Memories are important.
Memories are special.
Memories heal.
Memories encourage.
Memories are what keep families together.
We all have memories. Some people tell me they don’t. But that’s not true. Those memories may not be in the forefront of their mind but they are there. How can you retrieve them? A simple way is through photos. Once you pull out those photos and begin browsing through, those memories will come alive.
But then you may ask what do I do with those memories? Tell the story!!!!
We all have stories and they are fun and family members do want to hear them. Some may say no but give them time. Capture those memories and put them in a book or slide show and those family members will be captivated.
What are some themes you could focus on to tell those stories? Well here is a start … and I say start because the stories can be endless.
But perhaps this will help you to get those memory cells activated.
Themes or Stories:
Carnivals or Fairs
College Days
Coming to a New Land
Farm Memories
Favorite Foods of Childhood
Favorite Movies
Favorite Sundays
Favorite Toys
First Apartment
First Child
First Cooked Meal
First Day of School
First Home
First Job
First Pet
First Sweetheart
First Vehicle
First Wartime Christmas
First Year of Marriage
Fun Recess Times
Going to the Barbershop
Hard Family Times
Hardest Day of Your Life
Holiday Memories
Magical Birthdays
Most Embarrassing Moment
Most Memorable Meal
Musical Memories
Nicest Thing Someone Has Done for Me
Pets from the Past
Playhouse Fun
Returning From War
School Days
Simple Games We Played … without toys
Snow Day Fun
Special Baking Times
Special Clothing
Special Time with Grandparents
Sports Played
Things We Did Before TV
Wartime Memories
What We Did On Summer Vacations
What Were Your Good Old Days?
Hope this list gets your creativity flowing and the desire in your heart to retrieve those memories and share them with your loved ones.
Feel overwhelmed and paralyzed with the process, I’m here to help. I’ve been capturing my family stories since 1997. It’s been very special. I can help you do the same!
Your Organizing Expert … Believing in You!
I’ve been looking at a lot of old photos lately, as one of my cousins is putting together a family history book. It’s wonderful that you can do this for people, because it can be very time-consuming, but oh so priceless to have!
Janet it is one of my favorite services to offer. I find so much pleasure in helping people preserve their memories. I’ve even done many as gifts.
Nice list of storytelling memory joggers! Thanks, Regina.
My pleasure Hazel!
I think photos are one of the important keepsakes in a home. I agree that preserving and sharing memories should be a high priority. Creating and sharing photo books and slideshows is a wonderful idea.
Yes, this is a strong passion of mine. I’ve been preserving my family’s memories for the past 21 years and love it. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or complicated. I just needs to be recorded and written about.
What a great list of themes! It helps to know there are lots of ways to preserve memories. It doesn’t have to be exactly chronological.
Absolutely Olive. Unless your photos are categorized and marked with the date, having to recreate the chronological order of events could be hard. Best then to go by themes.