Life is made up of a series of moments, special ones and general moments of everyday living. When you look back and think of all the great times and special memories, you fill with gratitude. It’s important to look back at the people, places, and things that have made you who you are today. And reflecting on great memories is a way to remind yourself of how happy and joyful you felt during those times.
Of course, everyone chooses to remember and reflect on things differently. Sometimes it’s great to just share stories, other times you may be interested in looking through old photos or scrapbooks, other times you may be able to look through old notes or messages. There are also moments you’re living through that you may not immediately realize will be a huge memory down the line. As you’re going through your daily life, there are the milestones you know you’ll want to remember like weddings, graduations, and birthdays. However, there are also plenty of moments you won’t realize the significance of until they’re gone. Late night trips to McDonald’s with your besties, sleeping in with your significant other, laughing so hard that water comes out of your nose. These are the moments that make you think of that quote from The Office: “I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” You deserve to capture every special moment and memory. Here are just a few tips for how to do so.
1. Snap your photos.
Pictures are one of the best ways you can capture a moment. Pictures last forever and remind you of exactly where you were and how you were feeling on special occasions or at ordinary moments. Several decades ago, a picture was a big deal, whereas now you can snap a photo on your mobile device without even thinking about it. This means there are even more ways to capture memories. Just be sure you have a way to store those moments afterward. Your online photo storage needs to be the best of the best. One hard drive or Dropbox or smartphone storage may not do the trick. Rely on unlimited storage options that will keep every pixel of your photo storage service updated and fabulous. This way you never have to worry about losing those special memories and pictures.
If you are someone who documents and photographs every moment to put away in photo storage, remember to get candid shots as well. Posed images of your life aren’t the messy parts that make it fun and interesting. So take those pictures when you are maybe off your guard a little bit, but feeling genuinely happy. You’ll be amazed at how these kinds of memories will stand out down the line.
2. Write it out.
Another great way to remember your special moments is to document them with your words. While keeping a diary may seem like a habit of a middle school girl, it can actually be a great option to keep a journal or reflect on your own life. It’s like having a subscription to your own life. Looking back you can remember how great it felt to accomplish something or even see how much you learned from a more unfortunate circumstance.
The beauty of having your own journal and a written record is that nothing is too small to write about. If you had some wild-caught gulf shrimp that you absolutely loved, write about it! Have a memory maker that isn’t necessarily blasted all over social media or shared. Writing out your experiences and memories can be a great way to capture a more raw side of things.
3. Take a video.
Pictures aren’t the only media that can help you remember great moments. While you typically think about looking back on favorite photos, taking videos to remember things can also be a great option. People have now started the habit of recording big reveals or surprises that make for an excellent memory. For example, telling your children you’re going through the legal process of a second parent adoption can be a huge moment for your family members. Consider recording the big reveal on your smartphone as the best way to remember that moment in parenthood. By recording a video, you are remembering that exact moment forever.
4. Remember the feeling.
While capturing moments and memories can be important, you always want to be sure you’re still enjoying them in the moment. Don’t be so dedicated to remembering the moment in the future that you forget to experience it in the present. Ultimately, if you are truly engaged with an experience, you can look back on that moment and share stories of the experience and feel the joy come flooding back. Sometimes remember the feeling is the best way to capture the memory.