15 gentle questions to ask when time is short

This month’s blog article is especially relevant to Gen X who may be caring for an elderly parent or parents who have been given a terminal diagnosis. I’m sharing 15 Gentle Questions to ask a loved one when time is short. It’s not easy to know what to ask or say when someone has a life limiting illness, so these questions are designed to help you take the first steps to capturing their life story and memories with love.

The challenging chapter for Gen X

If you’re in your 50’s or 60’s, you’re quite likely in the middle of a challenging chapter of life. Many Gen X’s are still raising or supporting children while also caring for aging parents. And sometimes, we’re faced with something even harder – a parent or grandparent receiving a terminal diagnosis.

It’s in these moments that we start to realise just how important our family’s history is, and there is more urgency to save their stories and memories while they are still with us.

When I speak to families, there’s something I hear often: “We thought we had plenty of time.”

Time slips away faster than we expect. Suddenly, stories are left untold. Voices and familiar smiles are missing at family gatherings, and we regret not capturing them when we had the chance. Future generations also lose the chance to connect with their past.

The truth is, once a story is gone… it’s gone forever.

Help them leave a legacy of love & connection

Recording a parent or grandparent’s life story is about more than nostalgia.

It’s also about love and connection, and it allows their legacy to live on. By ensuring your loved one is remembered for their wisdom, love, life lessons and achievements you’re not just left with memories of their illness or the role they played in your life – you will have captured their true spirit and legacy forever.

And of course by capturing these precious stories and memories, you’ll have peace of mind, knowing that you didn’t wait until it was too late.

“What do I ask them?”

Many people say “I don’t know what to ask” or “What if I upset them?” and this is quite understandable. You want to ask the right questions.

That’s why I created a free guide – 15 Gentle Questions to Ask a Loved One.

These questions are designed to open meaningful conversations that bring comfort, closeness and even laughter.

Remember you can easily record the answers on your phone. Their voice and expressions will be priceless in years to come. You won’t regret doing this (but you may regret not doing it).

The 15 gentle questions are included in my free guide below:

❤️ Get it here: YES Please send me the 15 Gentle Questions

Don’t wait for regret

We are the memory keepers of our families and it’s our responsibility to make sure our parents’ and grandparents’ stories don’t disappear when they leave this earth.

You don’t need it to be perfect. You just need to start. Even asking just one question tonight could spark a conversation that your family will cherish forever.

P.S. if you’d like help recording these stories with care, dignity, and professional storytelling, that’s what I do at Moving Memories. Together, we can make sure your family’s history is never lost or forgotten. Contact me for more information on ways that I can help you make this happen.

Learn how to capture your loved one on film

If you’d like learn step by step how to plan, interview, record and edit your loved one’s life story with video, I recommend my ebook (with bonus video masterclass that takes you through the ebook and includes video editing demos). The ebook is filled with tips and tricks, and is aimed at beginner level. If you like to DIY, this is the ebook for you.

Buy the ebook via the link below for $37 NZD:

https://www.movingmemories.nz/downloads/how-to-film-your-life-story-e-book/

Review from a recent ebook purchaser:

“Love the e-book and Masterclass. Beautifully delivered, great pace to understand, incredibly thorough, detailed and well thought out. This ebook and masterclass reignited my passion for collecting life stories and gave me the confidence to do it on my own. It is everything you will need complete your project from start to finish. Great introduction and really allows you to realise the true need to record these videos.

Thank you so much for making the process far simpler by setting out the pathway for others to follow and create a keepsake to cherish for generations to come.

The video is wonderful in giving you all the content in a very easy to digest format. It takes you through the chapters at a comfortable speed with many tips and hints to help you along the way. It’s like she is in the room with you talking you through every step!

Brilliant balance of professional tips alongside the more softer empathetic skills to use when working with people.

Lovely demo for editing the video too, which I have found the hardest part with my project.”

– Hina, UK

Book a free call with me

If you need help with getting started, I do offer a free 30 minute call to help you identify key areas of your life to focus on and tips to help get your life story underway. Here’s a link to book a time:

https://bookwithnicola.as.me

Resources & Links

⚒️The DIY Ebook: How to Film a Life Story:

Buy the DIY step-by-step How to Film a Life Story ebook for just $37 NZD and get started on your life story project today! Includes practical exercises plus BONUS masterclass video.

https://www.movingmemories.nz/downloads/how-to-film-your-life-story-e-book/

Free list of 30 life story interview questions:

https://www.movingmemories.nz/30-life-story-questions/

10 Tips for Video Confidence (Free E-book)

https://www.movingmemories.nz/top-10-tips-for-video-confidence/

YouTube channel – Saving Family Memories:

https://www.youtube.com/@savingfamilymemories