Leaving a Legacy
A few years ago I asked my father to complete a series of questions about his life. After several months passed he returned the questions complete with his answers. It is now something that I value greatly and my intention is to share it with my children and pass this information down from generation to generation. I have listed (below) the series of questions I asked my father to answer. I recommend you ask your parents (assuming they are living) to complete these questions. I also recommend that you answer the questions as a part of your legacy.
The personal questions.
1. Your full name.
2. The date you were born and city and state where you were born.
3. Your father's full name and date and place of his birth.
4. Your mother's full name and date and place of her birth.
5. The names of your paternal and maternal grandparents and places and dates of their birth.
6. The names, places and dates of births of your siblings?
7. The name of your spouse and the date and place of your marriage?
8. The names, birthdays and birth places of your children.
The "favorite" questions.
1. What is your favorite sport?
2. What is your favorite book?
3. What is your favorite movie?
4. What is your favorite hobby?
5. What is your favorite dessert?
6. Who is your favorite author?
7. What is your favorite musical group or singer?
8. What is your favorite song?
9. What is your favorite vacation spot?
10. What is your favorite food?
The "life" questions
1. What did you enjoy doing most as a child?
2. Who was your best friend growing up?
3. Did you have a nick name? If so, who gave it to you and why?
4. Describe your childhood home and your favorite room?
5. What was your father's profession and where did he work and did he enjoy it?
6. What word best describes your life and why?
7. Did your mother have a profession or did she manage the household? Did she enjoy her job?
8. What was your favorite outdoor activity and why?
9. Where was your childhood home located and did you enjoy living there?
10. Describe your grandparents. What did you like best about them?
11. What were the five most important lessons you learned in life?
12. Describe the most meaningful valentine you ever received and who sent it to you?
13. How do you define "success"?
14. What was your favorite food as a kid?
15. When you were growing up did you have any pets or animals? If so, what were their names and was it important to you to have a pet?
16. Tell me about your mother's cooking. What was your favorite meal that she made and why?
17. Have you ever been in an accident, had surgery or a long illness? If so, how did this affect your life?
18. Who gave you your first job and what kind of job was it? How much money did you earn?
19. What makes a good friend?
20. What was your favorite hobby as a child?
21. What is your most treasured possession and why?
22. What was you favorite television and/or radio show growing up and why?
23. What would you change about MY childhood and why?
24. Who was your favorite teacher and how did that teacher influence your life?
25. What are some things from childhood that you are most thankful for?
26. What was the nicest thing you ever did for your mother and/or father?
27. Did you admire a famous person? If so, what made them admirable?
28. When did you have your first date and with whom? Tell me about it.
29. Share some of your insights about working well with others.
30. What would you still like to learn to do and why?
31. Did your family have a lot of money while you were growing up? How did that affect you?
32. As a teenager did you rebel or do things your parents wouldn't approve of? What were they and how do you feel about that now?
33. What did your family do on the weekends? What were some of your best memories of those weekends?
34. What is your favorite memory of your father and why was it so special to you?
35. What is your favorite memory of your mother and why was is so special to you?
36. List one special memory about each of your brothers and sisters.
37. Share with me your father's attitude about life and how it affected you?
38. If you were to find an old toy box of your childhood toys, what toys would you remember the most and why?
39. Did you ever go to a dance? If so, tell me about it/them.
40. If you could change one thing about your life what would you have done differently and why?
41. How do you enjoy helping people? Share a time when you have helped someone in need.
42. Where did you live when you were going to college or developing a career? Describe an unforgettable experience from that time in your life.
43. What were your youthful goals and ambitions for life? Which ones have you been able to fulfill?
44. How old were you when you met mom/dad and what attracted you to her/him?
45. Tell me about your wedding day. What happened and how did you feel (scared, nervous, happy)?
46. What does it take to sustain a healthy marriage?
47. Who is/was you favorite person in history and why?
48. What would be the most wonderful gift you could receive and why?
49. As you look back in life, name three of the most fantastic changes that have taken place in the world and how have these affected your life?
50. What advice can you give to me to be the best person I can be?
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