A Change In Plans

Hello everyone! 

I just wanted to give you a quick heads-up that there will be some changes going on.  Since summer is a busy time for me, and I have all my kids home, I wanted a small break from the challenges.  Not a complete break though!  The challenges on the LDS version of TIMC will continue to be the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month, but Team Member, Natalie will be posting them! 

Posting does take some time, so she will be heading that up and I will do challenges as well, but she now gets the more time-consuming part.  (Lucky her!)  I will still be doing the regular TIMC challenges the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, though I'm seriously thinking about delegating my work load there too... 

A new challenge is coming up tomorrow! :)

Overcoming Roadblocks to Writing Your Story

*This was an article posted a couple weeks ago on the regular This Is Me Challenge.  I decided to put it on here too for those who don't read that blog.*

Recording your personal history is something that a lot of people find intimidating.  There are many roadblocks to getting it done, I hear the excuses quite often. “I don’t know what to write.  I don’t have time to do it right now.  I don’t know how to do it, and no one even cares if I do it or not”.  But I’m here to tell you today that every single one of those roadblocks is actually very easy to overcome!  

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First roadblock:  “I don’t know what to write.”  

Finding things to write about is intimidating.  Do you record the main events of life or little things?  How much in detail do I need to go?   I have found that it really takes a little bit of both the big stuff and the small stuff.  I recommend starting big and then going small—write a basic timeline of your life, record the dates of important events, then start filling in with smaller events and every day things.  There are also journaling prompts in books and all over the internet (like the This is Me Challenge!).   

Second roadblock: “I don’t have time to do it right now.”   

This is one excuse I hear a lot from people, but really, it’s a matter of priorities.  Instead of watching TV, take a half an hour to record something from your past or something that happened that day.  (Or you can even do it while watching TV if you are a good multi-tasker.)  If you don’t even have time to watch TV, you can still record just one little thing in 5 minutes if you commit to just doing it.  Make time!  Often we think that we need to do some elaborate writing that will take hours to edit and perfect.  I personally think that even making a small list on a sticky note and putting it in a notebook with others like it is just as great of a way as writing a whole diatribe!  At least it's something.  And don’t forget that you can record your personal history along with your family!  Get the whole family involved.  Set aside time each week to all work on it--hello Family Home Evening idea!  Doing this together will not only bring you closer to one another, but will create the time needed to accomplish your goal!

Third roadblock: “I don’t know how to do it.”   

Like I already mentioned, I like to focus on the fact that how you do it, is not as important as just doing it.  Here is a list of many different ways I’ve thought of to record your history.

-Use the computer and a word processing program.  You can make one file folder (mine is labeled “Personal History”), and save each topic individually in your folder, or you can make one long document with all your history.  You can add pictures when you want to as well using this method.

-Start your own personal history blog (that you can make private or public, depending on who you want to see it), and write your history.  Blogs are great because you can not only write, but you can post a video, add pictures or even scrapbook layouts.

-Make a scrapbook layout (digital or traditional) about a specific topic about you. 

-Write it in a journal—an age-old solution, but still a good one!  Plus, those who someday read it, will get to see your handwriting and mistakes you made—making you more real!

-Take (or find) pictures from your past that make you smile.  Put them together in a photo album.  You can save one of the slots to hand write about the pictures on that page on a 4x6 piece of paper (acid free to keep from destroying the picture on the other side of it), or you can make a 4x6 answer on your computer in a photo editing program, and print it off with your other pictures!

-Make a video.  You can do this by either taking pictures and adding music to it (like a slide show), or by using your video camera and record yourself talking about you.

-Make an audio file of you talking about your history.  You could do it in the car on the way to work, while getting ready for the day, in one of your favorite locations, or while you're sitting in bed. 

-Write a poem about an aspect of your life.  Some people are very talented in this area!

-Make a digital photo collage or album through an online site.  Add to it regularly.

-Focus on one topic and make a list of things about you concerning that topic.

-Create a table in a word processing program.  Choose one topic and fill it in with what you did in the past, what you are doing in the present, and what you hope to do in the future.

-Publish a photo book through an online site, with old pictures and stories about them.   This is great because you can make multiple books in one easy click of a button!

-Draw some things about you.  For example you can draw your favorite foods.  (This would be especially fun for younger children to do!)

-Do it together as a family!  Set aside a specific day every week to get together.  Think of a topic and everyone can record about themselves in one of the ways above.

