My Life Story_Blank

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My Life Story_Blank

My Life Story_Blank

This outline is a wonderful tool to help anyone record the story of your own life or that of a loved one, friend or person of interest for a school assignment!

This outline was created by our parishioner, Elaine Schmidt and generously sh ared with anyone who is interested in sharing their life story!

This will create a very personal piece of history that may be lost forever if YOU do not record it! There are apps for companies that will even make

a hardbound book for you (at a price) to give your child(ren) or grandchild(ren).

You never know how your life can impact others!

Share it now and in the future!

If you would like to download a hard copy of the blank booklet, My Life Story_Blank.

If you would like to copy and paste, the following is available. Copy onto your own word document, save with your name, and then enter your own information:

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The LIFE STORY of _______________________________________

Began when______________________ was born in 19 _____at __________________in the state of __________________in the county of____________________.

This story begins with recollections as told to _____________________ or written as recalled. The details are recorded as described in ____ while talking about or remembering “old times” and recording some special memories.

Different stages in this person’s life are used as a means to gather, organize, and preserve the “memories.” Hopefully, this will be an enjoyable experience for the storyteller, the recorder, and family members who see this as an important bit of personal history. If there are gaps in the stories, do not worry for on another day those memories may be recalled more clearly or edited out as unimportant to share. Feel free to add in stories or important times in this person’s life such as hobbies or special moments in their life such as favorite teams or big events. Remembrance can be good for the storyteller and help one to review their life and pass on important life lessons, insights and values that they may have learned from their experiences.

As people look back through their lives, they are "doubly blessed" for they are preparing a valuable family document. Hopefully, in reviewing their life, they are gaining new insights about themselves and where they hope to be in the future.

“Some people think we’re made of flesh and blood and bones. Scientists say we’re made of atoms. But I think we’re made of stories. When we die, that’s what people remember, the stories of our lives and the stories that we told.”

Ruth Stotter (from The Power of Personal Storytelling, Maquire, 1998)

Infancy to about 18 months

As we begin your story, what year, month, and day were you born?_______________________ In what county and state might we look to find a record of your birth and other records such as a marriage certificate or birth records of your brothers and sisters? ______________________________________________________________________________

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If you recall some stories that you were told about your birth, tell about any stories that you would like to share. ___________________________________________________________

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Were you born at home or a hospital? _________________________________________

Was there a doctor or nurse present if it was at home? __________________________________

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Were there any unusual medical problems concerning your birth?

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Who was present at your birth? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How was your name chosen? ______________________________________________________

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Were you christened or baptized and given your name more formally? ______________________________________________________________________________

Did you have a nickname?_________________ Share if you wish ______________________________________________________________________________

Toddler, 18 months - 3 years

Were you an only child? ___________________________________________

Tell about any brothers and sisters that were older or younger than you?

If you had brother and sisters what were their names? Who was the oldest, youngest, and who was in the middle? Do you wish to record their dates of birth or death?

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Tell about the type of work your father or mother did when you were young.

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Do you recall if your family's economic status was poor, of modest means, or well off?

Are there any stories that you wish to share regarding some of these circumstances?

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Pre-School, 3- 6 years

What stories have your parents and relatives told you about your early childhood years? Describe some memories that you recall?

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Where did you live? What do you remember about your neighborhood? Was it in the country or town? Did your family move very often? ________________________________________________________________________

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Did you have your own room or share with your brothers and/or sisters? ________________________________________________________________________

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Did you have any special pets? Did you have animals that you were responsible for feeding?

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Describe some of the games or toys you played with as a child.

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Describe some special Christmas memories that you would like to share?

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When you were especially good, what kind of treat might your parents give you? _______________________________________________________________________

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What were your meal times like? Did you have a big breakfast? Did you take biscuits or cornbread or hard boiled eggs for lunch to school?

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What were your favorite foods as a child?

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If you helped to prepare meals, what did you do? ________________________________________________________________________

Did you attend kindergarten or pre-school? Or, was such a thing even available? _____________________________________________________________________

School Age, 6-12 years

What were your first impressions of school? ____________________________________

Was it a happy beginning or were you unhappy or tearful?

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Where did you attend school? _______________________________________________________________________

What was your first grade teacher like?

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How far was school from your home? Did you walk, ride a horse, or a school bus?

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Did you go home for lunch, bring your lunch, or was there a school cafeteria? _______________________________________________________________________

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What was your favorite school lunch? _________________________________________

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Do you have friends that you recall from school? Have you been able to keep in touch with them over the years? Did your school ever have class reunions? ________________________________________________________________________

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Do you still live within 30 miles of where you attended grade school?

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Describe some memories about going to church as a child? Perhaps you recall attending mass, First Communion, Sunday School, or Vacation Bible School in the summers? Were you confirmed? If so, how were you prepared for confirmation and how old were you?

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In school, what class or subjects did you like the best? ______________________________________________________________________________ The least? _____________________________________________________________________

Tell about any special interests, sports or talents that you enjoyed?

