#WQWWC.....December 29th Theme.....Recollections/Memoirs

It's another week of  Writer's Quotes Wednesday, hosted by Marsha from Always Write. If you're interested in joining, you can find more about #WQWWC here.

It's been a few weeks since I participated. We were busy with work, had our grandkiddos for 6 days (nothing got done that week) and I just couldn't pull anything together. A break isn't a bad thing though. I'm looking forward to the New Year and new topics.

This weeks topic is recollections/Memoirs which is very fitting for the end of the year don't you think? Marsha used the word reflection instead of Recollection and I like that word too, but maybe I'll share that one next week as we have a bit of a break if we want. 

Recollection = A thing recollected; a memory, the action of remembering something

Memoir = a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources. An essay on a learned subject. An account of something noteworthy.

As we wind down this year, we are potentially looking back on all that 2021 brought our way, or maybe we have lost loved ones and have spent much time sitting with our memories. 

I discover as I get older, the more fascinated I am by the stories of others. My family, other people's family's. I'm loving history, culture, traditions. The funny thing is, I don't have a very great memory myself...I used to tell my mom she could make up anything about my life and I'd probably believe it because I don't remember a whole lot. Why that is, I don't know. I could speculate but it's probably not worth it. I wish she was still here so I could ask her so many questions, along with every other person who has passed away. 

In 2018 when my grandma turned 90, my aunt put together this neat little book that everyone contributed memories of things they remember her saying, things she was known for, stories she told. She left us in 2020 and I'm so glad we have this. I also have a few books that my mom and grandma filled out for grandkids with the stories of their lives. I love reading those. 

One thing I've discovered is that it's so important to not be afraid to talk about memories and stories of those who have passed away. It's what helps keep them alive. At least that's the way it is for me. 

Here's what I came up with for some quotes. I loved each of them as I read them and found they really applied to my life. For me, quotes are so meaningful, so life giving, so encouraging. 

Wow. Yes. So good. Sometimes it's easy to think that our lives are just boring, with not much to them, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.

With both my parents gone now, sometimes I feel a bit lost, like "wait, what about this, who's going to tell me that, where are all my records". It's weird.

Wow. How true is this! I never thought of it like this though. 

I love music and the feelings and emotions it can evoke within me. It is healing, soothing, life giving. 

I read this quote quite a few years ago and loved it. Sometimes it's so important to pause and look at what's in front of us with new eyes. Whether it's literal landscape, or a situation, behavior, or person.

Wow. How true is this. I am realizing this more and more. That two people will more than likely recall something completely differently because they are looking at it from two different lenses and experiences.

This made me chuckle. Like the quote above it, we all remember things through different lenses and experiences. What has been told to us and how it was told. 

I recently (as in this morning) asked people to share memories they had of my mom, dad and grandma. It will be fun to see what people share. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin