Journaling Memories

God gave us memories that we may have roses in December. Tho' these are not my own words, but a quote from a source long forgotten, I have returned to them oft for their truth and beauty. Roses being one of my favorite flowers, It is an easy bridge from the pictures of the red blossoms that pose for a few weeks each summer in my back yard to my Aunty Viola, who educated me to love them as she did. Patch Aunty Viola passed on years ago, and my roses are settled into their out-of-season repose, the idea that our memories are gardens reflective the rich detail of our lives and its accessibility to us, means we can come back our experiences, thoughts and feelings amy time we want, and enjoy once much the corporeality of relationships and events from earlier times. Happy memories rekindle warmth, tenderness and delight. Tougher situations recalled give logic and perspective to feelings that, at the time we lived them, engulfed or frightened us. Memories are important parts of our lives. Working back through dimly lit hallways from our childhood, high school or college years teaches us not only where we have been, but as well how our choices have shaped our lives. Redirecting our memories to challenge us to grow into who we want to become is as well the gift of recognizing how we may choose to view past experiences and life in the present moment.

Retracing memories is maybe one of the most useful tools to reveal our lives to us in new ways, and to assist us in desegregation our experiences as lasting, positive parts of our lives. Journaling this process is particularly useful for some reasons. Simply as a written historical record of an event creates a criterion to which we can return for reassurance, hope or confirmation, so does a journaled account of a memory. What was your 1st day of school like? What ever became of the presents and the guests from your thirteenth birthday party? Wherever were you, and what were you doing, once we crossed over into the new millennium? What did you like better just about your vacation last year? What is your 1st memory of your grandparents? All of these are roses blooming in your memory, available to be savored. If you have no idea where to begin, the idea itself can become your toehold. All but like an object lesson, favorite items related to the memory can as well jostle our minds, relinquishing long-buried facts and feelings that can be jotted down, pondered and reassembled into an orderly, cohesive format. Report cards, art projects, favorite articles of clothing, and photographs, can help nudge your psyche to assist you in retrieving all but any memory you would-be like to reconnect with, and have at hand whenever the mood suits you.

Being able to return to our memories allows us to cue ourselves of where we were, where we are now, and where we would-be like to direct ourselves in the future. Rather than playing tricks on us in the inside of disagreeable or anxious times, our memories can serve us, become our allies, our comforters and our guides. Basic cognitive process and writing down how you lived through a challenging experience, such as losing a job or facing an undesirable come to another part of the country, gives you a foothold if a similar situation ever comes up again. Cherishing the moment of grace as your 1st love enters your life is a great blessing. Basic cognitive process it each time you come back to it in your journal does that experience a blessing for all time. Reminding yourself of the sweetness of a summer's night in the middle of winter means you can still hold onto the rhythm of life in the seasons themselves. Rather than feeling stuck in our memories, unable to release them to come forward in our lives, journaling our memories allows us to place them in perspective, integrate them into our lives, and use them as tools to continue to create and develop our futures.

To that end, memories are as well great mysteries that evolve over time as they overlap in our hearts and souls, and fill in the gaps in our consciousness that we have left behind. It is fascinating to me that our whole lives are virtually hold on in our heads. Granted, there are a few pieces of information flitting about in each of us that is better left untouched and silent. But most of this compact filing system, and how we've organized it for ourselves, is quite a miracle. The much we cognize of our memories, the much we can unravel the great mystery that is our own in which to delight. It is a tremendous gift to cognize oneself fully. From that point of reference can be launched many a nice choices, from career to life partner. Common man else can do that for us, or should. Journaling your memories puts your life activity in your own hands, and allows you to shape your futurity with consciousness and wholeness.

Finally, what is extraordinary just about journaling memories is that you can start where you like, and continue in any direction you choose. It is your life, your garden and your roses. Equally extraordinary is the garden you can create in your heart and soul, a garden you can visit any time, any season, whenever you choose to open your journal and remember.

About The Author

Cory L. Kemp

As an ordained minister I have worked in educational ministries in some congregations, as well as pastoring a congregation. My writing has focused on prose essays and I have recently submitted a system of rules memoir for publication. My ministerial background and love of writing have combined to develop Creating Women Ministries, a website dedicated to encouraging system of rules dialogue, particularly among women, through workshops, journaling and personal spiritual development. My website can be found at http://www.creatingwomenministries.com and I can be reached by email at creatingwomen@irun.com. My diary is set at http://creatingwomenministries.blogspot.com.

This article was denote on Nov 05, 2005