I have been looking back over my own life. It is/has been an interesting challenge. All the memories, both good and bad. I am writing this on 23 March 2025. My mother would have been 89. I find it interesting how my mind and possibly your mind switches on and reacts to certain dates. I remember the first birthday gift I gave my mother when I first started working. It was a jewellery box. Lifting the lid it played a tune.
Write Your Story.
I may have written previously that I am writing my story. I know I keep on about everyone writing their story. Are you writing your story? Check out my blog titled, “When You Are Gone” which I wrote recently. Here is the link: https://ancestorfamily.com/2025/03/07/when-youre-gone/
Writing one’s own story can be stimulating. If you are having difficulties starting then start with today, this year, or even last year and then go backwards. If you have the mindset of either nothing happened or my life isn’t worth writing about so why bother. You truly need to take a look at yourself. Every person has something happening. Put it this way, people who you may never know will find your life interesting. Think of family members for a start – children, grandchildren…
Triggers.
Your mind is full of ideas. Look for triggers, like smells, music, words people say that you hear, reading books, and the traits you have. Remember you went to school. There are loads of things you can write about. You may even remember things where you say “Those Were the Days” and laugh. You may even feel sadness. It is all relevant to things about you.
Old photographs are interesting especially if you star in them. These are your memories. What you think, say, or write are your memories and no one else’s. Memories will be triggered. As I keep saying, write your story.
Writing my story, I have several items that trigger my experiences. In the decade I was born, I don’t remember much but I do have old birthday cards. There are newspapers showing what was occurring locally and internationally. All these events do affect your life, some indirectly.
Social Media.
Remember, your mind will play games with you. The biggest is: “YOU can’t do this”. Your reply: YES, I CAN. Another is: “YOU don’t have the time.” Reply: YES, YOU DO. Ask yourself how much of your time is wasted on social media. Yes, I wrote wasted. It is time you will never ever get back. Looking at what someone’s meal looks like. Oh, what a silly cat or dog. Gee, that makes me laugh. Quick, go share it with all and sundry. See, this is all time wasted.
You could have written or even typed a good story about you to share. The next time you say, “I’m bored”, write something, anything about your life.
School Years.
School years can be fun but also stressful. It is your choice. If you were bullied or you were the bully, you can look at leaving this out or even say: “There are things that occurred during my school years I would prefer to forget… See, it’s easy. I give you permission to use this sentence.
Referring to school years for me, I had primary and secondary schooling. Some of you may have had college or even university or some other types of studies. Our learning continues after formal education.
You may have completed some weekly night-school courses. It could have been about: how to write a short story, photography, sewing, knitting, cooking… These events all add to your story. Ask yourself,” Why did I do …?” A story will unfold.
Life.
Moving on through your life, you may have worked, you went on holidays – locally or overseas, got married, had children… During all these times you will be thinking: “Those Were the Days”.
I am fairly certain that by now you’ll get the idea that we all have stories. Write things down. Create a list then fill in the gaps. May I suggest you have a page for “each thing” that occurred in your life.
Then write, one word today, a sentence tomorrow – all build into a story. These events do not need to be in order. You can sort all that out later.
Music.
Music is another prompt to be used. Your birthday, births, weddings, and even funerals, all have a story that can unfold. When I think about a funeral especially those who were close to me, not necessarily relatives, my mind adds context to these events. Things like: Where I was? What did I feel? What else was happening at that time? Just one event can create a full-on story. I could provide samples but these are for my story.
Those were the days, my friends… Write your story.
Explore & Discover.
Ancestor Family 
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