I’m an avid believer that most of your focus in life should be aimed towards the present, and what’s to come. If it wasn’t, you wouldn’t get very far. However, I also like to take time to appreciate memories of the past. I think it’s important to look at who we once were to form part of an understanding of the person we are today.
My family and I have recently come into the possession of photos, letters, celebratory cards, passports, school reports, music boxes, and medals from 3, 4, even 5 generations ago.
I admire them all in some form.
I try to be mindful that we often only take time to preserve the most beautiful memories and possessions, so whilst it can sometimes look like our ancestors lived perfect lives, we can be sure that they experienced similar trials and downfalls to what we do today.
Despite this, I find it offers a glimpse into the best of who we can be. If our ancestors decided that these items were worth preserving, they must have meant a lot to them.
The photos are some of my favourites. There are hundreds. My Grandad seemed to have a particular fascination in capturing landscapes, which is something that I was previously unaware of. The photos were captured on film; you wouldn’t know what they’d turn out like until they had been developed, so whilst there’s a good amount of duds, there’s a few beautiful shots.
This one is a particular favourite. It doesn’t hold any sentimental value, but it stood out to me. It holds a rustic charm that’s quite soothing to look at. The sepia tone and red colour bleed from the film it was captured on represent a truly authentic moment in time:
However, as much as I appreciate a landscape, I’m more attached to our family photos. I had thought about sharing some on here, but a couple of thoughts led me to think that it wouldn’t be worthwhile. To start, they’re deeply personal, and I’d find it somewhat unsettling to open that up to the internet. But more importantly, although they mean a lot to me, they won’t necessarily mean anything to you.
You see, these photos capture moments from trips and occasions I’ve experienced over the years. Many are from times when my extended family and I would go on a 10 day camping holiday to a particular campsite in Wales. This became a yearly trip growing up, and it’s the memories here that represent some highlights of what I look back on with fondness.
We would spend some days exploring some of the local attractions, including a market, castles and a favourite of mine being the fairground. It had a wavy slide similar to what you’d find at a water park, with 4 lanes. You’d climb into an itchy brown cloth sack and experience a whole 3 seconds of excitement as you slide down.
On the other days we’d be left to play around the campsite. My sister, my two cousins and I would get around on our bikes, akin to something from Stranger Things or E.T… We’d park outside the onsite playground and spend hours on the slide, swings and rope climbing frame. Other times we’d ride down the road to see how fast our bikes could go. Most of the time, we wouldn’t ride too far; we’d just go back and forth between a space of probably no more than 200 metres. One particular year, we decided to be daring… We mustered the courage to ride further than usual. Riding further would mean losing visibility of the campsite, and that was a scary prospect for my pre-teen self. My heart was racing the entire way down, and after what must have been no further than half a mile, we reached a dead-end. It felt like a big achievement, but I was anxious to get back after travelling so far. We rode back as fast as we could, and made it in one piece…
So, why do I share these experiences? I wouldn’t blame you for thinking they’re boring to some degree. However, with this in mind, I thought my Uncle put an idea across well the other day. I can’t remember exactly what he said, but I do recall the meaning behind his words, which was to suggest that the feelings we hold towards an object or place are deeply personal to ourselves. Even if another person has had the same experience at the same time and location, the way in which each of us may take to that event could be completely different; and what becomes a core memory to one person, results in a forgettable moment for the other. In fact, if my uncle happens to read this post, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s forgotten about this brief moment in conversation; the thought my uncle had stuck in my mind because I found it important, but for him, it may have just been a passing comment.
One area most of us may appreciate, is that found in nature. Reflect on the joy of a warm summers day, with an occasional cool breeze. The air is distinctly fresh, or perhaps not so, as per those occasions where the smell of recently collected manure from the local farm finds its way to you… Ultimately however, you don’t mind, because you’re walking through a park surrounded by those you love. You see other families enjoying a picnic with their children, laughing, and running around playfully. It’s a fairly stereotypical example of an idyllic setting; it’s something most of us would agree as being something beautiful.
However, I don’t think even this example truly captures our uniquely personal perfect environment. Idyllic surroundings don’t need to be artificially perfect. I find they can quite easily accommodate those areas in life that others wouldn’t necessarily agree on or resonate with; yet, are things that have found a unique place in our hearts. The memories closest to me aren’t particularly thrilling for others to hear, and I’ve no doubt that my sister and cousins have their own perspectives on the times we spent in Wales.
So, what brings you joy?
I find that it’s often some of the environments we enjoyed in our youth that represent the surroundings we’ve come to be most fond of today. Think to the likes of being around your family; maybe it’s when you’re with your friends sharing in a particular hobby, or being part of a community you’ve grown close to. Being mindful of the good times may allow you to recall the core reasons behind what made them so good in the first place, and those reasons may stem from something deeper than the initial ideas that come to your mind.
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