-Interview your parents, grandparents, or other close family members or friends, and have them tell you stories about them.  This would be so cool for you and your family to have when they pass away!

Fourth roadblock: “No one even cares.” 

This is so untrue!  Everyone has a story.  EVERYONE!  Record what makes you, YOU!  There is only one you, and you are loved by so many people.  You possess unique talents, habits, and quirks that no one else has.  You think and feel differently.  You say and do things that no one else would do.  Share those things that make you unique! 

It would be a tragedy to not leave anything behind for your friends and family to remember the real you by.  Help your family remember who you really are now, and who you were in your younger years by recording your history before it’s too late.  With a little bit of determination, time, and thought you can overcome those roadblocks and record your story before you know it!  Your posterity will be very grateful if you've recorded some things about you--and your testimony! 

Using the Challenges for FHE

(*This is a repost from the original TIMC, but I actually wrote it with the LDS version in mind, I just changed a few words.)

Did you know that you can use the “This Is Me” questions for Family Home Evening?  This is a great activity to do as a family, so you can each write your own and family stories!  It’s always more fun to do something together, right?

Set aside a time each week (um, hello FHE!). Your family can focus on one challenge to complete each time or you can do a quick answer of three or four challenges at a time.

Here are a few fun ways for you to do this: (And you don’t have to do the same thing every time either!)

*Get a notebook for each member of the family.  Write the challenge question on the top of a new page.  Introduce the question, talk about your different answers, then let them write (or draw) away!  You can come back to this one time and time again!

*Type the question on the top of a document, print one page out per person.  Do the same as the above, then put the answers all together in a binder (in protective clear sleeves).  Then you have a fun family history book to always look at!

*Gather some construction or scrapbook paper, markers, crayons, scissors, stickers, etc.  Find a picture of each member of the family.  Choose a challenge question, and use the supplies to answer it!

*Use your video camera and take turns video recording your answers!  How fun will this be to watch in 10 years?

*Create or add your family’s answers to a blog for other family members to read!  (This would be great typing practice for kids who are ready to learn that!)

*Do the challenge to incorporate the whole family.  (For example, if you’re going to do the “Me By The Numbers” challenge, you can make it be with #’s that represent your whole family, so it ends up being “Our Family By the Numbers”!)

A great way to compile this would be to put all your answers from each challenge into a family history binder that you can all cherish for years to come!

I have a few things to help you decide on which challenges to use for your next FHE. 

*First, here is a complete list of all of the challenges from the original TIMC.  And here is the list of LDS TIMC challenges.

*See the tab “Ideas for Completing the Challenges” to get some more ideas, or to help you come up with your own!

*If you look over on the right under the challenge categories, you’ll see one that says, “Great for kiddos”.  Those are the questions that is more pertinent to younger children who haven’t had as many life experiences and therefore can’t do some of the challenges.

Now you have no excuses for not knowing what to do for FHE, right? 

Welcome & Info

Welcome to the This Is Me Challenge--LDS Version!  This is not a replacement to the original blog, just an enhancement with questions geared toward religion, especially for those of the LDS faith.  Those who are not LDS are certainly welcome to browse and record their answers to any questions that apply.

For your information, this is what I will be posting and what you can expect from this blog.

*Just like the original "This Is Me Challenge", there will be challenge questions given that you can use as a starting point to record your personal history (or help others record it).  Unlike the original TIMC, the challenge will only be given once a month (I don't want to overwhelm anyone who is doing the weekly challenges, and I don't have a lot of spare time myself).  It will be published on the 1st day of the month, so look for it then!

*From time to time, I will share some of my ideas, or ideas of others on recording personal history or other things I think you might like to read or do.

*At the top of the page, just under the header, you will see tabs.  I assure you that you will fall into one or more of the categories, and you can look there to find ideas and prompts specific to you!  These prompts are geared toward those of the LDS faith, though they will work for anyone! 

*Some things may be a repeat between this version and the original.  I'm doing that because some people might not be reading both blogs.

*You can record your challenge questions and other prompts in many ways!  I am a scrapbooker, so most of mine will be done that way.  If you'd rather write it in your journal, on the computer, or do a video recording, or even write a poem, that would be wonderful!  My goal is just to help you get your own story recorded in your own way!

*If you have any questions or concerns, you can email me at emils24(at)gmail(dot)com.