Episode 63
The Memory Board Test: Creating a Life Worth Remembering
If someone made a photo board of my life today, would I like the story those pictures tell?
That was the question that hit me after a friend’s story about funeral photos got me thinking about the memories we’re capturing—and the lives we’re actually living. In this episode, I invite you to sit with me and take what I call the "Memory Board Test." Instead of aiming for perfect Instagram posts, I want us to focus on the small, authentic moments that truly define our lives.
I share why I believe our legacy isn’t built on big milestones alone, but on countless ordinary days—a spontaneous kitchen dance, a heartfelt conversation, or that laugh-until-you-cry dinner with friends. I’m challenging you, as I challenge myself, to make sure we’re not just waiting for the “right” time but living intentionally, building a collection of real, meaningful memories.
What You’ll Hear In This Episode
- The story that started it all: I recount a conversation about funeral photos and how it made me see our camera rolls in a new light (00:09–00:48).
- My personal connection to photography: I talk about why freezing moments on film means so much to me, and what I learned as a scrapbooker and photographer (02:04).
- Introducing the Memory Board Test: I explain how I came up with this test, and why I think everyone should try it—no doom or gloom, just motivation to live more fully now (03:44).
- The importance of the little things: I reflect on how life’s epic moments are so often found in the tiniest experiences—road trips, sunsets, ordinary Tuesdays (04:53–05:17).
- Why I stopped using the term 'bucket list': I share why I believe in creating a 'dream list' instead, focusing on what brings us to life right now, not just before it’s too late (06:18–06:41).
- My ongoing challenge to myself (and you!): I walk you through my memory making challenge and invite you to join—one intentional, memory-board-worthy moment each month, just for you, not for social media (07:44–08:56).
My Key Takeaways
- I’m building my legacy every single day, one photo at a time—whether I realize it or not (06:50).
- It’s the small, ordinary moments that often carry the most meaning in the end (05:01).
- It matters that I choose to show up and be present, so my life tells a story I love (09:13).
- “Epic” isn’t about having my name on a building or in history books—it’s about loving, connecting, taking risks, and being fully alive right where I am (09:13–09:46).
- With every new day, I can change my story and become more intentional in the way I live (07:31).
The Challenge: Make Your Memory Board
I want you to join me this month. Here’s what I’m doing, and I hope you will too:
- I created an album on my phone called “A Life Worth Remembering.”
- Before this month is over, I’m making sure I intentionally create and capture at least one unforgettable, joy-filled, or meaningful moment—a memory-board-worthy photo just for me.
- When I take that picture, I’m going to pause and ask: Is my life becoming a story I actually want remembered?
If you give this a try, tag your moments with #epiclivingpodcast or come share your thoughts with me on Facebook (Epic Living with Jean) or at epiclivingwithjean.com. I’ve also put together a free guide, "7 Ways to Start Living Epic," available on my site, plus info about my Dream Manager and Dream Activation programs if you’re ready for bigger change.
Let’s stop waiting for the perfect time to live our stories. Our best memories are waiting to be made!
Mentioned in this episode:
Epic Stories is Part of the eWomenPodcastNetwork
Transcript
A friend told me a story recently that really got me thinking. She said that her mother in law had gone to a funeral and afterwards one of the family members was critiquing the memory board. Not the flowers, not the service, the photos. Apparently there were some pictures that she didn't like. And so she made the comment, well, I'm going to start choosing my own photos now so that my kids don't pick bad ones when I die. And I couldn't help but laugh because really, that sounds exactly like something that I would say. But then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it wasn't really about funeral photos at all. It was about the kind of life that we're actually living.
Jean Tillery [:And that got me thinking. When was the last time you really listened to someone's story? Or your own? Welcome to Epic Stories. I'm Jean Tillery, and today I want to talk about something that I've been calling the memory board test. So I have to ask, if someone had to create a memory board of your life tomorrow, what pictures would they find? What stories would they tell? Would there be photos of adventure, connection, laughter, dreams fulfilled, moments that you truly lived? Or would there be mostly screenshots, receipts, and 4,000 random pictures of your dog? And trust me, there's no judgment there because I looked through my own camera roll after this conversation and thought, well, apparently I really cared about tacos and sunsets recently. But. But seriously, it made me think, maybe most people don't need better funeral photos. Maybe we need more moments worth photographing. You know, the funny thing is, this conversation probably hit me harder than it would a lot of people, because photography has always mattered to me.
Jean Tillery [:When I was in high school, I started studying photography. I took classes in college, and even after that I was taking classes through local colleges, museums, art galleries, because I was fascinated by the idea that a photograph could freeze a moment in time. One click, and suddenly something ordinary becomes a memory. Then when my daughter was born, I became a scrapbooker. Not only because I was crafty and I loved paper, but because I needed another hobby. Not really. But really, it came down to that. I was terrified that all those stories would be lost.
Jean Tillery [:Not the photos themselves, but the stories, those little moments, the funny moments, the ordinary moments that don't seem important until years later when they are everything. And maybe that's why this whole memory board idea grabbed me so hard. Because it's never just one photograph that tells your story. Just like there's never one song that tells your story. One photograph can't tell the story of a whole life. A hundred photographs really don't tell the whole story of a life. But what they do is they give us glimpses. Little moments, tiny windows to those little things that mattered.
