Pick a card and ask the question over a cuppa, at family dinners or on your next visit.

Some cards use sensory cues like sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Others are reflective questions. Both help memories come back naturally, so it never feels like an interview.

When a story comes up that you love, jot it down in the keepsake journal. A few lines is plenty.

No.

Start with whichever question feels right. Skip one, come back later, or spend the whole afternoon on a single card. There’s no pressure to finish the set.

As long as you like.

One question might last five minutes, or lead to an hour of stories. Use one card on a visit, or a few over a long lunch.

There’s no need to write everything down either. Just the bits you want to keep, in the journal, whenever it suits.

It shouldn’t feel like an interview.

Lifetold gives you an easy place to start, so you’re not searching for the right words. Ask one question, listen and let the story unfold. You can skip any card that doesn’t feel right.

No card can make someone share.

But the right question at the right moment makes it much easier. The prompts focus on specific memories, senses and moments, which are easier to talk about than big, broad questions. Sometimes one small detail is all it takes.