When John Kelley (age 73) finished his 50th running of the 26-mile Boston Marathon he was interviewed by reporters. "What keeps you going like this?" he was asked. Kelley mopped is brow and replied: "I believe in the 3 Ds." "What are the 3 Ds?" "Desire, dedication, and determination," he replied.
How are you doing with continuing to write your history? Often when we first begin the task, it is easy – we are excited to start and have great plans! But as time goes on, it gets harder to continue our task, life tends to get in the way, and our project gets shuffled to the side. If you have not completed (or maybe not even started) last month’s task of writing about your Birth and Early Childhood, don’t be discouraged! Find a topic that interests you and begin there. Rededicate yourself to what you want to accomplish. Determine a specific time to work on your history. Incorporate the 3 Ds in your goal to write your history!
It might help to break the main topic down into separate "bites" or episodes. You can’t include everything that has happened in your life. In writing the story of your life, you are painting scenes, one story at a time. It is important that you write your history one episode at a time, one bite at a time.
It is not necessarily the only way to go about the task at hand, but I believe that doing it piece by piece has much to recommend. By focusing on one subject at a time you can bring forth more about you on that subject. Thus you avoid rambling across many other subjects that may deserve richer treatment that just a few paragraphs in passing. If you find yourself rambling, try this exercise. Place a title of your topic or episode at the top of your paper and avoid wandering away from that topic.
By writing your history in separate "bites" or episodes, they should each stand on its own. Therefore you can place them in any order that feels good to you, without the need for transition from one to another. When describing a particular stage of life, there are many "episodes" and experiences that you can write about. Don’t feel like you have to write everything in strict chronological order. It is better to tell the story about an incident, and then place it in the order you want among your many other episodes.
Another good reason for breaking your personal history down into parts is that you make it easier for a member of your family to read it.
Remember the 3 D's - Desire, Dedication & Determination! You can do it!
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Adolescence - Teen Years
When you respond to the questions in “Adolescence,” remember that this section of your story is where young people will turn, looking for fellowship in their suddenly unfamiliar world. So often they do not know what, or know how, to talk to their parents about what they are feeling, but they do want a safe place to hear someone’s truthful coming-to-terms with living through this time – someone who has “been there, done that.”
Describe what you were like as a teenager. What impression does your family have of you as a teenager? Were you particularly conscious of your appearance at this time – your clothes, hair, etc.? What did you do about it? What did you like or dislike about yourself? What did you value as a teenager?
As you look back, would you say your teen years were your most difficult ones? Or the most fun? Did you have trouble “finding yourself”?
What are some of the things that happened in your teens that you remember to this day? Embarrassing, funny, sad, or otherwise?
What was your family life like at this time? What work was your father in? Did you resent authority? How did you get along with your parents, brothers, and sisters? Were you close to your relatives? What were some of the rules your parents set up for you in your home? How did your relationship with your mother and father change during your adolescence? Recall as specifically as you can some time spent with your mother or father when you were a teenager.
Imagine your teenage self standing in front of your school. Walk through the door – what do you hear, what and whom do you see? What is the general feeling you have? As you look at the rooms where you sat, what specific memories come back? What stories can you tell about how you were encouraged or discouraged by your teachers? How did you like school during these years? What were your favorite subjects? What school activities did you take part in? Did you receive any special honors? What teachers do you especially remember? Who were your special friends? Describe what clubs or extra-curricular activities you were involved in at school.
How did you typically spend Saturday nights or Sundays as a teenager? Tell about a crush you had. Describe a first date with someone or special time spent with someone you liked. Did you date much? Where did you go, what did you do? How much money did you spend on a typical date? What was your parents’ attitude regarding dating?
What part-time jobs did you have? What was your first job? Which was the one you liked the best? Tell about it – the pay, the hours, your feelings. Did any of these jobs lead to something bigger for you?
Who were your idols during these years? In sports, in the movies, in school, in your neighborhood, etc.
What were your favorite sports, hobbies as a youth? What did you excel in?
What ambitions and dreams did you have about the future? Did you yearn for something to be different in the life you were leading? Describe what you were feeling.
In whom did you confide? Who were some of the people you admired at this time?
Did you like dancing? What kind? Who taught you? What was your favorite kind of music? Did you sing or learn to play an instrument?
