A Map of the Roads I Survived

Concept:
Life as a landscape.

Exercise:
Participants are given a sheet of paper and asked to draw a very simple “life map.”

Not artistic—just symbolic.

Include things like:

  • mountains (hard periods)

  • rivers (changes or transitions)

  • bridges (help from others)

  • crossroads (decisions)

  • shelters (safe places or people)

  • open fields (peaceful times)

They are not writing a story yet—just mapping their terrain.

When they share, they might say things like:

  • “This mountain was the year my husband died.”

  • “This bridge was the friend who helped me through.”

  • “This road is the one I’m still walking.”

The Museum of My Survival

This activity invites participants to imagine that parts of their life belong in a small personal museum — not of fame or achievement, but of what they endured, learned, and carried forward.

It is reflective, creative, and often produces very meaningful sharing.

Step 1: Imagine the Exhibit

Ask participants to imagine a small exhibit titled:

“The Museum of My Survival.”

In this exhibit they can place three items that represent moments of resilience in their life.

These can be real or symbolic objects such as:

  • a photograph

  • a tool

  • a recipe card

  • a letter

  • a book

  • a piece of clothing

  • a key

  • a small stone or natural object

  • something broken but kept

  • something that represents a turning point

Step 2: Create the Exhibit

Participants can do this in two ways:

Option A – Physical:
Arrange the three objects on a table or small surface like a museum display.

Option B – Imagined:
Simply picture the items and describe them.

Step 3: Add the Museum Label

Every museum piece has a label.

Ask them to give each item:

  • a title

  • a one-sentence description

Example:

The Blue Teacup
This is the cup I drank from every morning after my husband died. It reminded me that the day had begun again.

or

The Bus Ticket
The ticket from the day I left home and started the life I was meant to live.

Step 4: Share the Exhibit

When participants share with the group, they can simply say:

  • what the object is

  • why it belongs in their “museum of survival”

  • what it represents about resilience

The emphasis is story through objects.