Significant Times – Story Prompts That Highlight Important Times on Your Journey
These are the special moments and milestones on life’s road that shaped you. Filled with love, joy, challenges and learning.
Explore these Story Prompts about significant times to relive and preserve important moments from your journey through life.
![A wise old man.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/events-remembered-for.webp)
Remembered For
What events or achievements would you like to be remembered for?
- In Stephen Covey’s funeral exercise you actively think about what you would what others to say about you at your funeral. While rather morbid, it’s a great way to think about what you want to be remembered for, while motivating you to make every day count.
- Life is long and it can be hard to list everything. What would be your top 5 or top 10 things that you would like to be remembered for?
- It’s likely that many people in your family were not present or aware of these moments. By sharing the details in a story, no detail will get forgotten, and future family members will hear about them too.
![A lady smoking.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/thankful-gave-up.webp)
Habits Overcome
What is something from your past you’re thankful you gave up on?
- We’re all far from perfect. What’s important is our ability to recognise our bad habits and find the motivation to do something about them.
- What are you proud to have overcome?
- How is life better since the change?
- Do you ever struggle with maintaining your good habits? If so, how to do restrain yourself?
![An old photo of a child with her dog.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/earliest-memories.webp)
Earliest Memories
What are your earliest memories?
- Our first memories are typically around 3 to 4 years of age (but are as early as 2 in some).
- Can your parents or siblings recall the occasion?
- Are there any old photos or videos that date back to then?
- Psychologists show that these early memories show indications of what is meaningful for us.
![A series of flowers, from closed to fully open.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/key-life-moments.webp)
Pivotal Moments
What key moments in your life made you who you are today?
- Everyone faces life-changing moments where a decision takes you down one path in life and blocks others.
- Your choice of education, moving home, a career decision, relationships and so on.
- What moments are they for you?
- When did they happen?
- How did you decide what to do?
- Do you have any regrets or ever wonder what might have been if you chose differently?
![A lady sat on a beach watching her child play.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/children-changes.webp)
Growing Children
As a parent, what changes do you see as your children grow up?
- They might be the childhood milestones that mark physical and mental development.
- They might be the small details that only a parent would notice.
- Preserve stories about these special times, as they can fade from memory surprisingly quickly.
- Their grandparents will love being updated with news about their precious grandchildren.
- Wouldn’t it be amazing, to have the stories and photos from your childhood available to you, so you could be reminded of the people and things you used to do?!
- By capturing these stories about your children, you are creating a gift for the future – a portal that you and your children can enter into, to relive these precious times.
![A young girl smiling into the camera.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/children-interview.webp)
Child Interviews
As a parent, why not ‘interview’ your child annually on topics they find interesting?
- Create a list of fun and insightful ‘interview’ questions that they will enjoy hearing their answers to in later years.
- Simple questions about their best friends, what their daily life looks like, and their favourite toys and books will be priceless in the future.
- Write down their answers, or better still record your discussion using video or audio.
- Evolve the questions as they age, perhaps getting their involvement.
- As adults, we easily forget how we thought about things and what we did when we were young. Even a simple 10-minute interview each year can capture remarkable insights you’ll treasure forever.
![A person walking away pulling a suitcase.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/moving-away.webp)
Leaving Home
What was it like moving away from your childhood family home?
- How did you feel in anticipation of leaving your family hope and being truly independent for the first time?
- At what moment did you realise the enormity of the move? As you were leaving? Only days later?
- How was it for the first days/weeks/months?
- Do you have any advice for family members who will one day leave home too?
![An old lady looking deep in thought.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/sum-up-the-year.webp)
Year Summary
How would you sum up the last year?
- What did you enjoy?
- What achievements are you pleased about?
- What were the main family events?
- What were the main social events?
- What world news events affected your life?
- What would you do differently if you could?
![A retired couple smiling and having a hug.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/revisit-special-moments.webp)
Moments To Revisit
If you could revisit special moments in your life, which would they be?
- Moments from childhood?
- From your adult years?
- Why are those moments so special?
![A young ballet dancer about to step out onto the stage.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/outside-comfort-zone.webp)
Outside Of Comfort Zone
When have you really pushed yourself outside your comfort zone?
- At work or at school?
- What did you find difficult about it?
- How did it feel after the event?
- Do you have any advice for others about pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone?
![A signpost showing multiple different directions.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/decisions-shaped-life.webp)
Milestone Decisions
What decisions have you taken that shaped your daily life, career or where you live?
- Can you think of the top 5 decisions you made in your life that brought you to where you stand today?
