Spot of T The Gift of Memories

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. It’s a day when we show our love and appreciation to those who are close to us. It’s always fun to buy trinkets, chocolates and cards but this year, I wanted to do something a little different. So I got to thinking – what could I give my husband that would be more meaningful than a storebought gift?

I started reminiscing about all the things that had brought us to this point in time. To put it simply, I started reliving our history. For several weeks, I thought about lots of things…some little, some major … but all smileinducing. And I struggled with just what to do with all these memories, which ones to choose, and just what to do with them. And then it hit me.

Why did I have to choose? Why not give them all? If they gave me so much pleasure on my jaunt down memory lane, then why not share them all? So, that’s exactly what I did. I gave him the gift of memories - 365 of them, to be exact. I thought of little bits of our history, great times and experiences, and created a list. Some were tiny glimpses of moments that made us laugh. Some were profound experiences we shared. All together they formed “us.”

And that was the gift. From the first day we met to present day, in no particular order. I took the list, cut it into 365 pieces, and put them all in a large container. For the next year, he gets to open one memory a day. He gets to relive those moments, as I did, one at a time.

What started out as a great gift for him brings joy to us both. Each day, we can laugh at the memory du jour, remembering how much fun we had creating it or living it. And when you really take the time to think of so many joyful times, it cannot help but lift your spirits.

This is a gift you can give to anyone, and it doesn’t have to be this detailed. Memories are powerful and cost nothing. It can be a lot of fun for both recipient and giver alike and the effects can be long-lasting. It is a gift from the heart. And what more appropriate gift could there be for Valentine’s Day?

I have also done this kind of thing for birthdays and graduations. It is truly a joy to do. Just make sure to have pad and paper around at all times because you will find yourself thinking of little memories all the time. You may not realize it but you are surrounded by memory-evoking things almost all the time. A song or a scent or a food or a TV show … the list goes on and on. And even now, after having completed my gift to my husband, I still find myself thinking of more memories, obscure details and moments of silliness that we have shared. And I am still smiling. Try it. I can almost guarantee you’ll be smiling too.