Legacy Questions: 867 Prompts to Start Your Memoir: 5 (Write Now)

When I worked as a hearing aid specialist most of my clients were over the age of 65. Because I saw them over a period of years I was privileged to hear many stories. These folks were retired and sometimes they were lonely. Ive always been a great listener and I enjoyed spending time with each person. Despite a busy practice Id often book a fifteen-minute service into a thirty-minute slot so wed have time to chat.My clients told me stories their own kids hadnt heard. An Army pilot described weaving through mountaintops when he flew the hump in World War II. A widow explained her start in a 15000 episode childrens television show in Cincinnati. She was still teaching despite her failing health and assured me I could be anything I wanted to be in life. Another 83 year old even mentioned seeing UFOs in Denmark.It became clear that some incredible memories might be lost forever without someone to listen. That prompted me to write down questions as quickly as I could. If you know someone with fantastic tales (or you have some of your own) this book is for you. I want to encourage you to share your experiences and write your story for your legacy and your grandchildren too.Theres a story that only you can tell. The questions in this book cover 12 different subjects and periods in life. You can skip entire sections or go through every one of the 867 questions. Use these questions with your older friends and family members and offer them the gift of your time. In addition to hearing some amazing stories youll likely hear things youve never heard before. This book includes an interview guide and how to preserve stories.You could use these questions for yourself. You dont have to share every detail just what you want to tell. Pick the questions that make you react emotionally; theres probably a story behind that reaction. You can voice record your answers or use your computer to type it out.These questions can also help you create fictional character traits and details for novels or screenplays. Or choose three questions and answer them from the perspective of someone you may be having trouble communicating with right now. You could ask your partner some of these questions or use these with people who are in senior living or memory care to help them record the story of their life.