Back in March I listed 10 top things to create more memories this year. because I wanted to focus on creating memories rather than just letting life pass me by. Sometimes we think that memories should be about important events in our lives and yes they are important because they shape who we are as an individual.
However, I love to focus sometimes on creating simple memories which will always hold a special place in my heart. Creating memories doesn’t mean spending money it means thinking of ways to appreciate and enjoy your life.
Since my grandson was born, I have created some beautiful memories with him but when I think about it they are all simple and delightful.
- watching the wonder in his eyse as he felt the breeze on his face when he was about 8 months old
- watching ants and lizards for hours in the garden
- watching his wonder the first time we blew bubbles
- being on a pirate ship and getting shipwrecked
- being hunted by dinosaurs
- making his dump truck birthday cake for his party
- exploring in the park
All of these experiences are not earth shattering but to me they are beautiful memories that I treasure as I learn to see life through his eyes.
In previous posts, my guest writers Leslie Roberts Clingan from Once Upon A Time, Happily Ever After and Leanne Le Cras from Cresting the Hill, both wrote their thoughts on creating memories. If you missed them you can read them here:
Celebrating Life by Creating Memories
5 simple ways to create memories
1. Keep a Jar of Positivity
Earlier this year I wrote a post about keeping a positivity jar where you wrote notes about something positive that happened, popped it in the jar and then read all of your thoughts on New Year’s Eve.
2. Take more photos
I love looking back through my smartphone at photos I’ve taken. I’ve enjoyed participating in A Sentence A Day Challenge and looking back over the month at the photos I’ve taken just makes the memories so special.
3. Appreciate the moment
Sometimes I know that when I travel I sometimes get caught up taking ‘too many photos’ and miss enjoying the moment. Creating memories with photographs but also by cementing the moment in your mind are wonderful ways to remind you of good times.
4. Play with your children and grandchildren
Don’t get so busy that you forget to play with your children or grandchildren. As I wrote above, some of my most beautiful memories have been created by playing with my grandson.
5. Start a tradition
Traditions are a lovely way to create memories. We all have some form of tradition in our lives even if it is celebrating holidays such as Christmas, Mother’s Day etc. My daughter and I have a beautiful tradition of running in the Mother’s Day Classic in memory of my Mum and her Nan who passed away from breast cancer when my daughter was 4 years old. We look forward to spending Mother’s Day Morning running together and remembering. Hopefully, her son, Ethan will join us in the future and keep the tradition going.
How do you create memories?
23 Comments
Five great tips Sue – and you’re also right about getting the balance right between making sure you have photos, but also being in the moment and not watching it all through a viewfinder! The older I get, the more I am appreciating the little things in life – like the joys of a grandchild and the moments shared with family and friends.
The photos are a big issue with me Leanne when I travel. I just click away and sometimes actually miss out on just stopping and enjoying the moment. I’m making a conscious effort to do this now when we travel so I have it in my memory as well as digitally.
Thank you for helping host the Blogger’s Pit Stop each week! I wanted to say I hope you have a wonderful birthday week. I’m only 5 years behind and it’s funny but every new decade, I like the “start over.” Here’s to a wonderful 60!!!!! And, you’re right, creating memories is a wonderful tradition and so important.
Blessings to you,
Barb 🙂
Thank you so much for your good wishes Barbara and I’m excited about turning 60. Have a beautiful weekend xx
Happy birthday. These are awesome tips. I like appreciate the moment. Thanks for stopping by anointedtoday.blogspot.com.
Thank you Betty! I can’t believe I will be 60 on Wednesday but life is good! Have a great week! x
All great ideas Sue. I saw your post linked at the OVER THE MOON 87 party. I pinned it on Pinterest.
Thanks for always being so generous with sharing everyone’s posts. Have a great week!
And shared on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter 🙂
thanks Dee!
Great tips as always Sue, and yes the balance between taking lots of photos vs being in the moment is a tricky one. I plan to focus on that on our imminent trip. We love to put our travel photos up on our TV using Apple TV. It is a lovely way to remember all the experiences and people who have enriched our lives.
Noticing is a big thing. Taking time to notice the moment, and that you are happy or enjoying it, or that it’s special. I too really grabbed onto the joy of watching my youngest chase bubbles in the garden. I’d just sit there and watch her. I really ‘mentally’ photographed it, and the feeling it gave me. As Vonnegut wrote, ‘pause and say ‘If this isn’t happiness, I don’t know what is’. #Lifethisweek
Love your quote Lydia and isn’t it such a joy watching little ones chasing bubbles? That memory of Ethan will stay with me forever and whenever I see bubbles I think of him. Have a great week! x
For me, it’s photos and words. When I take a photo I’m trying to capture for that split second how I felt in that, well, split second. It’s one of the reasons I consistently do my wrap-up posts – to remind me to notice all the tiny pieces of the day that might mean nothing, but mean something at the same time.
Hi Jo, I love your wrap up posts and look forward to your photography. I also like the way you are mindful of all things during your day even little things. There is so much we can enjoy but sometimes we miss out because we are too busy to notice. Thanks for the tip of trying to think about how you are feeling in the moment you take the photo. It would mean so much more when you look back at the photo long after the moment has passed. Have a great week! xx
I’m rather attached to my camera but am also conscious of trying to be more in the moment. We’re big on (making new) traditions and doing things together. I think it’s the little things that often mean the most. I’m definitely about collecting memories not things! I might have to start a positivity jar 🙂
Hi Sammie, you make a good point of not letting the camera take over so you actually miss being in the moment. When I travel now I don’t take quite as many photos but make myself look and listen and soak up where I am so I can enjoy being there and store it in my memory bank. It is so easy to just keep clicking and miss out on the experience. Have a great week! x
A lovely list of ideas Sue! I think creating memories is very important too. #lifethisweek
Hi Deb, memories are important and I love creating new ones with Ethan and Elliot in particular. So many new experiences to share with them, as you will with Emilia. Have a great week, Deb! xx
Such a lovely post to read Sue and some great tips for creating memories. I don’t have a grandchild yet … but fingers crossed …. hopefully someday! I love to create memories through photography. Capturing moments in time to revisit later is such a special thing. Traditions are lovely memories to have and to pass on through generations. I’m hoping that my kids will continue on some of the traditions I’ve introduced here in our family … many of which come from what I experienced when I was a child with Mum, Dad and my 4 siblings. xo
Thanks Min, I’m glad you enjoyed the post and you are in for a treat when you become a grandmother. There is nothing quite like the love that you experience when you hold your grandchild for the first time. I love to look at photos of our travel, family get togethers and my life in general. I have photos of previous generations and it is always interesting to look at where I’ve come from. Some had died before I was born but I love to hear about their lives. Traditions are important to me and one I may not be able to carry on now is my combined family Christmas as we will be moving to an apartment so space will be an issue. That will be sad but I’m sure I can find new traditions to start. Have a great week. xx
Noticing life through the eyes of my grandchildren has been one of the biggest thrills for me. I never got sick of it. I have some photos from those days of caring for our son’s two and I remember so much from the stories, the images and just seeing them again. Two stand-outs are Master 11 crouched down on the back lawn watching snail move aged 2 …..and Miss 9 doing an impromptu ballet recital in the aisle at Woolies aged 2.
Thank you for linking up for #LifeThisWeek Next week’s optional prompt: April Is About. Denyse
It is still a thrill for me Denyse as I now am experiencing life through Elliot’s eyes. He will be 1 in May and is such a delight. You have beautiful memories too. It is wonderful being a grandmother. xx