Journal in a Jar
Journal in a Jar requires the traditional jar plus a gift pack. The idea is to give everything your recipient needs to write the story of his or her life, including appropriate and specific questions. You can include as many questions or prompts as you like, even 365 to make it easy for your recipient to simply pull out one at random each day and write about it. Include with this gift jar a nice blank book or writing paper, an appropriate binder and a nice pen. Include everything required to get started. At first I found this to be a terrific gift idea for a parent or grandparent. But then it dawned on me this could be adapted for any age, even a child just learning to read, write and draw. Of course every Jar Gift needs
a recipe or instruction card tied to it.
Here’s an idea:
Recipe for Your Life History.
Combine a generous slice of your life history, a dash of nostalgia, several cups of facts and feelings using these deliciously interesting questions. Draw one slip of paper. Take a few minutes to enjoy the memories. Paste or write the question at the top of a blank page. Fill in your answer. Don’t worry about your handwriting or spelling—just tell your story. The purpose of this gift is to help you preserve a written account of your life. Enjoy the homemade memories that celebrate something very important ... you!
This is an idea that can be adapted in so many ways. The more you can personalize it, the better. Adapt your questions and prompts to the specific recipient so the result will be more detailed and the answers more complete and specific. Make it fun by including questions you know will make the person laugh because the answers are so hilarious. To help you get going you will find a few idea starters below. If you need more, you can find hundreds for all age groups—as young as 5 and as old as 105— on the following website. Just log on to www.debtproofliving.com and click on Mary’s Web Desk. You can copy and paste them to your word processing program or write them longhand. Add your own unique questions. Print, cut apart and drop them into the jar. Journal in a Jar is not a gift you can make on Christmas Eve. You need to get started now. While you’re at it, make one for yourself. It will become a legacy for your children.
Question Ideas for Adults:
Why was your name chosen for you?
What was happening in the world when you were born?
What is your earliest memory of home?
What was your favorite hiding place as a child?
What is your favorite hiding place as an adult?
What was your favorite store and why did you like to go there?
What were your chores as a child?
What did your mother do during the day?
What did you do on summer days?
What did you enjoy in the winter?
What was your favorite fairy tale or bedtime story?
What was your favorite doll or toy?
What was your favorite treat?
What pets have you had?
What pet did you always want?
Do you remember what an ice cream cone cost when you were a child?
What does one cost today?
What kind of car did your family have?
Describe how people dressed when you were a child.
Describe your favorite outfit as a child and as a youth.
How were children expected to behave?
How did you learn about God?
Who set a good example for you?
What was your favorite scripture as a child?
What is your favorite scripture now?
What was your favorite television show as a child or youth?
Describe getting a Christmas tree with your family as a child.
For older children:
Tell about your favorite pet – what kind of animal? When did you get him/her? Why do you like him/her?
What’s your favorite thing to do in the summertime? Why?
Tell about a trip your family took that you particularly enjoyed. Where did you go?
What did you see?
What’s your favorite movie?
Why do you like it? What’s it about?
Tell something you enjoyed doing with your grandma or grandpa.
What is the best Christmas best one you gave?
What is your favorite thing to play at the park?
If you could have your favorite dinner for your birthday, what would it be?
Tell all about your favorite friend and why they are special to you.
What is your best and worst subject in school? What do and don’t you like about them?
If you could have any animal as a pet, what kind would you choose and why?
Write something nice about your family that they do that makes you happy.
Tell your favorite joke or write about something that makes you laugh!
What is your favorite board game or computer game and why do you like it?
If you could watch a video over and over, what would it be and why? What’s it about?
Tell about the house you live in. Have you lived anywhere else? If so, do you remember the addresses, phone numbers?
Tell about a special birthday party you’ve had? Given? Or been to?
How do you like being the older, middle, or youngest child?
Does it have any particular advantages or disadvantages?
For young children:
Draw a picture of your favorite pet or animal.
Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do in the summertime.
Draw a picture of your favorite place to go.
Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do with Grandma or Grandpa.
Draw a picture of what you want for Christmas or what you are giving your mom.
Draw a picture of what you play with at the park.
Draw a funny picture about something that makes you laugh!
Draw a picture of the house you live in.
Draw a picture of your favorite birthday present.
Draw a picture of your favorite toy.
Draw a picture of your family.
Draw a picture of anything that you are afraid of.
Draw a picture of what you would buy if you had all the money in the world.
Draw a picture of your favorite outfit to wear.
Draw a picture of your room and what makes it special.
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