Karla’s Korner – Memories: The Diary of our Lives

I am proud to introduce a new column to Madame Deals! I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

Memories: The Diary of our Lives…

My friend Connie and I have known each other for more than five years. When I moved into town our children were in the fifth grade. Now, in their second year of college, we are both amazed and grateful that they are where they are doing what they want and need to be doing to pursue the next step in their lives. Confiding in one another and sharing in both joys and sadness, we cling to the fact that we are making memories. Connie has been one of my biggest supporters always lending an ear (or a shoulder) when I’ve needed to vent, cry or celebrate some of the most momentous times in my life. Connie always celebrates that no matter what we are going through, we are making memories. I love her and the positive hopeful impact she makes on my life and in my heart every day.

Sitting down to reflect on memories and the emotions that I have stored away in my “memory bank” I am overwhelmed. Filled with a vast array of memories from my life I realize that while some of those memories are not so pleasant, they too have helped mold me into the person that I am today. I believe that it takes both good and not so good memories (events) to help us figure out who and what we want to be. And, I believe that because of the memories we continue to make, our “makeup” and who we are can and often will change throughout the course of time.

Some of my earliest memories as a child were those centered around family gatherings. Growing up on a farm, our life never really allowed us to take big family vacations. We did, however, find many reasons to gather together as a family and celebrate certain holidays and birthdays. One of my favorite memories was the big family reunion held every year on July 4th at my great grandmother’s home. My great grandmother Mae was a tiny little woman who worked hard all of her life. She gave birth to twelve children and stood no more than 5 feet tall. With her long sleeved high collared dress, black lace up boots and pure white hair stacked in a neat bun on her head, she took pride in knowing all of our names and sharing a little time with each of us. I often wondered how such a tiny little woman could have birthed that many children and spent so much time taking care of her big house and farm long after her husband had passed away. Not strikingly beautiful by today’s standards, I always thought that she was one of the most beautiful people I had ever known. Her beauty radiated from within; something that I often envy. Other childhood memories include homemade ice cream, watching fireworks from my grandparent’s yard, the huge weeping willow tree in the yard of my childhood home and riding my bicycle down the hill without the chain and no brakes and my momma yelling after me.

As life plodded on and the teen years came the memories are not so warm and fuzzy. Growing up for me was difficult at times and often hurt. While there were plenty of good memories during those years, I believe that the difficult ones were more important in my development as an adult. The teen years brought about the realization that hearts get broken (a lot), friends are not always who or what they seem, and no matter how much you think you know EVERYTHING, you don’t. It’s those memories that taught me what I required (yes, required) in a life partner, how to choose my friends and that no matter how old I get I will never ever know everything; and that’s okay.

At the end of the day, our memories are what we have stored away in our hearts and minds that not only allow us to reflect on our life events but make us who we are. Pay attention to the memories you are making with those you love. Taking time to document with photographs, journal writing and story-telling will keep the memories alive and allow you to learn and grow into the person you are supposed to be. In the words of famed author Oscar Wilde, “Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us.” Live life, make memories, store them in your life diary and know that who you are is a result of the memories you make; so take those memories, the good and the bad and be the best you that you can be.

Peace,

Karla

Check out all of Karla’s Korner articles here.

Also, please visit Karla’s Lifetime Moms page and read her articles.

Shop Madame Deals and Save!

Check out more Black Friday Deals and Cyber Monday Deals!