Do your children, your partner or your friends know what you were like at seven years old?
We carry so many little stories around with us. The den in the woods, the disastrous school play, the summer holiday caravan that leaked. Most of them never get told, simply because nobody thinks to ask.
This week, why not take 15 minutes for a little hygge moment and tell someone a story from your childhood? Pick a memory, settle in somewhere cosy and share it with someone you love.
The embarrassing ones are often the best.
Make it cosy
Good stories need a snug setting:
- A sofa, a bed at bedtime or a seat by the fire
- A blanket big enough to share
- Low lamps or a few candles
- Hot chocolate or a cup of tea for everyone
- An old photo or keepsake if you have one to hand
Your 15 minutes of storytelling
- Choose your memory. A favourite place, a funny mishap or a special day.
- Set the scene. How old were you? Where were you? What could you smell and hear?
- Tell it slowly. Let the little details come back as you go.
- Welcome questions. They often unlock parts you had forgotten.
- Swap stories. Ask them to share one of theirs in return.
Slow it right down
Sharing stories is one of the oldest ways of feeling close to people. It does not need to be dramatic. Ordinary memories are often the ones that land the softest.
As you tell your story, try to notice:
- The details that rush back once you start
- The look on your listener’s face
- Feelings you had not thought about for years
- How connected you feel by the end
Finish gently
Let the story sit for a moment once it is told. There is no need to rush on to the next thing.
You could also:
- Write the story down to keep for the family
- Ring a parent or grandparent and ask for one of theirs
- Make it a bedtime ritual with the children once a week
- Dig out an old photo album to spark more memories
Your 15-minute challenge
Tonight, give yourself 15 minutes.
Pick a memory. Find a listener. Get comfy.
Then begin with “When I was little…” and see where it takes you.
It does not have to be a big story. It does not have to be perfectly remembered.
It just has to be tonight.
Your stories are worth sharing.
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