A Memorial of Puzzle Pieces

The word memorial according to the English Dictionary when used in its noun form means something serving as a remembrance. More often than not, the things we ought to forget, we remember and the things we ought to remember, we forget. Life happens. We get busy and suddenly the memory of a lesson learned escapes us and many of us find ourselves repeating patterns in our circumstances and relationships. It is imperative to remember the lessons we have learned in this life so that we can move forward and face the next obstacle or lesson that awaits us. Everything we experience can be seen as a collection of puzzle pieces. Every place, person, situation, hardship, season, love gained or lost, accident, traumatic event, achievement and so forth can  figuratively be seen as acquired puzzle pieces. These pieces when combined create the greater picture of your life story. Each piece is essential, each piece carries a lesson learned, each piece is needed equally to complete who it is that you are becoming one day at a time. When we fail to hold on to these pieces or "memories" we for all intent and purpose allow life to happen all the while missing the meaning behind it all.

So what can one do to remember the things that they ought to remember? There are many practical solutions out there such as: using a planner, writing things down in a diary, setting reminders on your phone or leaving sticky notes in places that you frequently traffic such as the refrigerator and so on. These practical methods have proven to help and be effective. However, there is no limit to creativity and so the possibilities are endless. Take pictures to capture moments. Keep something from a place you visited as a memorabilia. Create a tradition. Every year when the day that my mother passed away comes around I do something that makes me think of her, such as pick flowers, go to Baskin Robins or watch Gone with the Wind. This reminds me of the precious life she had and brings forth good memories of the years that I was blessed with her. Share your story. Every opportunity that comes your way for you to share a lesson learned may help another and will allow you to remember your lesson all over again while gaining a sense of purpose. David Riesman in "Books: Gunpowder of the Mind" stated that, "people tend to remember best the things they have felt most deeply"(Frank, 2001). Celebrate your own personal holiday. A National Holiday has been established specifically to remember our loved ones that have fought for our honor and freedom. We call this Holiday Memorial Day. As we celebrate Memorial Day take the time to remember those that have impacted us, and take the time to creatively come up with your own personal memorials so that the things you ought to remember will no longer be forgotten. The possibilities to create something that serves as a memorial are endless……...


Article Written By: Jessica Felix Jager, MSW

References

Frank, L.R. (2001). Quotationary. New York, NY: Random House Inc.

http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/memorial