Themes - for your book, audio CD or both
There’s no limit to what topics can be covered in a personal history. Look to the suggestions below for inspiration, or let Retrospectives help you create your own unique theme.
Life History
A comprehensive review of your life, told in your own words. There is no better way to preserve your legacy. Over several hours of interviews, you will captivate listeners with accounts of your most treasured memories
. Topics may include early childhood, family history and traditions, marriage and childrearing, historical events, education, military service, career, hobbies, faith and spirituality, death and loss, advice and life lessons—the possibilities are limitless. A timeless gift for loved ones!
Couple’s Story
Whether you’re newly engaged, recently married or life-long lovebirds, a personal account of your special union is a priceless heirloom. Recount the story of how you met, laugh about your quirks and quibbles, or share your secrets for a successful marriage. Makes a wonderful wedding favor or keepsake for a special anniversary.
Birth Story / Adoption Story
No matter the age of your child(ren), you can leave them a priceless legacy by recounting their momentous arrival into your life and loving anecdotes of their early childhood. Can be presented as a gift certificate—a thoughtful present for expectant or new parents.
Family Traditions
Keep your heritage alive by passing down important family, religious and ethnic traditions for future generations. Makes a great holiday gift for children and grandchildren.
Kitchen Memories
Preserve family recipes and culinary traditions by recounting tales of holiday menus, describing mealtime rituals or walking listeners through the steps of preparing cherished dishes. A personalized cookbook can be created to accompany the CD—great for gift giving.
Travel Memories
When pictures and souvenirs are not enough, an audio recording of your travel memories is a fantastic way to capture the highlights of your globetrotting adventures.
Health Chronicles
The process of documenting the challenges, triumphs and emotions that surround battling a serious illness can offer significant therapeutic benefits and provide others with an intimate and moving view of your experience.
Personal Tribute
A personal tribute is a poignant reminder of how much you appreciate someone. Tributes typically include anecdotes and well wishes from friends, family and colleagues compiled on a single CD. Perfect for presenting to a loved one on a milestone birthday or anniversary or to a colleague upon retirement.
Family Business
What better way to celebrate the fruits of your family's labor than with a collection of interviews about your family business? It's a special way of honoring a company's founders and instilling future generations with the values and personal dedication that contributed to the business's success.
Organizational History
An ideal way to document significant milestones in the history of a business, organization, church or community. The resulting CD can be used to mark an anniversary or as part of a fundraising, marketing or public relations campaign.
Ethical Will
An ethical will is a way to pass on your non-material gifts to those you care about. It is a means for expressing your values, hopes, life lessons, wisdom, forgiveness and love to your family, friends and community. Recipients of ethical wills often describe them as the best gift they’ve ever received. Ethical wills (or "spiritual legacies") are typically done in a letter format and can be documented in audio or print. Retrospectives can also provide one-on-one guidance to those who wish to prepare their own ethical will. No estate plan is complete without one!