Jean Tillery [:The people that we love, the places that we went, the dreams that we chased, the adventures that we said yes to. And when you put all of those snapshots together, they start telling the story of who we became and who we were while we lived. So I came up with what I'm calling the memory board test. And no, it's not meant to be depressing or scary. Actually, I think it's the opposite. Because the point isn't waiting till you get to your funeral. The point is living life now. The point is asking ourselves, am I creating moments that I actually want to remember? Not Instagram perfect moments, not curated influencer moments, but real moments.
Jean Tillery [:The kind where you laugh so hard that you cried. You finally took that trip. The time you danced in the kitchen, the time you said yes instead of no. The time that you tried something scary. The time that you gathered people that you love around a table for a great dinner. The time that you showed up. The time that you loved deeply or that you lived fully. The older I get, the more I realize that life is not made up of giant milestone moments nearly as much as they are just tiny little moments.
Jean Tillery [:Little snapshots. A conversation, a road trip, a campfire, a sunset, a cup of coffee with someone that you love. A random Tuesday that somehow became unforgettable. And the crazy thing is, we usually don't know which moments matter most while they're happening. That's why the photos become so powerful. They freeze evidence that we were actually there, that we actually did something that we lived and we loved and we participated in our own lives. I think one of the saddest things is how many people are waiting to live. They're waiting until they have more money, until they have more time, less stress, the perfect relationship, the perfect body, or the perfect circumstances.
Jean Tillery [:And meanwhile, life is happening right now. And that's why, as a dream manager, I never liked the term bucket list. I know people mean well when they say it, but I've always struggled with the idea that you're going to wait until we're almost out of time to start thinking about how we actually want to live. Like, why are we waiting for a diagnosis or a crisis or some imaginary someday before we start making memories? And that's why I prefer the term dreamless. Because a dream list isn't about racing death it's about living a life that's full. It's about asking what sets my soul on fire, what makes me feel alive? What story do I still want to be told? And maybe that's really what this whole memory board test is about. Not creating a list for before you die, but creating a life that you were fully present for while you were here on earth. Your memory board is being built right now, today.
Jean Tillery [:And whether you do it intentionally or accidentally. And honestly, that realization kind of hit me hard. Because if someone looked through our photos, would they see a person who was fully alive or somebody that was basically just exhausted, overworked, stressed, and postponing happiness and joy and it's not meant to be. Make you feel guilty when I say this. I just want you to be aware that there's a difference, because awareness gives us the chance to change the story. So I started thinking about creating a challenge for myself, and I'd like to invite you, too. Not a fitness challenge or a productivity challenge that you see, but. But I want to have a memory making challenge.
Jean Tillery [:Make a dedicated album on your phone called A Life Worth Remembering. And then at least once a month, do one thing that is memory board worthy, one thing that future you would be grateful happened. And take a picture. Not for social media, not for likes. You don't even necessarily have to share it. Just make it be proof that in that moment, you really lived. Maybe it's taking your grandmother to lunch or learning pottery or going to a concert. I love that one.
Jean Tillery [:Starting a garden, calling an old friend, hosting a dinner, writing a book, taking a dance lesson. A million things that you can do, big things, small things, it doesn't matter. The point is, don't sleepwalk through your own life. Because one day, these ordinary moments may become the most extraordinary parts of your story. And one day, you won't have any more time to make the memories. So your epic message comes from the heart. I think sometimes we imagine that legacy is something huge. A building with our name on it, a giant accomplishment, something that the history books would remember.
Jean Tillery [:But I'm thinking that maybe legacy is just a collection of moments where people felt loved and seen and encouraged, adventurous, alive, because we were there. And maybe the goal isn't to create a perfect life. Maybe the goal is simply to create a life that's worth remembering, not because we're afraid of dying, but because we finally understand the gift of being alive. And so that brings me to this week's epic challenge. Because I don't want this episode just to make you think I want it to make you live a little. A little differently. So this week, set up your own album on your phone. That's it.
Jean Tillery [:And before the month ends, intentionally create at least one moment worth adding to it. One moment that reflects your joy or connection or growth or love or dreaming. And then take a picture. And when you do, pause for just a second and ask yourself, am I building a life that I actually want remembered? Because your story is still being written, and I think there are still some beautiful pictures left to take. And the truth is, your memory board is already being created every day, every choice, every ordinary moment. The question isn't whether there will be pictures. The question is what story will they tell? And if this episode made you realize that there are still pictures missing from your memory board. If there are dreams that you've been postponing, maybe it's time for a conversation.
Jean Tillery [:You can find me at Epic Living with Jean on Facebook or at epiclivingwithjean.com and if you're ready to start dreaming again, to stop waiting and start building a life filled with moments worth remembering, check out my Dream Activation Challenge and my Dream Manager programs. Thank you for spending some time with me today. And remember, life is happening now. Not someday. Not when things calm down. Not after the next promotion or the next crisis or the next season. Now. So go out and make some memories.
Jean Tillery [:And until next time, keep living your own EPIC story. Because, you know, like I say, it's all about the story. Thanks for hanging out with me. If today's episode struck a chord with you and you want to spread the love, please share using the hashtag epiclivingpodcast and leave a comment on my Facebook page. Head over to my website epiclivingwithjean.com to learn more about what it means to to live epic. And while you're there, download a free guide, 7 Ways to Start Living Epic, and it will help you take your first step. If you want to learn more about my Dream Manager program or just want to chat about what Epic might look like in your life, reach out to me and let's set up a call. See you next time.
Jean Tillery [:I hope you go out and live EPIC today and every day and remember it's all about the story.
