who, if anyone, has most greatly influenced your current political views?
Did a tragedy ever strike your family? If so, how did it affect you?
What is the best movie you’ve ever seen? If you could play one of the characters in the film, who would you choose, and why?
How would you finish this sentence? “One thing my dad always said was ...”
Did you ever go to summer camp? Camping with the Boy Scouts? Share one unforgettable memory.
Share a favorite poem, passage of writing, or some quotes that have been especially meaningful in your life.
August
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
Is there any one book or author who helped you to develop a philosophy of life? Share some of those insights.
How have your ideas about God changed from when you were young?
What kind of outdoor work do you enjoy? Dislike?
What is your favorite way to spend a day of leisure?
When did you learn how to ride a bike, or to water ski, snow ski, roller skate, or sail? Share your memories of the experience.
Did you ever milk a cow or spend time on a farm or in the country? Tell me about it.
What places in the world would you still like to visit? Why?
Is there any childhood fear that still haunts you? How do you deal with this fear?
How do you enjoy helping people? Share about a time when you helped someone in need.
If you could carve one more face on Mt. Rushmore, whose face would it be? Why?
In what ways are you like your mother? Like your father?
Looking back in life, what one thing would you have done differently? Why?
Share some tips for a great vacation.
September
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
Did you learn mechanics or woodworking as a young person? How and when? What were some of your most memorable projects?
Tell about a special outing you took with your dad. What makes this a poignant memory for you?
As a young person did you volunteer for work in church, community, or social services? Tell me about it.
When did you move away from home? Describe where you lived and how you felt about it.
Tell me about some of your closest friends after you and Mom got married. What were some of the fun things you would do together?
What are your spiritual strengths?
How would you like to grow spiritually?
What special talents did your parents nurture in you? How have you developed those talents?
What would you still like to learn to do? Why?
What did you enjoy doing with your mom? Share a special time with her.
How would you describe yourself: tender-hearted or tough-minded?
If you were to write a book about Mom, how would you title the book? The first chapters?
How do you describe “success”?
October
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
Who are some of the best public speakers you have ever heard? Why did they impress you?
If you could have two hours of conversation with anyone on earth, who would that be? Why that person? What would you talk about?
What spiritual legacy would you like to leave for others? Why is this important to you?
Share a hilarious travel experience.
What Bible verse or Scripture puzzles you the most? Which blesses you the most? Why?
Have you ever been in an accident, had surgery or a long illness? How did this affect your outlook on life?
Do you have a favorite sports team? Why is that one your favorite?
What responsibilities did your parents require of you as a child? How did this affect your growth and development? How you raised your children?
What is the most frightening thing that has ever happened to you? How did you handle the experience?
What events in life have strengthened or weakened your belief in prayer?
When and where did you buy your first house or piece of real estate? Describe the significance this held for you.
What is the strangest thing you have ever seen?
Share some of your ideas on how to develop and maintain good physical health.
November
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
As a teenager; did you belong to a club or church youth group? Tell me about the individuals in the group who were most significant to you.
What is your most treasured possession and why?
What Bible character would you most like to meet? Why?
What two people have made the greatest spiritual impact on your life? What made them so significant to you?
When you were a new father, what was your greatest fear? Your greatest joy?
What is your most vivid memory about the childhood of each of your children?
What would you change about the childhood of each of your children if you could?
Describe a fond Thanksgiving memory. What makes this special to you?
What are some things from your childhood that you are thankful for?
What childhood memory first comes to mind when you think about winter? How do you respond to that memory?
Describe the most interesting person you ever met. What were the qualities that made that individual so outstanding?
What family customs or traditions would you like to pass on to your children and grandchildren. Why are they important to you?
Tell me what four things you would never leave behind on a trip and explain why.
December
A favorite quotation, saying, aphorism, or Scripture passage. Explain what it means to you:
Describe some Christmas traditions from your childhood and tell how they have influenced your life.
Were you ever in a Christmas program? How did you respond to this experience?
What is the best Christmas present you ever received? Why was that the best?
Tell about a memorable Christmas visit with relatives.
What is your favorite Christmas carol? Why?
What would be the most wonderful gift you could receive? Why?
Tell me about a time when God answered a specific prayer for you.
What would you like to see happen in the next ten years in your life? In the world?
As you look back in life, name three of the most fantastic changes that have taken place in the world. How have these affected your life?
Where would you still like to go and what would you like to do once you got there?
What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day?
What word best describes your life? Explain why.
What advice about life do you want others to remember?
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