Listography by Lisa Nola sets the pens and pencils flying while also creating fun discussions and reflective thinking.
The book is based on the idea of making lists: pets you have had, people you love the most, favorite teachers, and places you would like to visit.
The "list" goes on and on.
If you are reading the book alone, you can easily skip topics that you have no desire to address.
If this becomes a family of friend project, you probably want to scan the book to remove subjects that may be inappropriate for children and even some friends and family.
There are certain lists that many people would not want to complete and then discuss.
Listography is an excellent family or good friends venture, sharing and comparing people and events that are valuable and memorable.
You may even want to create your own listography journal so that you have room to expand on the various topics.
Any notebook will do.
After brainstorming the list, select the most significant and relevant ideas and then write more details on those.
Younger children can turn this into a cut and paste activity.
For example, begin with the key point on the list, "Grandma's house", and then add pictures, descriptive words cut from magazines, or color special designs.
A little glue and creativity can go a long way and build insight as you link important events, places, and people and extend relationships.
  Listography is excellent for discussion.
After compiling a list or two, talk about why certain items were selected.
Favorite movies and songs, especially with two or three generations tied into the activity, can result in some superb memory uncovering.
Asking how and why the event is important adds to the reflection aspect of the conversation which moves you to deeper understanding of others as well as yourself.
Completing several of the lists and discussing them in a book club I attend produced bonds that have linked us closer as friends and opened us to many rich, honest debates.
  A second fun and inexpensive activity from Listography requires note cards of any size and a pen or pencil.
If possible, gather the entire family around the table as you deal the blank cards out, one for every year that the person has lived.
Grandma may get 77 cards while Sally only gets eight making the project differentiated and doable even for the youngest writers.
Begin by listing the year of birth on the top of card one.
Then write each ensuing year up to 2009.
Select a topic such as "Best Vacation" or "Favorite Pet Tale" to generate initial thinking or simply have each person jot down a memory from that year.
Cards do not have to be completed in chronological order and the exact dates may vary.
Sometimes several people at the table may have been involved in the same story.
It is fascinating how each may have a slightly different take on the event which adds to the fun.
Again little ones may need to cut and paste pictures or photographs of the story and someone may need to help write the child's words.
  Memories are so unique and special.
What a wonderful way to share these with the entire group.
By turning it into a fun project, everyone will want to join in and talk about all of the great and marvelous stories that belong to your family or group of friends.
What a treasured way to retrieve and relive details of the past.
The lists and the note cards will keep you busy for hours writing, laughing, maybe even shedding a tear, and a grand product may result.
Your lists and reflections could become the next great family memoir or perhaps best-seller.
Most importantly you will construct a strong bond based on real life, family, and friends.