Skip to main content

Making Memories

Holidays around here are usually all about tradition.  Traditions become things that we can look forward to and they create a pattern that makes the holiday run smoothly.  Predictable and expected. 

But sometimes things have to change.  How do I deal with things when they change?  When life throws a curveball or we start to outgrow a tradition?  How flexible can I be?

I know that my default is predictability.  It takes work for me to shift gears, especially when things are out of my control.  I usually have a little period of overwhelm and then eventually my pendulum swings back and I realize that whatever the new plan, it will work.   It won’t be the end of the world and I might even be pleasantly surprised by the change.


I have been thinking a lot about making memories as I spend time with my eighty-six-year-old grandmother who is suffering from Dementia.  It is a hard fact to swallow.  There are times of clarity and times of heartbreaking confusion.   I'm amazed when she comes up with a story from 35 years ago and it brings me right back to the feelings of that time with her.

Memories tell our story.  

I know that the time to make memories is now and it doesn’t really matter how.  Traditions seem to set the table for the events, but I think that many of my best memories come from the unpredictable, spontaneous fun that takes things just a bit off-course.  When someone gets a crazy or novel idea and we let things play out, a great memory is surely to follow. 

I understand that if I get stuck wondering how the day will go or bogged down with the logistics when a plan/tradition has been changed, then I might miss the chance for some amazing memories.  This life seems to be flying by and being flexible and up for whatever comes my way is a continual battle for me, but one that I will keep striving for. 


Did you let yourself enjoy some spontaneity this holiday season?  Take some time to remind yourself of some of your favorite holiday moments.  Lock them in your memory to savor another day!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Letting go & holding on- how you can do both at the same time

Everyday I am thinking about letting go.  My days are spent in sessions with clients, or reading about decluttering tips, or writing blog posts, all in an effort to support clients as they let go of clutter and unwanted habits.  Letting go is something that I have made into my life's work, but never is it more "in my face" than when I sit with my grandma at the nursing home.  My grandma has Dementia/Alzheimers.  I don't even know what or which or why or how, but I do know that it seems we have lost her to the disease and letting go & holding on are happening all at once. As I sit and watch her sleep, I can stroke her hand and feel the many memories of playing Go to the Dump or Crazy Eight on my days off of Kindergarten, getting a home perm in her kitchen in elementary school, and painting my nails at her kitchen nook in H.S.  I remember learning how to snap a dish towel with my cousins as we cleaned up from holiday gatherings & singing and dancing...
2 comments
Read more

Any way the wind blows

Last week I was challenged to take a day to myself.  Actually take it for "myself."  Decide what I wanted to do.  What the spirit moved me to do. I find this challenge is so hard in a culture where getting things done is the measure of success.  Whenever I have a "day off," I think of all of the things that I need to get done and race around to get them done quickly and then maybe I can fit in a bit of time for myself. This assignment was different.  I needed to keep the agenda only on things that felt "right" for that day.  I set off with a little list of errands (in case there was time after "my time" to make some stops) and a general idea of where I wanted to go, but when I got in the car and started driving I felt some rebellion stirring. I didn't want to take the usual route.  I didn't want to see what I always see.  It felt like being on my usual path might create the temptation to do something that wasn't really in my hea...
Post a Comment
Read more

Growth and Action

"Envision your dreams down through your hands and out into the world." -The Book of Awakening This morning the routine of school began again.  It was a beautiful morning.  An exciting morning without a lot of rush or fuss.   Families gathered.  A beautiful poem was shared to kick off a year of new beginnings.  Two kids followed their teacher in to school with heads held high.   I left the school feeling freedom and excitement.  I felt open and ready.  I came home to begin my new year.   I sat down and pulled out my daily reading and read about a grandmother telling her grandson to envision his dreams down through his hands and out into the world.  The words were meant for this day.  A day to set a course of action and growth.  A day to take the dreams that were uncovered and see them move in the world.     Last year was a time to reflect, learn, dig deep, uncover, wait, take small steps, keep my...
Post a Comment
Read more