Major events throughout a lifetime can hold a variety of meanings including triumphs and personal struggles. Long sicknesses, the death of a family member, a new job on the other side of the country or a personal achievement all allow writers to describe tragedy and hope. In writing about these major events, writers can share feelings and personal stories, anguishes and anxieties. Detailing the small daily triumphs of overcoming an illness, getting over the death of a close family member, packing up to move across the country and receiving a major lifetime achievement award gives writers the chance to note rich details about their experiences. Each writer selects different criteria for what they consider a major even in their life, meaning no event is too big or too small.
Some people wear out their passport traveling to different countries around the world, while others travel within their own communities to write about the beauty in their own backyard. Experiencing different culture, cuisine, landscapes, people, architecture, religions, languages and art are all areas to write about regardless if you're writing about a foreign country or another state. While writing about the physical world makes for a great narrative, noting how places make a writer feel or give inspiration also becomes part of the story. Just because writers don't hop across the globe doesn't meant a great travel story doesn't exist--writing about local places adds life and meaning to a personal narrative.
Writing about the people who make a difference and influence a person's life provides excellent material for a personal narrative. The lessons, morals, values and skills taught by teachers and mentors influence people in profound ways, often inspiring and motivating them to do great things. Other people such as religious leaders, guest speakers or a high-profile figure may also create the same effect. Meeting the president, congressman or Supreme Court justice can make a young person want to study politics or work toward a law career. Meeting a famous Broadway singer or musician might inspire someone to accomplish the same goals one day.
Family members create lasting impressions that begin at a young age. Learning cooking or sewing skills from a nurturing grandmother or learning how to fish or how to catch a baseball from a caring grandfather leaves children with many memories. Sometimes stories of abuse or torment leave people with the opposite effect and horrible memories of family. Writing about family memories helps readers understand a person's background, including where and how they grew up and under what circumstances, as well as heritage and cultural traditions.