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. 4th 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.
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!
Posted by: Angela Weinzierl | August 20, 2010 at 06:36 AM
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
Posted by: Melissa | August 20, 2010 at 07:44 AM
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.
Posted by: Shaquanna | August 20, 2010 at 07:55 AM
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.
Posted by: tracy kaufman | August 20, 2010 at 11:41 AM
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?
Posted by: Laura T. | August 24, 2010 at 06:48 AM
We got lucky with the weather, and so many people told us we had to visit Derrynane, so we were thrilled to include it in our renewals.
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