Flowers Beckoning
Springtime! Woohoo! Gorgeous blooms that I can't name and warmer, longer days. Spring is energizing and motivating. Spring is a lovely, encouraging kick in the pants..
The Nepalese poet, Bhuwan Thapaliya, wrote, "Spring is when flowers beckon in every corner of your heart." I love this and it's not just because my name means spring.
There's beauty in our gratitude for what we have and for what's possible. But, if you're like me, you see and address the obvious, easier stuff while tucking away the more important stuff for another season.
Thing is that some things absolutely need our attention today.
I'm not trying to be doom and gloom. But the truth is, my heart sinks when I speak to someone whose parent is beyond the point where I can work with them. Maybe her dementia has progressed too far or he's had a terrible fall. It saddens me to think of the missed opportunities to capture a father's telling of how he met his beautiful bride or an aunt's colorful recollection of her childhood home.
Annie gifted Family Love Letters to her parents. She offered this advice to someone who is on the fence -- for whatever reason -- about preserving their loved one's stories:
"Ask yourself if your parents pass away, will you regret not having their stories documented? I can rest easy knowing I've done everything in my reasonable power to enable the stories to continue and for my kids to have someday. I alleviated any potential regret while giving my parents an experience. It was a gift for them to be able to talk about their lives.
Do yourself -- and your loved one -- a favor. Seize the day today. It's urgent!
This is the season to set things in motion.The good news is that capturing these stories is a priority; but it's also a low-hanging fruit. There's only an upside to moving on this project. But waiting could be, well, devastating.
If you want help on how to preserve family stories -- on your own or with me -- please reach out. I'd love to hear about your family and help you seize this opportunity today.