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Adolescence, 12-18 years

Did any of your favorite subjects influence your high school subjects or your career later in life? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At the time, was a high school education considered necessary for everyone? ______________________________________________________________________________

Were there any circumstances that prevented you from completing high school? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Were there any laws regarding staying in school until you were a certain age? If so, what was the age? _________________________________________________________________________

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Describe your first driving experience. What were the rules regarding having a driver's license? _____________________________________________________________________________

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What do you recall about participating in school activities such as sports, band, or school plays? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ Do you recall some favorite or memorable teachers? ___________________________________

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What type of activities would you have enjoyed on a date?

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Were you looking for a future spouse at this time?

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Were there activities that you enjoyed outside of school, such as, scouts, 4-H, skating, or swimming? What are some favorite memories connected with some of these activities?

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Did you all have family meals together? Did you take time to share what happened during the day after your evening meal? ___________________________________________________

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What part did you play in preparing meals? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Did you have chores and responsibilities? Did you get an allowance? Were there any other ways to earn money? How much do you recall receiving for some of these activities?______________

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Did you have family rituals such as visiting grandparents or other family members on Sunday?

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Tell about some memories of your grandparents or favorite aunts and uncles? _______________

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Young Adult Years, 19-35 years

Decisions made in these years about schooling, housing, finances, a car, independence from family, dating, jobs and career choices affected your life. Describe how much education that you obtained. What year of high school did you complete, or did you go on to college, business school, or vocational school? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Describe what type of work you did when you first began to get wages. Do you recall how much you earned for a days’ work? Was a work day 8, 10, or 12 hours long? How many work days were in a week?_______________________________________________________________

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What was happening in the United States at this time? Did it have any effect on your decisions? Were you in the military service?

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Describe a memorable family outing or vacation. Where did you go? What did you do? _______

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What was your first home like by yourself or with someone other than your family? What advice or financial help did your parents give you? __________________________________________

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What was courting or dating like for you? What kinds of activities did you enjoy most? ______________________________________________________________________________

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Did you choose a spouse during this time? Was it love at first sight? ______________________________________________________________________________

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What do you recall about your engagement or proposal?

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Describe your wedding day? When and where did it take place? Were you nervous? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Did everything go smoothly? Was your family there?

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Do you have any special wedding pictures or mementoes that you would like to share? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What goals did you have for yourself during this time? Describe how you pursued achieving your goals and dreams?

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Tell about your honeymoon? Where did you go? How did you travel? Did you spend a great deal of money? Describe some special memories that you wish to share?

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What make of car was your first car? About how much did it cost? Do you recall about how much a gallon of gas cost?

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Middle Adult, 35-65 years

Work they say is essential to our well-being.

Did you work for someone or were you self-employed? What type of work did you do? _______________________________________________________________________

How did you get this job? ______________________________________________________________________________

Did you have several jobs before you decided which one was best for you? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Were you satisfied with the one that you worked at the longest?

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Did you earn enough to make "ends meet"? Were you able to save some for emergencies?

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What accomplishments in your work career are you most proud of? Did you ever change jobs or lose a job?

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If you became a homemaker after marriage, did you find the adjustment difficult? Or, was this what you planned to do when you got married? ________________________________________________________________________

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What household chores did you like the most?

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Did your family consider you a good cook? ____________________________________

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What were some of your favorite recipes?

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Did you grow some of your food in a garden?_______________________________________

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Did you run short of money sometimes?_________________________________________ What things did you do to pay the bills and make sure the necessities were met? ________________________________________________________________________

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Older Adulthood, 65-death

It is often said that, “By facing our challenges, we discover our potential!”

What was the most difficult time in your life? ________________________________________________________________________

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Tell about what seemed to be a turning point in your life? Maybe it was something like when you got your home paid off or when you had a little savings in the bank?

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Have you found that the things that you once thought were important are no longer important now? _________________________ Describe some of those things?

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As one grows older, friendship seems to become all the more precious.

Have you been able to keep in touch with your closest friends and family members? _____________________________________________________________________________

Tell about some of the special times that you have shared.

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What are some of your favorite stories, humorous or otherwise, that have been handed down and told in your family or in your circle of friends? ________________________________________

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How have you fared in your health? ______________________________________________________________________________

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What in the way of health history would you want to share with younger family members regarding genetics, disabilities, allergies, surgery, or accidents?

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What advice would you recommend for a healthy and happy life to younger family members?

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What are some home remedies that your family used on you as a child? Please tell about them even though they may seem hilarious today.

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What are some of the technological changes that you have witnessed since your childhood?

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What are some of the adjustments that you have had to make if or when your spouse died? ________________________________________________________________________

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What do you do to avoid loneliness?

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What are the names of you grandchildren? What are the dates and places of their births? Place after each name as you can recall them.

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Greatgrandchildren?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Tell about being a grandparent. Do you see your grandchildren often? What do you like to do when you visit with them? ________________________________________________________

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Do you have some hobbies or activities that you enjoy? ______________________________________________________________________________

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What are your plans for the future? Are you planning to stay in your home as long as you are able? Or, do you wish to move to an assisted living arrangement to enjoy the company of others your age with similar interests? ________________________________________________________________________

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Describe any other special memories or stories that you might like to share?

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As author of your life story, please place your signature and the date below.

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