When and how did you learn to drive? What rules were given to you about cars? Describe your experience of learning to drive a car. Who taught you to drive? Whose car was it? What kind? Where did you go?
What year did you leave school? If you graduated, tell what you remember about the ceremony and any special activities associated with it. How do you remember feeling about this ending and beginning? If you left school before graduation, what were the circumstances? How do you remember feeling about this ending and beginning?
During this period can you pick out one or two people who had the greatest influence on your life? Tell about them. How did they help you? Name something you learned that helped you in the years to follow.
What was the most difficult part of these years and what or who helped you move through it?
Recall something you felt was a triumph during your teenage years.
Tell your reader about the world around you by describing the kinds of clothes young people liked to wear, the movies/games/sports/music/etc. popular with your peers, your transportation, your favorite food and drink. What were some of the fads at the time? Describe some of the “slang” or “jargon” you used as a teen. Tell about the historical, political, and cultural events taking place during your teen years, telling how you were affected by them.
"The past sharpens perspective, warns of pitfalls, and helps to point the way." –Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Describe what you were like as a teenager. What impression does your family have of you as a teenager? Were you particularly conscious of your appearance at this time – your clothes, hair, etc.? What did you do about it? What did you like or dislike about yourself? What did you value as a teenager?
As you look back, would you say your teen years were your most difficult ones? Or the most fun? Did you have trouble “finding yourself”?
What are some of the things that happened in your teens that you remember to this day? Embarrassing, funny, sad, or otherwise?
What was your family life like at this time? What work was your father in? Did you resent authority? How did you get along with your parents, brothers, and sisters? Were you close to your relatives? What were some of the rules your parents set up for you in your home? How did your relationship with your mother and father change during your adolescence? Recall as specifically as you can some time spent with your mother or father when you were a teenager.
Imagine your teenage self standing in front of your school. Walk through the door – what do you hear, what and whom do you see? What is the general feeling you have? As you look at the rooms where you sat, what specific memories come back? What stories can you tell about how you were encouraged or discouraged by your teachers? How did you like school during these years? What were your favorite subjects? What school activities did you take part in? Did you receive any special honors? What teachers do you especially remember? Who were your special friends? Describe what clubs or extra-curricular activities you were involved in at school.
How did you typically spend Saturday nights or Sundays as a teenager? Tell about a crush you had. Describe a first date with someone or special time spent with someone you liked. Did you date much? Where did you go, what did you do? How much money did you spend on a typical date? What was your parents’ attitude regarding dating?
What part-time jobs did you have? What was your first job? Which was the one you liked the best? Tell about it – the pay, the hours, your feelings. Did any of these jobs lead to something bigger for you?
Who were your idols during these years? In sports, in the movies, in school, in your neighborhood, etc.
What were your favorite sports, hobbies as a youth? What did you excel in?
What ambitions and dreams did you have about the future? Did you yearn for something to be different in the life you were leading? Describe what you were feeling.
In whom did you confide? Who were some of the people you admired at this time?
Did you like dancing? What kind? Who taught you? What was your favorite kind of music? Did you sing or learn to play an instrument?
When and how did you learn to drive? What rules were given to you about cars? Describe your experience of learning to drive a car. Who taught you to drive? Whose car was it? What kind? Where did you go?
What year did you leave school? If you graduated, tell what you remember about the ceremony and any special activities associated with it. How do you remember feeling about this ending and beginning? If you left school before graduation, what were the circumstances? How do you remember feeling about this ending and beginning?
During this period can you pick out one or two people who had the greatest influence on your life? Tell about them. How did they help you? Name something you learned that helped you in the years to follow.
What was the most difficult part of these years and what or who helped you move through it?
Recall something you felt was a triumph during your teenage years.
Tell your reader about the world around you by describing the kinds of clothes young people liked to wear, the movies/games/sports/music/etc. popular with your peers, your transportation, your favorite food and drink. What were some of the fads at the time? Describe some of the “slang” or “jargon” you used as a teen. Tell about the historical, political, and cultural events taking place during your teen years, telling how you were affected by them.
"The past sharpens perspective, warns of pitfalls, and helps to point the way." –Dwight D. Eisenhower.
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