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Harness holiday memories

Posted by CaribShout on December 26, 2010 at 2:04pm
3665134515?profile=originalHoliday memories are a significant part of our life experiences. When the realities of life appear and some of them take up permanent residence in our already busy and complex lives, that is when holiday memories ring as the real and priceless spice of a good life. Sometimes you really “can’t go home again”. Times change, people grow and move on and situations swing this way and that. Even you, go through phases—you struggle with issues, you discover who you are and what you want to do with your life. You flex and stretch yourself and you follow paths you never imagine in years gone by. But who says you can’t bring the joy of holiday memories to thrill and encourage your heart and enliven your home? To harness the best of your holiday memories: Recall them. It might be easier soon after a holiday. However, if you have to return quickly to “normal life”, the memories can fade and grow cloudy much later. Don’t let that discourage you if you want to cultivate this practice. Like any other activity, make time and space to inspire you to begin. If you feel stuck, try looking at cards, letters, invitations, decorations, photos, items of clothing, dishes, anything that could spark the smallest memory of a happy time and special people. Record them. Enhance those memories by writing them in a journal. Nothing beats the blues or makes happy times happier like memories recorded in ink on paper. They tend to come alive and gleam even brighter. Moreover, as you begin to write, long-forgotten details will unfold, giving you greater insight and a better understanding of how and why certain stories transpired then and invoke happy emotions even now. Read them for your own enjoyment and encouragement. Writing what you remember of your holiday memories is one thing—it is a journey of remembering and discovering. However, once recorded, double joy comes in reading them at a later date, especially when your troubles are weighing you down and you feel lost in the battle of your day to day struggles. Sometimes you may feel justified to wallow in self-pity. It takes a little fight with yourself to get up, take your journal, notebook or scrapbook and find a quiet spot to reminisce, rejoice and revive your fledging spirit.    Relate them. To family members: One woman made a pact with her family—they will get together one month after every holiday to reminisce and share their favourite recollections. They share what the holiday meant to them and how it may have changed their lives for the better or how it has prompted them to review and revise their mindset, attitudes lifestyles and relationships. To  friends: Close friends and even acquaintances can enjoy and benefit from your memories of past holidays. As you continue to keep a record of your favourite holiday memories and read them for your own enjoyment, you become quite adept at pulling up the appropriate stories for the circumstances your friends are dealing with in their individual lives. You learn to tag specific memories to particular situations, whether serious or funny. Life experiences and memories, especially the happy ones are chock full of life lessons, funny quips and wonderful connections to people. Harness yours. Recall, record, read and relate them for your enjoyment as well as for the benefit of family and friends. One woman made a pact with her family—they will get together one month after every holiday to reminisce.
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