Legacy Questions: 867 Prompts to Start Your Memoir

When I worked as a hearing aid specialist, most of my clients were over the age of 65. Because I saw them over a period of years, I was privileged to hear many stories.  

These folks were retired, and sometimes they were lonely. I’ve always been a great listener, and I enjoyed spending time with each person. Despite a busy practice, I’d often book a fifteen-minute service into a thirty-minute slot so we’d have time to chat.

My clients told me stories their own kids hadn’t heard. An Army pilot described weaving through mountaintops when he flew the hump in World War II. A widow explained her start in a 15,000 episode children’s television show in Cincinnati. She was still teaching despite her failing health, and assured me I could be anything I wanted to be in life. Another 83 year old even mentioned seeing UFOs in Denmark.

It became clear that some incredible memories might be lost forever without someone to listen. That prompted me to write down questions as quickly as I could. If you know someone with fantastic tales (or you have some of your own) this book is for you. I want to encourage you to share your experiences, and write your story for your legacy, and your grandchildren too.

There's a story that only you can tell. The questions in this book cover 12 different subjects and periods in life. You can skip entire sections, or go through every one of the 867 questions. Use these questions with your older friends and family members, and offer them the gift of your time. In addition to hearing some amazing stories, you’ll likely hear things you’ve never heard before. This book includes an interview guide, and how to preserve stories.

You could use these questions for yourself. You don't have to share every detail, just what you want to tell. Pick the questions that make you react emotionally; there’s probably a story behind that reaction. You can voice record your answers, or use your computer to type it out.

These questions can also help you create fictional character traits and details for novels or screenplays. Or choose three questions and answer them from the perspective of someone you may be having trouble communicating with right now. You could ask your partner some of these questions, or use these with people who are in senior living or memory care to help them record the story of their life.

You'll find hundreds of questions here to discover hidden treasure inside yourself and others. They are a doorway to the soul, and Christina Young has given you the key! -LaRue Eppler, LaRueEppler.com