A part of life I feel deeply is that the best memories rarely happen passively, by happenstance, or with little effort.
I am the one who designs, and constructs my own experiences. I am the architect of memories for myself and for the time being, the children I chose to become a mother to.
I think it’s important to find ways to burn the good things of a moment into our memories so that we can continually stay present, connected, and mindful.
Pick out a new candle. Try a new flavour of tea.
The smell of peppermint tea is the smell of a rainy day in August 2012.
Notice a sound.
The sound of the ocean waves and driving cars is the sound of hiking around Mt. Doug in the summer.
The sound of a loon is the sound of camping at the lake I’ve gone to almost every summer since I was a kid.
The sound of a manual transmission car whirring as it reverses is the sound of being a little kid in the back of my dad’s little blue car.
Take a picture or two of what you’re feeling, not necessarily of what’s happening.
Our first time waking up above the busy streets of Vancouver.
Be present.
I’m tired of the phone scrolling while family is over, the naps while everyone else is playing a card game, the disconnect that plagues so many dinner tables around the globe. I’m passionate about putting in the effort to make family gatherings weekends home or away, and the normal uneventful days running after two kids (and constantly ignoring the unfolded laundry) as memorable as it can be.
*I should say as a side note that naps are not the enemy here, there are many family gatherings that involve a good nap.
One of my very favourite movies is About Time. The whole movie is like throwing a bucket of ice water on my soul. It makes me feel like every little thing is so much more important than the big things. I love it.
“I just try to live every day as if I’ve deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life.” -Tim Lake (About Time)
Choose to build memories for you. Not for anybody else but you, and the people who are with you in that moment.
The Culture of Being 