Tag Archives: my life journal

CREATING A LEGACY BIO part 15

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Ancestry is an important element of our personal history but we sometimes forget that we are ancestors to our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Life is a never ending circle of events, people, circumstances, good decisions, bad decisions, big ideas, small steps, dreams and disappointments. Your part in this dance of life is important to those that follow. If you haven’t started already, scroll back to part 1 and begin your own life journal because history is much more than just a series of dates and events, it is about you and your relationship to your world. In keeping with your world, let’s see what happened while you inhabited the planet.world-events-1

During your lifetime to date, what are the five most dramatic events that occurred in the world (9/11, Berlin Wall, WWII, Vietnam, Woodstock, Aids, Internet, casual Fridays, landing on the moon, assassinations, civil wars, climate change)?

Describe how you were influenced by these events. Did they change your thoughts, feelings, actions or life in any way?

Are there any other historical events that have had an influence on you and the people around you?

Who is the current leader of your country?

What are the important domestic issues facing your country right now?

What international political events are unfolding as you write this journal?

In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing humanity as you create this life journal?

Is technology an important part of your daily life? Describe how technology influences your daily activities (remember, this will all sound so quaint and archaic in a few decades).

What is your biggest pet peeve as you observe the world and people around you?

If you ruled the planet, what is the first change you would make?

Name five of the biggest entertainment names in the news right now.

What is your favorite sport and who are the major names in it?

Describe the largest public (sporting, political, entertainment, etc) event that you have ever attended.

Did you ever participate in some sort of leadership position in a significant public event, what was it and what was your role?

What are the most common sources of information today?

Where did you find information when you were a child and where do you expect future generations to find their information?

What is the population of the planet at this time and what was it when you were born?

What is the biggest influence on your happiness?

We are nearing the end of your personal history templates and so I encourage you to get started or at the very least, return to the first one and print each segment.  I will be creating a public program in the new year for which I will charge, so the free edition will cease in the near future. I would appreciate any feedback on your experience in creating a personal memoir or Legacy Biography. Is there something I should delete or add to make it better? I really do value the comments that you have made so far and I hope that this series is giving you a project that brings meaning and purpose to your life.

CREATING A LEGACY BIO part 14

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Creating a personal history brings meaning and purpose to your own life and clarity to the lives of those that follow you. Specifically, your children and grandchildren will, one day, begin a search for their own history and your efforts will aid them greatly in this search. You are creating a legacy that will surpass the news events and chronological information available from standard sources to offer a personal perspective and the results of those events as they apply to you and your family.

Most of us would like to leave a personal history full of golden deeds and major successes but reality might be different. If someone is reading your biography many years from now and you have created a “white washed” edition only, they will be rather suspicious of the veracity of your story. If you have the courage, let’s offer someconfession-2

TRUE CONFESSIONS

What was the first misdeed you committed that you can remember?

Were there any misdeeds that you considered committing but didn’t?

Are you prepared to admit something that you actually got away with – what was it and what were the circumstances?

When did you get caught doing something you knew was wrong?

Are you good at telling lies or do you broadcast your indiscretion for all to see?

Let’s imagine that there is absolutely no chance of being discovered, what would you be tempted to do?

During your school days, did you ever cheat on an exam or help someone else cheat?

OK, more courage required for this one – did you ever cheat on a lover?

Assuming that you have done something wrong at some time in your life – what sort of guilt do you deal with?

“Regrets, I’ve had a few.” How about you, what do you regret?

Perhaps more importantly, what do you regret NOT doing?

Treasures come in all sorts of formats from articles of clothing to articles you published, from expensive toys to old keepsakes, and from money and jewels to memories and friends. Let’s take a look at a few and their value to you.

If a fire broke out in your house in the middle of the night, what 5 things (not counting people) would you grab before escaping? Could you find them fast or should you do a little pre-planning?

What items do you keep that you should probably throw out?

What is the best gift you have ever received and where is it now?

What would you really like to own more than anything else and probably won’t?

Money makes the world go around – or does it?

What is your total income this year?

How much did you make at your first job?

At the time of writing this – how much money do you need to retire?

Would you be considered a saver and if so, how much do you save every week or month and what do you do with it?

How much have you saved to date?

Do you have any vices that take your time and money – what are they and how does it impact the rest of your financial life?

Do you feel happy to pay your bills or do you resent parting with your money?

Have you ever written “thank you” on a bill payment?

How much do you tip at a restaurant?

Do you consider yourself a generous person or “careful” with your money?

What do you think of people who tip extravagantly?

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being all the time) how much of your time is spent being concerned about having enough money?

If money was no object, what is the one thing you would want to do most with the rest of your life?

We are close to completing the formal part of our personal history, just a few more templates to go. You cannot put a price on the value this will have to people in the future so please consider sharing this series with others who can add to the wonderful history of life in our time. Just email it to a friend or loved one or share this blog on social media and do others a favor too.

CREATING A LEGACY BIO part 13

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Creating a personal memoir or “Legacy Biography” must include any military experience that you have participated in but it could also include the military experience of someone close to you instead. Please adapt, change, eliminate or add to the suggestions in this template to offer a picture that reflects your views, your tears, laughter, pride and anything else that reveals how military service has affected you.

military-6Did you serve in the military?

If not, did you have a spouse, sibling, parent, child, grandparent, relative or friend who served? If so, then offer the information that you know about them using the questions below as a guidline.

What branch of the military did you serve in?

For what country?

Did you volunteer or were you conscripted?

Did you participate in any basic training – where?

Was basic training difficult?

What did you learn about yourself during this introduction to the military?

Did you have to leave your country to continue your service? Where did you go, how long were you there and did you go to more than one place?

What can you share about your experience – did you see “action?”

Were you in a peace keeping or peace making role?

Did you have a best friend while in service?

Where are they now?

What rank did you have when you entered and did you move up the ranks?

What was your rank when you left or retired?

What was the most powerful or meaningful experience of your tenure?

Are you comfortable talking about your military experience?

What makes you the most uncomfortable?

Do you still carry secrets that you do not want to divulge or secrets that you cannot divulge?

What was the the biggest lesson that you learned and what would you share with others?

Would you do it again if you had a choice?

Does your service cause you to have sleepless nights?

Would you be willing to explain further?

There may be much more that you can add to this section of your personal biography. There may be pictures, letters, newspaper articles and more. If you are comfortable in doing so, then perhaps you could do that. If not, then you should feel no obligation to do it.

Can you share the fallout from your military service? How has it influenced the rest of your life, your relationships, health, work, family and other areas of everyday existence?

Do you belong to any post service organizations?

Do you participate in “Remembrance Day” or “Veteran’s Day” events, or do you find a different way to remember?

Please add any information that you feel comfortable sharing.

Creating a personal memoir or history requires thinking about events, people and circumstances that include both joy and sorrow. It may be cathartic but it will be of incredible value to those who read it in the future. Please consider sharing this series of templates with other people by sharing through social media buttons on this page or an email with a personal message and encouragement.