Recently I’ve received the challenge of writing down my own life’s story in 52 weeks. Large talk, eh? As if my life would be worth a biography…
But why not?
My grandparents spent their childhood in the times of Art Nouveau before the first World War messed up so much for so many people. One of my great-grandfathers was loyal to the German monarchy, even during the NS regime. He became one of the first approved police officers in my hometown after WWII.
My parents on the other hand grew up in times of unemployment and the increasingly inhuman political climate in the 1930s and 1940s, experiencing bomb attacks, air raid shelters, hunger and cold as well as flight and displacement. They told me a little bit of this and a little bit of that but because I didn’t experience it myself I probably forgot a good part of their stories again.
Why would writing down one’s biography be important? Not because I love tragedies like wars, famines, economic crises or challenges. But because I’d like learn how my family dealt with all this and survived in dignity. Because I’d like to learn what mistakes to avoid. And I’d probably be even more thankful for all what I have, my life, my health, my family and everything else. THAT is what I’d like to learn from history.
And writing one’s own life story doesn’t necessarily have to be published; I’m not planning to publish all of mine. Most of my story is mainly for me to remember and maybe later for my children and grandchildren to possibly learn yet unknown things about their mother or grandma.
52 weeks – I’m taking up the challenge
… of writing down my own life’s story in 52 chapters and 52 weeks. I’ll share with you my thoughts and maybe more questions that came to my mind when I pondered about the week’s topic as an incentive for you to maybe get started on your own story. Sometimes one memory sparks another, right?
I’ll add a few occasional anecdotes or snippets out of my life as something for you to smile about. I’ll go slow, and it’ll probably be a monthly or bi-monthly rather than a weekly posting but I’ll get there, at my own pace.
- Questions 1-4
- Questions 5-8
- Questions 9-13
- Questions 14-17
- Questions 18-21
- Questions 22-26
- Questions 27-30
- Questions 31-34
- Questions 35-39
- Questions 40-43
- Questions 44-47
- Questions 48-52 & conclusion
Are you ready to join me on my journey? Or are you already on yours and made your own experience with that?
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