3 Ways You Can Preserve Precious Memories

As hard as we try, we cannot recreate moments. The organic coming together of people, of feelings, of ideas, is so unique that we have been documenting them for as long as humanity can remember. We create markers as a way to preserve events. Sights, sounds, scents, and flavours all act as triggers for that birthday, anniversary, reunion, and vacation. For one brief moment, an object can bring back memories that have been pushed back by busy schedules and new faces.

The organic coming together of people, of feelings, of ideas, is so unique that we have been documenting them for as long as humanity can remember.

There are many ways to “archive” special events. We take photos and videos but rarely organise them. Here are three ways you can preserve your precious moments:

Online photo albums

There are no shortages of albums, by merely connecting your camera or phone to your laptop, you can upload your recent shots online. These online albums have multiple shots of the same picture or place, probably from your numerous tries to get the right angle or light. That’s not how people made old-style family albums.

Back when film was in, people had no guarantees of how the photo would come out. There was a kind of carefulness with taking the best shot of the highlights. Not everything printed made it into the family album. Only the best, or in the case of pouting children, just the most noteworthy had a place. When you create online backups of your photo collection, consider curating your photos before posting them. Take the time to crop and adjust your photos the same way your grandmother might have cut the edges of pictures with different patterns.

When you create online backups of your photo collection, consider curating your photos before posting them.

Jewellery

Celebrating the good times is also about making markers or mini monuments. Jewellery that is personal like the fingerprint rings in the UK is an excellent example of how small accessories have big stories. It is a luxury and cannot be the top choice for every memorable event. But coming of age parties, graduations, and other big wins are worth it. Jewellery can also be passed on from generation to another, effectively creating a new tradition.

Diaries

For something a little more old school, keeping diaries is another good way to preserve memories. Instead of journals in which you might write about everyday events, thoughts, and feelings, only keep note of the significant events. Like the intention of scrapbooking, write about your side of the story: your baby’s first words, your best friend’s recital, your first competition. These notes can make their way to creating new memories. They can be a reference for your best man’s speech or birthday toast. Diaries help you celebrate the small gestures that you’ve received and appreciated.

These three items are things you have to work on at the moment to be able to appreciate it in the future fully. Every photo, home video, letter, note, and playlist are documents that keep track of you and your growth. Preserving each memory isn’t about reliving the old days, but being able to appreciate the past and its contribution for the future.