PERSONAL HISTORY MEMORY TRIGGERS

PERSONAL HISTORY MEMORY TRIGGERS

Try answering one or more of the following questions, and then give examples. Let your mind wander as you answer, and write down or record memories that come to mind whether they fit the topic or not. Things can always be sorted out later!

1. Where were you born and what were the circumstances of your birth? Were
there other children already in the family? How did your parents choose your
name?
2. Where did you go to school? Did you have any memorable teachers? What were your favorite subjects?
3. What were your favorite activities as a young child? Were you interested in
sports?
4. How did you celebrate birthdays as a child?
5. What were your childhood home and neighborhood like?
6. What were your grandparents like? Do you have any special memories of them?
Do you remember any stories that they told you about themselves or your
parents?
7. What were your parents like? Did you have a special relationship with either of them? Do you know anything about them when they were children?
8. What was your personality like? Are you the same, or did something happen to change you? How would you describe your personality now?
9. Did you have brothers and sisters? What did you do together as children? What are some of your special memories of growing up together?
10. What kind of chores did you do around the house? What were your favorite or least favorite chores?
11. Did you have a favorite radio program or television show?
12. How did you spend your Sundays as a child?
13. Who was your favorite singer, band or musical group when you were a
teenager?
14. Did you ever do anything rebellious?
15. What was your most memorable holiday? How did your family celebrate?
16. How did you celebrate Spring Festival and other holidays? Where did you go? What was your favorite food?
17. Who was your best childhood friend? Where are they now?
18. What is the lowest price you remember stamps costing? What did other things cost?
19. What kind of job did your father have? What do you remember about it? Did
your mother work outside of the home?
20. Did you graduate from High School? Did you go on to school after that? What did you study?
21. What was your first job, and what did you get paid?
22. What was your favorite practical joke as a child? Did you ever get in trouble
for playing jokes?
23. Have you ever gone far away? What was the farthest place you ever went to?
24. Did you ever run away as a child, even for a few hours? Did you ever plan to?
25. What is the best book ever written? How many times have you read it?
26. Who was your favorite movie actor or actress? What is your favorite movie?
27. Do you and your spouse have a special song? What is the story behind it?
28. What was the first house that you lived in together like? How big was it?
29. What was your first car? What was the car that you really wanted?
30. Did you grow up near your extended family? Did you get to spend time
together?
31. What was your childhood nickname? What did your dad call you? Your mom?
What did they call you when you were in trouble?
32. Did you ever get sent home from school? Did you ever get sent to the principal?
33. Did you have a pet as a child?
34. Who was your first boyfriend/girlfriend? What did you do for dates?
35. In your opinion, what was the best invention of your lifetime? Automobile?
Washing machine? Air conditioning? Indoor plumbing?
36. Describe a typical weekday as a child. Were Saturdays the same?
37. Did you attend church? What was your church like? Did you have to travel far to get there?
38. What was the most exciting trip you've ever taken?
39. What is your favorite season? Why?
40. What was your favorite dinner that your mother made? What was the worst?
41. Did you play an instrument? Were you in a band or an orchestra? Did you sing?
42. What was your hairstyle as a teenager? What kind of clothes did you wear?
Were you always in style?
43. What was your favorite holiday? Why? Has that changed?
44. What is the most important lesson that you've learned from life so far?
45. Do you speak more than one language? If so, how and why did you learn it? If not, did you ever want to?
46. How far was it to your school? Did you have to walk? Was it uphill both ways?
47. What is a special talent you have? Fixing things? Sewing? Handiwork? Green
thumb? When did you realize that you loved it and how did you learn?
48. What is one thing that you couldn't do, no matter how hard you tried?
49. What were your favorite winter activities? What did you do in the
summertime?
50. What was the best letter that you ever received? What was the best letter that you ever sent?
51. Describe your posterity (children, grandchildren, etc). What is the thing that you want them most to remember about you.
52. Describe your wedding day. Where did you get married? Why? Who came? Did you have a honeymoon? How did you meet?