The Memory Excavation Guide
Structured prompts to unearth forgotten moments that matter
You know they matter to you. But when it's time to write about them, your mind goes blank. Where do you even start? This guide will help you dig up the moments that matter.
The Problem With "Tell Me About Them"
Big, open questions freeze us. "What do you love about your mum?" is paralysing. But "What does your mum always say when she answers the phone?" — that's a door into something real.
Chirpy's Pro Tip
Small questions unlock big memories. Start tiny.
Excavation Prompts
Work through these questions. Don't overthink — write the first thing that comes to mind:
- What's something they always say or do that makes you smile?
- When did you last laugh together? What happened?
- What's a time they showed up for you unexpectedly?
- What would you miss most if they weren't in your life?
- What's something only the two of you understand?
- What do they do that annoys you but you secretly love?
- What's a moment you'd relive if you could?
Go Beyond the Highlights
The best song moments often aren't the "big" ones — the wedding, the graduation, the promotion. They're the quiet Tuesday when they made you tea without asking. The voicemail you've never deleted. The inside joke nobody else gets.
Chirpy's Pro Tip
The ordinary moments are often the most extraordinary when you put them in a song.
The Phone Trick
Scroll through your photos and texts with this person. Old messages are gold mines. That random photo from two years ago? There's a story there. Let your camera roll do the excavating for you.
Key Takeaway
Your memories are there—they just need the right prompts to surface. Use time periods, questions, and emotions as your excavation tools.