![A lady thinking back about the challenges she has faced.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/challenges-shaped-character.webp)
Character Forming Challenges
What challenges have shaped your character?
- Health related?
- Education related?
- Career related?
- Relationship related?
![An open book being read.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/book-life-chapters.webp)
The Chapters Of Your Life
If your life was a book, what would the chapters be?
- How would you break your life down into, say, 10 chapters?
- Can you give a descriptive title to each chapter?
- What are your key memories or emotions relating to each chapter?
![A father looking at his baby.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/parent-first-time.webp)
Becoming A Parent
What was it like becoming a parent for the first time?
- How did you learn that you will be a parent?
- What was your reaction to the news?
- Were you excited about becoming a parent, or were there concerns too?
- What was it like being pregnant and/or getting ready for the birth of your child?
- How was the day of birth?
- How did you feel when you stepped into the role of a parent?
- How were the coming weeks and months as you learned to become a parent?
![Two boys in a pillow fight.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/childhood-mischief.webp)
Childhood Mischief
What mischief did you get up to as a child?
- Perhaps with a sibling?
- In school?
- With friends?
![A man down on his knee proposing to his partner.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/partner-proposal.webp)
The Proposal
How did you propose to your partner, or how did they propose to you?
- Is there a backstory about the lead-up to the proposal?
- Did the proposal go according to plan?
- How was the moment of the proposal for both parties?
- What happened afterwards?
- When did you tell family and friends?
- If you could do it again, would you change anything?
![An old photo of two children by a fire.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/first-ever-friends.webp)
First Ever Friends
What memories do you have of your first-ever friends?
- Who were your first friends?
- What did you enjoy doing together?
- Are there any stand-out moments that you recall?
![A couple holding hands.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dating-memories.webp)
Dating Memories
What special dating memories do you have with your partner?
- Was it love at first sight?
- How did you meet?
- What was your first date?
- What did you think after that first date?
- How did dating evolve over time?
- What are your most treasured memories from those days?
![A grandmother looking after her granddaughter.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/special-memories-of-those-who-died.webp)
Family No Longer With You
What special memories do you hold of family members who passed away?
- How do they look in your minds-eye when you think of them?
- When was the last time you were with them?
- What are your most precious memories with them?
- What were their passions and interests?
- How would you describe them to family members who will not get a chance to meet them?
![A woman lying down surrounded by printed photos.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/special-moments-treasure.webp)
Treasured Time Together
Are there special moments with someone you will treasure forever?
- What were the best moments with people you care about?
- What were the top 5 moments in the last year?
- If you could go back to a single moment, which would it be?
![A happy man jumping for joy.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/what-feels-like-progress.webp)
Making Progress
What feels like ‘progress’ for you in the last year?
- What projects or tasks have you been passionately working on in the last year?
- They could be work-related, home-related or people-related.
- It might not be a physical task, but more about a change in your habits or outlook.
![Children running in the rain.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/scenes-of-chaos.webp)
Chaotic Scenes
Have you created scenes of chaos, surprise or laughter?
![Group of people wearing masks, like during COVID-19.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/stories-affected-you.webp)
Meaningful News
What family or world stories have affected you the most and why?
- What’s happened in the world that has impacted you?
- In your country?
- In the area where you live?
![Elderly men running a marathon.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hardest-thing.webp)
The Hardest Thing
What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
![](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/return-to-an-age.webp)
Age To Revisit
If you could return to any age in your life which would it be and why?
- Would you want to relive moments?
- Would you want to make changes?
![Mother and daughter smiling.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/when-really-excited.webp)
Really Excited
When have you been really excited?
- Receiving news about other’s lives?
- Was something exciting lined up for the future?
![A pool party.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/memorable-parties.webp)
It's Time To Party!
What are the most memorable parties you have been to?
- As a child partying with school friends?
- From back in your young adult days?
- Where were you?
- Who was there?
- What made it so special?
![Lots of children gathered together at the top of the staircase.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/happiest-childhood-memories.webp)
Happiest Childhood Memories
What are your happiest childhood memories?
- How old were you?
- Who was there?
- Why were they so special?
- Do you have any photos of such occasions?
![Young lady enjoying the snow.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/special-in-your-life.webp)
Special Events
What is something special that happened to you?
- Perhaps it was special because it was the first time you experienced it?
- Did the event have a big impact on your life?
![A family on the beach.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/childhood-holidays.webp)
Childhood Holidays
What memories do you have of your childhood holidays?
- How did it feel leaving home to start your holiday?
- How was the journey to get there?
- Where did you go?
