Past Prompts

Long before the internet enabled us to shop at home, there were door-to-door salespeople who rang the bell and came into our living rooms with a case full of products. The Avon Lady, the Fuller Brush Man, and many others traveled around the country selling their wares. Think back . . . Did you ever buy products from a door-to-door salesperson? Did you ever try to support yourself selling products door-to-door? Would you allow a salesperson into your house now? Share your door-to-door sales stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Freud told us our nightly dreams represent our unconscious desires and thoughts. Disney's Cinderella sang "A dream is a wish your heart makes." Eleanor Roosevelt told us, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” But not all dreams are beautiful. Everyone has had anxiety dreams, those repetitive dreams about being naked in public or showing up for an exam in a course you never took. And nightmares, so frightening that you wake up in a sweat or in tears, thankful when you realize it was only a dream. Think back … What were the dreams that were memorable to you, either for good or for bad? Share your dreams stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Spring brings many celebrations, the biggest of which are Passover and Easter, but there are lots of others, including Purim, St. Patrick’s Day, May Day, and even Major League Baseball opening day. Think back . . . what spring celebrations were the most memorable ones in your childhood? What have you celebrated with your children or grandchildren? Share your spring celebrations stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

We’ve all had close calls, those “Whew!” moments. Maybe you narrowly avoided or survived an accident, an armed robbery, a fire, cancer, a heart attack. Perhaps you had a near death experience, or saved someone else’s life. Or maybe it was a seemingly simple matter of making, or not making, a certain flight or, as Bonnie Raitt sang, “finding love in the nick of time.” Some people describe these types of events as life changing and even feel a deeper sense of purpose in being alive. Think back … to a close call you or someone you know experienced. What happened, and if it changed you, how so? Share your close calls stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Nicknames can be a shortened form of your formal name, or have nothing to do with it. They can describe your personality or a physical characteristic, or - ironically - exactly the opposite (an “antiphrasis”). Think back … Whether a term of affection or something else, did you have a childhood nickname that stuck even when you’d outgrown it? If you still have a nickname, or have acquired a more recent one, do you embrace it or wish it would just go away? Share your nicknames stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories