“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” — William Wadsworth
Just as pictures are visual reminders of moments in time, the written word is the story to accompany them.
Although a picture is worth a thousand words (so true), it’s nice to have a few thoughts on the moment from those who were there to witness and document it. I’ve seen many pictures that I would enjoy hearing the story behind.
Tell me about that day. Who are the other people in the image? Why were you there? Where were you? Did you do this often? What about the before and after of the picture? What emotions does the picture evoke in you?
So many questions…
Returning to the “digitize the million paper photographs” project – there are so many stories in those images. I could never write them all unless I stopped making new memories. I do hope to document a few though.
Stuart had become an amazing photographer and left us with many beautiful images. I wish I could ask him questions about some of them. What did he like about it? Where exactly is it? Again, so many questions that will never be answered. I enjoy looking at them and seeing him in my mind’s eye, looking through the viewfinder, loving what he saw and clicking that shutter.
He had started digitizing a lot of his earlier images from his travels, and it’s clear he always had a gift for the art of photography. I can look at those and remember his stories about each one.
As his mom, I have gathered and read every word I could find (that he wrote) on any subject. His words (even the to-do lists) are a balm for my broken heart. I pull those words close to my chest, and I can hear his voice.
I have a letter that my granny wrote me when I started my business years ago. It speaks so much about her journey as a business owner and how proud she was of me. It’s written on yellow legal pad paper – it may as well be written on a diamond stone with gilded gold lettering. Again, held closely to my heart, I can hear her strong, clear voice before cancer weakened her. After all these years, it resides in my bedside table.
The stories are worth writing. Someday, they might mean something to someone.
My scribbled words are the breathings of my heart.
What about you? Do you journal or write about your experiences? What is your favorite way to journal? Paper and Pen? Laptop? I would love to hear from you. Feel free to join my email list – let’s be friends!
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I love this. You inspired me years ago to start a “Thankful Journal” fever for little things).
i wish I still had all the letters written to me and my family before technology and the speed of life rushed in! The thrill of seeing a handwritten letter in the mail….