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100 questions to help you tell your life story

Answering questions is the easiest way to tell your life story. Pick any question that brings back a memory and answer it in a few sentences — or a few pages. You don't need to answer them all, or in order.

Childhood and early years

  1. Where and when were you born?
  2. What were your parents' names, and what were they like?
  3. Did you know your grandparents? What do you remember about them?
  4. Describe the house you grew up in.
  5. What was your bedroom like?
  6. Who were your brothers and sisters, and how did you get along?
  7. What is your earliest memory?
  8. What games did you play as a child?
  9. Who was your best friend growing up?
  10. What school did you go to, and how did you get there?
  11. Who was your favourite teacher, and why?
  12. What subjects did you love or dislike?
  13. What did your family eat for a typical dinner?
  14. How did your family celebrate birthdays and holidays?
  15. Did you have any pets?
  16. What chores did you have to do?
  17. What did you want to be when you grew up?
  18. Were you ever in trouble as a child? What happened?
  19. What big events happened in the world when you were young?
  20. What did your town or neighbourhood look like then?

Work and making a living

  1. What was your very first job?
  2. How much were you paid, and what did you spend it on?
  3. How did you choose your work or trade?
  4. Who taught you the skills you needed?
  5. Describe a typical working day.
  6. Who were the people you worked with?
  7. What was the hardest job you ever had?
  8. What work are you most proud of?
  9. Did you ever change careers? Why?
  10. Did you serve in the armed forces or do national service?
  11. What tools or machines did you use?
  12. How has your line of work changed since you started?
  13. Did you ever run your own business?
  14. What was the best advice a boss or workmate gave you?
  15. Were there times when money was tight? How did you manage?
  16. What did you do on your days off?
  17. When did you retire, and how did it feel?
  18. What have you done since retiring?
  19. What would you tell a young person starting their first job?
  20. If you could have had any job, what would it have been?

Love and friendship

  1. Who was your first sweetheart?
  2. How did you meet your husband, wife or partner?
  3. What was your first date like?
  4. What made you fall in love?
  5. How did the proposal happen?
  6. Describe your wedding day.
  7. Where did you live when you were first together?
  8. What did you do for fun as a couple?
  9. What were the hardest times you faced together?
  10. What is the secret to a long relationship?
  11. Who have been your closest friends through life?
  12. How did you meet them?
  13. Is there a friend you lost touch with and still think about?
  14. What songs remind you of special people?
  15. What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?
  16. Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
  17. Have you lost someone you love? How do you remember them?
  18. What dances or social events did you go to?
  19. What did people wear when they went out?
  20. What does love mean to you now?

Family and home

  1. What were your children's names, and why did you choose them?
  2. What do you remember about the day each child was born?
  3. What were your children like when they were small?
  4. What family traditions did you keep or start?
  5. What were holidays and celebrations like in your home?
  6. Where did your family go on holidays?
  7. Which family recipes should be passed on?
  8. What houses have you lived in, and which was your favourite?
  9. What was the hardest part of raising a family?
  10. What made you laugh as a family?
  11. What are you proudest of about your children?
  12. What is it like being a grandparent?
  13. What stories were told about your ancestors?
  14. Where did your family originally come from?
  15. Did your family move to a new country or town? Why?
  16. What family heirlooms do you have, and what is their story?
  17. How did your family get through difficult times?
  18. What do you want your grandchildren to know about their family?
  19. Who in the family are you most like?
  20. What hopes do you have for your family's future?

Lessons and reflections

  1. What are you most grateful for in your life?
  2. What has been your happiest moment?
  3. What was the hardest decision you ever made?
  4. What would you do differently if you could?
  5. What do you believe in most strongly?
  6. What has faith or spirituality meant to you?
  7. What is the biggest change you have seen in the world?
  8. What invention changed your life the most?
  9. What are you proudest of achieving?
  10. What fears have you overcome?
  11. What has life taught you about money?
  12. What has life taught you about kindness?
  13. What do young people today not understand about the past?
  14. What simple pleasures do you enjoy most?
  15. What book, film or song has meant the most to you?
  16. What places would you love to visit again?
  17. How would you like to be remembered?
  18. What advice would you give your younger self?
  19. What do you hope your grandchildren will be like?
  20. If you could leave one message for future generations, what would it be?

Tips for answering

  • Answer one or two questions a day.
  • Talk your answers out loud if writing feels hard.
  • Look at old photographs to jog your memory.
  • Ask a family member to read the questions to you.

Ready to start?

Memoir Hive gives you gentle questions and keeps everything safe for your family.