My 100 Moments that Changed MY World List

 

Before I sat down to write my  100 moments that changed my world, I spent some time trying to figure out how to figure out what moments were life changing. I quickly decided it was best to just write down the moments and edit them later. This way if I thought of a moment after my list is complete then I could decide if it in my mind has more weight than another story on my list, or perhaps I might even combine a couple of moments that are related to each other. I think the best way to approach this is to simply write and find a groove. I have made some changes to my list, but not many.

You may have an entirely different approach, but I decided that starting at the very beginning of my life and thinking backwards would be the best way for me to identify moments that actually changed the direction of my life. I began thinking well I was born in Washington…my life started here…the first change I was told about was when we moved from Washington to California as a baby. That is how my list started.

 

 

Notice that as a baby and in my early childhood I listed moments that I was merely told about. At the time of moving to California, I have no memory of that moment, but I know my life would be different if we had stayed in Washington…my mother and I were in a car accident in California, if we were not in that state, this accident would not have occurred, at least not in California.

 

 

I also, jot down notes as to who was involved with this life changing moment. This is where I draw in more of the heritage photos, of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Especially when I focus on the people who changed my world, because I want to include photos of people who were important to them and how I know them or wish I had.

 

 

As I think about the life changes from my childhood that I have little to no recollection of, I am most impressed at how clear it is that if life had made a different turn I may have ended up in a different place today. Even more interesting is the fact that I actually can find photos from these time periods of my life – heritage photos that actually tell a story instead of just creating a family tree! Wow! I am TOTALLY inspired.

Below is my list of 100 moments that changed world. Please don’t feel like you need to read my entire list, it is just here to show you that it can be done. Also, I did add several items that I could easily drop if something more major happens in my life, but for now I have 100 places to start with this album!

1.    As a baby moved to California

2.    Farm life

3.    Traveling to grandmas at 4 to have breakfast

4.    Moving to New Mexico –

5.    Visits from Grandma

6.    My first camera

7.    My first umbrella

8.    Moving back to California

9.    Mrs. James

10.   Mrs. Robinson

11.   Making fun of my middle name

12.   Not riding home with strangers

13.   Night mares

14.   Car Accident

15.   Losing my mom

16.   My grandma Irma

17.   Mrs. Batty

18.   Dad re-marries

19.   Moving to Alaska

20.   Stories with Mrs. Seagrave

21.   4^th of July in Alaska

22.   Denying my choice to leave

23.   Jr. High Biology

24.   Tiffany Noble – first best friend

25.   First Opera

26.   Moving 3 times in one year

27.   Swimming lessons

28.   Being left alone at home

29.   Boys

30.   Honor Society

31.   Jr. High Drama

32.   Locker Graffiti

33.   Class Treasurer

34.   Taking a stand for myself at home

35.   Being Grounded

36.   Cinderella

37.   Saving Face and losing friends

38.   Changing schools

39.   New friends

40.   High School Drama

41.   High School Jazz Choir

42.   Kristy – my bff

43.   Drivers Ed

44.   Changing math teachers – Mrs. Maas

45.   Running Away

46.   Officer Friendly

47.   Moving in with Grandma

48.   Happiness

49.   Experiencing Freedom

50.   Choosing to Graduate early

51.   Unexpected surprises

52.   Center Stage USA

53.   Moving in with Kristy

54.   Buying my first car

55.   Going to college

56.   Theatre major

57.   Joelle college bff

58.   Falling in love

59.   Broken heart

60.   Losing my mind

61.   Traveling to Europe

62.   Working with Wesley

63.   Graduating from college

64.   Auditioning for Disney

65.   Working at Disney

66.   Moving to Florida

67.   Surprise engagement

68.   Ending engagement

69.   Grandma’s heart attack

70.   Driving from Florida to WA state

71.   Losing a friend

72.   3 weeks in New York City

73.   Going back to school

74.   Acting

75.   Friends come and go

76.   Living in the castle

77.   Finding my voice

78.   Student Teaching

79.   Spending a year alone

80.   Meeting old friends

81.   First Teaching Job

82.   Finding True Love

83.   Getting Married

84.   Buying a house

85.   Going to grad school

86.   Watching my grandma die

87.   Living away from extended family

88.   Having children

89.   Quitting my day job

90.   Working from home

91.   Creating the Weathered Door

92.   Almost losing everything

93.   Christmas Eve

94.   Being a designer

95.   Teaching online

96.   Homeschooling

97.   Teaching out of state

98.   Flood

99.   Living w/out Kitchen

100.     Making a house a home

So, I included the good, the bad and the ugly in my list. Outside of a few phrases I don’t think anyone but me really knows how each moment changed my life, and until I get it on paper that is just how I want it!

Tomorrow I will spend some time discussing my approach for including the bad and the ugly in my album. Plus, I will share a completed page that is all about the bad and the ugly. Can’t wait to share!

Let me know if I can answer any questions you might have and leave a link where I can check out your 100 moment lists! I love to see others progress and process.

 

Comments

[Angela Weinzierl]

I am so excited you came up with this idea. I have all my childhood photos plus a ton of heritage ones and just wasn't sure what to do with them either! I started on my list yesterday and plan to finish it up today. Can't wait for your post tomorrow!

[Melissa]

Jenn,
Thanks so much for sharing this idea and giving details that can help with the process. This is exactly what I need right now--a way to pull me back through my life and get me out of the funk that I'm in right now. I have this drive/need to make sure my stories get told for my kids (like you), and I think this will be a great way to move through that project. Thanks again.
Melissa

[Shaquanna]

Hi Jen,
Thank you for sharing this great idea, and your process as you go through it. I wrote a list of 50 moments that have changed my life, 100 wasn't seeming like it was happening, and I am okay with that. I can always add to it-I'm in my early 30s so hopefully have many more years and moments to come. I started at the beginning like you, but would go back and add events as they came.

[tracy kaufman]

What a wonderful approach. I will be following along in hopes of doing my own book. I have so many family pictures and like you had no idea where to start.

[Laura T.]

I LOVE this idea and you have inspired me to sit down and write down at least 50 moments that changed my life ... have that on my to-do list for this week. Are these layouts going to be put in it's own album?

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