One small prompt, one personal story — that’s what Pen Your Past™ is all about.
👉 Need help getting started? Download the Pen Your Past Starter Kit
Why This Might Be Worth Writing About
When we look back on different chapters of our lives, we often remember the music that played in the background. A song can instantly transport us to a feeling, a phase, a decision point.
But what about the chapter we’re in now?
Writing about your current soundtrack gives future-you a way to remember what this season felt like, not just what happened. It also helps your loved ones understand you in a deeper, more layered way. Your soundtrack can become a time capsule for your mood, mindset, and meaning.
If You’re Not Sure Where to Begin…
- What’s one song you’ve been playing a lot lately?
- Is there a lyric that feels especially personal right now?
- What songs help you feel grounded, strong, or comforted?
- If your life had a “closing credits” scene from this month, what music would play over it?
- Do you notice your music tastes shifting as you get older?
🖋 This doesn’t have to become a full playlist. Even a few song titles, moods, or moments can tell a powerful story..
🎵 My Life, One Story at a Time
I grew up plastering my walls with posters of rock bands — the kind with beautiful, big hair and guitar solos that made you feel like picking up the air guitar. Over the years, I fell in love with almost every genre: Boys II Men, Tupac, Fleetwood Mac, Randy Travis, Skid Row… you name it. There was a huge playlist for every season.
These days, I work remotely as an accountant, and I usually play jazz or instrumental playlists just to have background noise that won’t hijack my focus. But if the regular radio sneaks on? It’s game over — my brain and mouth start singing along, word for word. I’m still shocked by how many lyrics live in my head rent-free.
And somehow, in the past year, I became a full-on Swiftie. (Yeah, a 50-year-old new Swiftie) I wrote about it in a fun post about a couple cool things in my life in 2024, if you’re curious. Let’s just say The Tortured Poets Department became my go-to soundtrack — for driving, working, and even winding down. I finally realized: I love Taylor Swift’s music from nearly every era.
Music is my favorite kind of time travel. The right song at the right moment? It’s like hitting pause on life — even if just for three minutes at a time.
🖋️ Share Your Prompted Story
If you wrote something you’d like to share — whether it’s a sentence or a full story — I’d love to read it.
You can paste your response directly into the form here:
Submit your story
Your words might encourage someone else to write theirs, too. 💗
🔍 Explore Other Stories
If you’re new to the Pen Your Past series, you can find earlier prompts here, or start from the beginning with One Story at a Time #1. Every week, I share one reflective question to help you tell the stories that matter—without needing a perfect memory or a writing degree. The people that love you are going to enjoy reading about you for decades and centuries to come!
🖋 Want More Prompts Like This?
✨ Want more writing prompts, memory guides, or printable collections?
✨ Go check out the Pen Your Past First Stories Collection in the Freebie Vault
Or join the waitlist for printable memory guides and themed collections you can write through anytime.
📓 Looking Ahead
I’ll be back next week with a new prompt and it’s a GOOD ONE (at least I think so).
Until then, maybe make a playlist just for you. Or scribble down a few lines that make you feel something. Let your soundtrack tell a cool story.
If this prompt brought a great story and you want to share, I’d love to hear it.
You can share in the comments, email me directly, or Submit your story — either way, I’d be honored to read it.
With love,
Kari
