[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2px||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fasthand|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#0a0a0a” text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.3px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
I\u2019m often asked about interview questions for your parents beyond the usual \u2018where did they grow up\u2019 and \u2018where did they go to school\u2019 variety.<\/p>\n
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People can have a lot of trouble coming up with good questions \u2013 but they\u2019re really not as hard as they first seem.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve been wanting to sit down and write your parent\u2019s story or biography you\u2019ll first need to find out more about them, so it\u2019s best to get that started sooner rather than later. But, what are the questions to ask to really get to the good stuff beneath the surface?\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of the worst feelings you can have is realising it\u2019s too late to sit down with a loved one for a chat.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve had grandparents pass on without me showing much interest in them, which I regret. It was only having my own children that helped me to appreciate my parents and grandparents and be curious about how they came to be who they were!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to connect with our loved ones, to really get to know them while they\u2019re still with us. But, there\u2019s definitely more to it than asking surface questions. You need to formulate meaningful interview questions to ask your parents to get the best results.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lifelessence.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/treasure.jpg” title_text=”treasure” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||44px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”40px” custom_margin=”||16px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
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To dig deeper, one of the most interesting things you can ask is:<\/p>\n
\u2018What does your life stand for?\u2019<\/p>\n
This is a question that really gets people thinking! You want to try to get down to the essence of person, which is what we do at Life Lessence.<\/p>\n
Most people get to a certain age and begin to reflect on their lives. As they enter their \u2018golden years\u2019 they have a treasure trove of wisdom to look back on, draw from and share with others for our benefit. Deeper interview questions for your parents will get you to the treasure you seek!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a terrible thing to lose a loved one and realise we don\u2019t remember much about their story and who they really were.<\/p>\n
I remember how my granny left a tape talking about different things for just 60 minutes and that\u2019s all I have recorded from her. It made me really sad and I thought \u2018Oh, if only I or someone had just spent longer listening to her.\u2019 There was a whole lifetime in there that I could have learnt from and appreciated.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lifelessence.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/men-talking.jpg” title_text=”men-talking” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”40px” custom_margin=”49px||16px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
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In this culture we\u2019re not usually living with our elders, it\u2019s not the \u2018done\u2019 thing \u2013 they\u2019re pretty separated. Also, with most things being digital now, they\u2019re just not included with the rest of us. They don\u2019t use Instagram and Twitter and they\u2019ll often have difficulty with a phone or a Zoom call.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re not sitting down with a cup of tea and chatting, you won\u2019t get that connection with them.\u00a0So, it\u2019s also important that you consider when and HOW you\u2019re going to ask your questions. Make sure you have plenty of time and can give your subject your complete attention.<\/p>\n
I suspect that hanging out with older people who are slower and wiser than us is really good for our mental health. There are also amazing benefits for older people when we take the time to connect with them. Their health and mental wellbeing is scientifically proven to be better when they\u2019re with younger people. The act of being seen and heard, respected and acknowledged can be wonderfully rejuvenating.<\/p>\n
Something I\u2019ve noticed is the more time I spend with\u00a0Life Lessence\u00a0clients as I write their Legacy Books is that they grow more reflective and interesting. They seem more energised. I feel this happens because they\u2019re sharing stories of their past lives, of times with their spouse, their pets, or on their travels.<\/p>\n
In these stories, they impart their regrets, their beliefs about life, death and the meaning of living a life well – and every client\u2019s stories are completely different!<\/p>\n
I highly recommend sitting down with your elders, talking and recording them if you want to get the process going.<\/p>\n
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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#0a0a0a” custom_margin=”||49px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also OK to ask some uncomfortable questions because the taboos we avoid, like regret or our death, hold much of the most essential meaning of our lives.<\/p>\n
Interview questions for your parents can include \u2018What do you believe about God?\u2019 And, \u2018What does success mean to you?\u2019<\/p>\n
Or, you could try asking:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you value most?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhat has love meant to you and how have you loved?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhat does it mean to live well?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhat changes in the world during your lifetime have affected you the most?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhat advice would you like to pass on?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n These questions can all have an extraordinary effect! A lot of people have never stopped to consider these things before, or if they have, they\u2019ve never thought to share these thoughts with someone else.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lifelessence.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/life-lessence-legacy-book-shadow-600px.png” title_text=”life-lessence-legacy-book-shadow-600px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||48px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”40px” custom_margin=”||16px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#0a0a0a” custom_margin=”||49px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n I just finished working on a\u00a0legacy book\u00a0this morning for a fellow who has been caring for his wife who has dementia \u2013 unfortunately, it\u2019s too late for us to interview her.<\/p>\n This fellow\u2019s grandkids don\u2019t spend much time with him and for all these reasons it’s really nourishing for him to have someone show interest and listen to him.\u00a0He was already writing stories but was unsure how to share them.<\/p>\n When I handed him his finished Legacy Book, he said:<\/p>\n \u201cIt was quite a profound experience – it made me know myself better. Your style of questioning brought out things about myself that I didn\u2019t really know.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, his book is a gift to give to his grandkids who are not interested in him yet, but surely will be one day.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lifelessence.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/treasure-book-bw.jpg” title_text=”treasure-book-bw” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||62px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”40px” custom_margin=”||16px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fasthand|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#0a0a0a” text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.3px” custom_margin=”||9px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n When you think about it, we only have a small window of time to gather information about our parents or loved ones. Life is busy and so are we!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#0a0a0a” custom_margin=”||49px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Usually, it gets to the point where a parent is approaching senility or immobility or death before we even start to think about all those unanswered questions we might have.\u00a0But one of the most frequent regrets at the end of life is that we didn\u2019t spend enough time with those we love.<\/p>\n We might start to think \u2013 \u2018If I don\u2019t do this now, I might never do it!\u2019 Then, this sense of urgency can take over, making it hard to stay objective. Once emotions like fear creep in; fear of loss, fear of helplessness, fear of grief, we can easily become overwhelmed.<\/p>\n The people I see for\u00a0Life Lessence Legacy Books range from middle age to the very elderly. In my opinion, there\u2019s not really an adult age that\u2019s too young to start.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not necessary to wait until you or your loved one is nearing the very end \u2013 you can have their story written and then review and update it later if need be.<\/p>\n At least you will have made a start \u2013\u00a0and sometimes that\u2019s the hardest part \u2013 the rest will just fall into place!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#1B0059″ custom_padding=”41px|||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” global_module=”342627″ saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Prata|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”29px” text_line_height=”1.9em” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n We have years of experience interviewing and writing.\u00a0 If you’d like to enquire about us writing your Legacy book for you or you’d like to learn how to write your own, please select from the options below.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_class=”pa-inline-buttons” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_button 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Legacy Book<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Why write your parent’s story now?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n