The Book About You - Give someone their own memories
I've been thinking about this idea for several years. To give someone a book where I've written down a bunch of questions, personal, directed just at them. Not a ready-made "fill-in-the-blank" book but questions that are about our shared memories, but above all their lives,
This is their book. For their eyes. A chance to wander down Memory Lane and write down things they otherwise never would. One day, maybe in 10 years, maybe in 50 years, it might be priceless to someone. But that's not the point now. Now it's just a gift that really comes from the heart.
How does it work?
- Choose a book - Take a simple notebook (or a small booklet)
- Write questions - preferably choose personal ones, directed at the recipient
- Leave space for answers (1-2 pages per question)
- Give it.
The important thing is not that the questions are "perfect". The important thing is that they are from you, to them. And for God's sake don't suffer from the achievement princess syndrome. The important thing about a book is not that you wrote it beautifully. I highly recommend that you go bananas in it, use decorative tape, and put a bunch of stickers on it.
The point of a book is that you should also peel away any achievement princess the recipient might have. Many people have a problem with daring to start writing in books. If you have already gone berserk in it, then it is guaranteed to be easier to dare to start writing.
Example: Questions that Open Doors
Here are some categories of questions to inspire you. Consider them suggestions but adapt them to the recipient.
To your mother:
- How did you and Dad meet? Write a few lines.
- What do you remember most from when I was little?
- When you moved away from home, where did you move to? Write a few lines about the accommodation, if you lived with someone, where? How did it feel?
- Your first job, what was it? Write a few lines about what your duties were, the feeling of working there.
- Who was your very best friend growing up? Are you still in touch?
- What has been the absolute most fun vacation of your life? Write a few lines.
- The absolute best accommodation?
- Your great love?
- What was your feeling when you retired?
To friends (questions from above work just as well here):
- Who was your first boyfriend? Write a few lines,
- Funniest nightspots from years past, which ones do you remember? What was the fun?
- The most derailed party, what happened? You might have to write down several. ;)
- Biggest pole shot among the exes, who qualifies for 1st place?
- After breast cancer treatment, what do you want to take with you from that experience in 10 years?
To your favorite coworker:
- How did you get this job? Tell us a few lines.
- What were your expectations, what did you think it would be like?
- What was the feeling when you realized you had ended up in a mental institution?
- What has been the absolute most fun company party, and why?
- Best boss of all time?
Dig into your memories for shared memories. Focus primarily on the fun stuff, the idea is that those who receive the book will preferably put coffee down their throats and have a good laugh. To weave in heavier things in places, but the book should not be full of sadness. You want to give away the good memories.
The material needed:
- A notebook and here you will find lots of . Figure out whether it should be a booklet with single questions or if you want to create a nice book with many questions.
- If you want to go bananas with decorations? If you don't already have loads of washi tape and stickers, you'll find a goldmine here .
I'm pretty sure that almost everyone would be ridiculously happy with a book like this. It's made with the recipient in mind. Time is put in and it's soul and heart. Good luck now!
