You know the sing-song that goes “The toe bone is connected to the foot bone & the foot bone is connected to the ankle bone…” and so on. Walks right up the whole body – kids love it!
But there is truth in it that goes deeper than the physical body connections.
It is my premise that the heart is connected to our photos & stories – and I am not just talking about the physical heart.
However, as an aside, when I did my research, I found several articles that linked mental health and heart disease and not just in a behavior sense. Actual changes in the body overlapped — like blood pressure changes and others. Keeping hearts healthy also was connected to brain problems such as stroke and dementia. Connections everywhere!
Back to my premise – especially since I have been focused this past week on launching my “heart” course titled “Create Your Life-Story Photobook in 3 Easy Steps Without the Overwhelm”. I firmly believe the following statement which is also on my website:
Your mental health reflects the renewing of your mind from the very deepest part of your heart –which for many of us is our personal and family stories of blessings, victories, hardships and obstacles overcome. We often need help curating and knowing how to best preserve the photos and family histories. Our hearts are encouraged and refreshed as these enrich our attitudes and become an integral part of our lives.
It has been a few years in the journey of developing this course, testing it and then working through the creation and delivery via an “online launch” to you, the folks on my blog list. And I have been surprised by a few things.
Not surprising was that people don’t want to talk about things that remind them we have a finite lifetime on earth. I remember how I felt when my first genealogy class teacher gave us the assignment to write our own “obituary” – after groaning, I realized it was depressing, saddening – ugh!
But as I wrote it, I realized I was the only one who really knew what I wanted to emphasize – how I wanted to be remembered. It was a very sobering exercise. But it gave me a new perspective – actually a new assignment for my own purpose. Plus, I wanted to help others get past that same repulsion.
This helped fuel my desire to encourage hearts and lives in the present by helping people curate, preserve and enjoy the photos and stories of their lives – as well as the lives of their loved ones and ancestors.
Of course, a few bible verses come to mind as I explored this wisdom:
“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Proverbs 25:11
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” Psalm 77:11
“…what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” Psalm 78:3-4
Immediately what pops into my mind is July 11, 1999. The steering pin on my car sheered off as I traveled at 65 mph over Raton Pass. The steering wheel spun in my hands and I could only jump on the brakes with both feet as my car followed gravity sloping to the left side of the road. Sliding to a stop along a guard rail (I have since noted all the places over Raton Pass that DON’T have a guard rail – eeks) everything in the car flew forward to the front seat. Yet I climbed quickly over them to get out the passenger door and to the side of the road. I knew cars would be coming fast around the curve behind my car and I should get clear.
What was my first thought? “Lord, you aren’t finished with me yet!” I knew I was spared – and there was more life to be lived. Boy, did that focus me – big time! And more lessons to come as I had to gain confidence again to be able to drive a car and turn the steering wheel – what was the Lord teaching me? (happy to have that conversation with you when you have more time)
My second thought? A humorous one – “How did my purse get on my shoulder as I climbed over the debris to exit the car?” Yep – don’t get between a woman and her purse – I warn you! They are attached.
All it takes is a quick remembering of that event and my heart sings praise and thanks – my gratitude level goes up – my appreciation and enjoyment of daily living is raised a few levels higher. My heart is enriched and encouraged – and it is connected to my mindset, my attitude, and overall well-being.
Encouraging the heart can occur with just telling a story. Part of the perspective that comes with living a little longer is that as you look back seeing the context of your life, you see God providing, God acknowledging your need, and then you can share the encouragement you have received with others. And a good photo drives it home with more than you can sometimes express in words alone.
The photos trigger memories reminding us of powerful times and stories. All of these woven together become an over-arching life-story which will enrich and encourage family members, friends and certainly generations to come. I sure wish I had more of these from my parents, grandparents and ancestors.
We just finished watching “Band of Brothers”, the series. The stories told and passed down, the military records meticulously recording movements and events, the daily life in the foxholes in Bastogne, the genuine photos mixed in with the movie photos – all powerful! They captured and enriched us 75+ years later. Oh, the lessons we can glean from them!
But don’t fall into the trap of saying “my story is not important” – just think about how much you would like to know about the daily life of your great grandparents. And remember, they would say they were just doing normal activities – nothing special—and probably would have echoed the same sentiment about not having any great story to tell.
Okay – here’s your “call to action”. I share this from Leslie Leyland Fields who wrote Your Story Matters. First exercise she gave – it is now your quick assignment. And don’t tell me you don’t have time – just set the timer for 3 minutes and start typing away. Here it is:
Write as it comes to your mind – a free flow of thoughts – and answer this question: How did you get to school?
Do it – surprise yourself – enjoy yourself – then share it. (then go put it in your “Life-Story” folder ready for your photobook).
Good job! Savor the feeling….
