Memories

Memories.  For some people memories are pictures that are held inside the mind and can be brought forth by closing their eyes.  A little slide projector comes forth showing the pictures and even evokes the associated tears or laughter.  What triggers these memories?  For me it is often smells. Certain garden flowers especially will take me back to a place and time.  A flash of a memory … and it is special.

As I help people de-clutter there homes I have found that an old matchbox car, a cracked mug, a box of buttons, collections of dolls and of course photos can be the trigger to some very interesting stories.  From the moment a child is born the camera starts clicking away.  The first child especially is photographed doing everything imaginable….when the second comes along the camera is not always so engaged.  My husband for example is 9 years younger than his sister.  Going through family photos he didn’t see much of himself in the early years and began to wonder if he had been adopted.

The problem with photos though is that for years we collect them and even have albums or boxes and boxes of them, some of which should have been discarded long ago (don’t we all have one that only shows part of a house or a cut off body or perhaps it is terribly blurred, but it is still in the “collection.)  How about the ones taken on your family trips?  You look back years later, the mountains are in the background, no people in the photo and you certainly don’t remember “that” special day.  In turn, the mug you purchased or a silly hat will bring back some aspect of that trip. Today when photos are taken they are stored on the computer and only occasionally perused.  Yet photos are the one thing everyone states would be what they would grab (after family and pets) if the house were on fire.

When we are working with people to downsize most homes are filled with framed family photos. My first suggestion is to pass those photos, frames and all on to a child or grandchild and have the photos into albums. When the album is put together (and by the way the photos do not have to go in in sequential order) those involved in this process get together to go through the album. It is a super way to share with children and grandchildren all about the people in the photos….and of course the special day when the photos were taken.

We each have our special memories but what I find is that they are truly inside of us and it is only a happening, a smell, an object that triggers them. Bring your memories together and share them.

Jean Back, owner of Survival Essentials specializes in working with people to de-clutter their lives. Jean’s 30+ years of experience has created a varied portfolio with a wealth of skills geared to helping people to manage their time and space. Her services to clients, many of whom are seniors and baby boomers, includes extensive and personalized move coordination, de-cluttering, household efficiency and business competence.