- What did you love doing?
- If you could pick a single favourite place, where would it be?
![An old photo of a couple getting married.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/married.webp)
Getting Married
What was it like to get married?
- How was it planning your wedding?
- Did the day go as planned? Any challenges?
- What are your fondest memories?
- Did it meet or exceed your expectations?
![An old photo of people about to set off on a coach trip.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/good-old-days.webp)
The Good Old Days
What do you miss most about the ‘good old days’?
- Sometimes things seem better in the old days.
- What was it from the past that you think is better than the modern-day alternatives?
- It might relate to societal norms, not just changes in technology.
![A lady being pushed in a wheel chair.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/accident.webp)
Accidents
Have you ever been in an accident and how did it affect you?
![A lady looking very excited.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/impossible-became-possible.webp)
Impossible Becomes Possible
Can you think of a time when something impossible became possible?
- Perhaps it was a dream or ambition of yours that came true.
- Was it just luck, or did some other factor bring it about?
- How important is it for you that this happened?
![A lady looking delighted about something.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/nicest-thing-done-for-you.webp)
Nicest Thing
What’s the nicest thing somebody has ever done for you?
- Sometimes even the simplest of gestures that mean the world.
- Who has treated you well?
- What did they do?
- Have you learned anything about how to treat others?
![A selection of printed photos.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/5-photos.webp)
Treasured Five Photos
If you could only keep 5 photos from your life, which ones would you keep and why?
- Can you collect these photos and share them with your family?
- What’s happening in the photos?
- Who is in the photos?
- Why are these photos so special for you?
![A newspaper clipping.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/call-to-fame.webp)
Call To Fame
What is your greatest call to fame?
- Have you ever been ‘famous’?
- Perhaps appearing on TV, on the radio or in the news?
- What are your memories of it?
- Do you have any clippings or recordings of your moment of fame?
![Two girls, both laughing.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/entertaining-stories-about-you.webp)
What's Told About You
What entertaining stories do others tell about you?
- Sometimes it’s our friends who tell them best!
- Who has the best stories about you?
- What stories would they tell about you?
![A lady's head resting on someone's shoulder.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hard-moments-overcome.webp)
Hard Moments
What hard moments in life have you progressed through?
- Though they are far from nice, it’s the hard times that can really shape who we are.
- What hard times have you faced and when was it?
- How did you cope?
- Do you have any advice for others facing the same challenge?
![Someone taking a photo.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/moments-missing-media.webp)
Moments Missing Visuals
Which special moments from the past do you wish you had photos/videos for?
- It’s easy to think that we’ve surely captured all the important moments in life. But that’s not true.
- Cameras were not used so much in the past.
- And many occasions are enjoyed at the moment, with no photos to recall the occasion.
- Which special moments from yours or your family’s life, do you wish you had photos or videos for?
![A lady looking speechless.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/speechless.webp)
Left Speechless
When have you been speechless and why?
- Who has surprised you and how?
- When did it happen?
- Would you still be so shocked if it happened again?
![Sparks fly from a sparkler.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/serendipity-in-life.webp)
Last Year In Five
What are the 5 standout memories that sum up the last year?
![A man kissing his partner.](https://simirity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/moments-leading-to-children.webp)
The Miracle Of Your Children
What key moments or decisions led to your children’s existence?
- The chances of anyone’s existence is almost zero – it’s a miracle we exist.
- What serendipitous moments from your life do your children have to be thankful for?
- Without these moments, you would never have met their other parent and they would never have been conceived.
- It’s amazing to see how miraculous every life is.
Story Prompt FAQ’s
What are ‘significant times’?
‘Significant times’ are the big moments in your life – joyful moments spent with people who matter, but also the challenging times that make you who you are today. One way or another, these stories all play a significant role in your life.
What are ‘Story prompts’?
Sometimes it can be hard to get start writing a story. Story Prompts help by providing creative ideas as inspiration. Simirity’s Story Prompts have been designed to ignite discussions in your family and inspire you to ask questions about your family’s past.
How can I use Story Prompts with my family?
Stories don’t have to be written, they can be spoken too. They are designed for both you and your family. As you review the prompts, consider how your parents or a sibling might answer. It you don’t want to write a story down that fine – they can serve as great inspiration for interesting family discussions.
All prompts are built into the Simirity App. Within the app, you can send them to family members as Story Requests. This is a great opportunity to ensure important family stories get discussed and preserved for future generations.
If you enjoy posts like this, you might also enjoy our newsletter
It’s dedicated to helping families. Read in 3 minutes or less.