So i've been doing a lot of thinking over the last few days which was prompted by a death in our family.
When I went to my mums yesterday we were talking about my grandfather's life, and were looking through photo albums. I found a photo of him during his younger years that has stuck with me (and not because he looks like "Christopher Moltisanti" from the Soprano's).
Photos are important. Not just after you die, but for documenting occasions, telling the story of your life, prompts for remembering the good times. They're a way of keeping people in your life alive, whether they've passed away or whether you've grown apart.
It shouldn't just be about documenting the good times though, they let you reflect on the not so good times and remind you know how far you've come. I feel that way about my earthquake photos. Its not a time I think back on and say "oh that was fun" It wasn't but it reminds me that life will go on, and that taking things one day at a time we got through it all. We're stronger and more resilient because of what we've been through and I don't ever want to go back to being complacent about life.
So what can you do about it? take photos and lots of them, every day if you can because in 40 years you don't want to look back and think "I wish I could remember x thing" or "why wasn't there more photos of myself". Yes that last one is one I'm working on personally, I don't really like being in photos but in my heart I know i'll regret it later if I don't put myself in some more. I might not be happy with how I look but being uncomfortable for a few moments while a photo is being taken is a price worth paying for having memories captured for the future. I don't want to forget.
I feel so blessed that I can take photos, and I don't want to let that gift go to waste.
When I went to my mums yesterday we were talking about my grandfather's life, and were looking through photo albums. I found a photo of him during his younger years that has stuck with me (and not because he looks like "Christopher Moltisanti" from the Soprano's).
Photos are important. Not just after you die, but for documenting occasions, telling the story of your life, prompts for remembering the good times. They're a way of keeping people in your life alive, whether they've passed away or whether you've grown apart.
It shouldn't just be about documenting the good times though, they let you reflect on the not so good times and remind you know how far you've come. I feel that way about my earthquake photos. Its not a time I think back on and say "oh that was fun" It wasn't but it reminds me that life will go on, and that taking things one day at a time we got through it all. We're stronger and more resilient because of what we've been through and I don't ever want to go back to being complacent about life.
So what can you do about it? take photos and lots of them, every day if you can because in 40 years you don't want to look back and think "I wish I could remember x thing" or "why wasn't there more photos of myself". Yes that last one is one I'm working on personally, I don't really like being in photos but in my heart I know i'll regret it later if I don't put myself in some more. I might not be happy with how I look but being uncomfortable for a few moments while a photo is being taken is a price worth paying for having memories captured for the future. I don't want to forget.
I feel so blessed that I can take photos, and I don't want to let that gift go to waste.
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