Blog for July 25th, 2022
Have you ever sat and let yourself have a “mind movie”? It’s something like visualization, you see one moment in time, in the past, for a second and then onto the next. The next thought or memory that brings up a picture of a special time or person.
This was a strategy we used in my classroom to teach kids how to relate to a story that we were reading. It was like they would turn the story into a movie themselves, it would help them relate to the story better and taught them how to visualize. Which is a great teaching tool and many different levels.
I’ve been doing some mind movies lately of when my grandson came to us as a little guy as well as the years that followed and all the things we’ve done together. The trips, the parties, the events and just simple stuff like watching “Leave it to Beaver” when he was little and then progressed to the “Rookie”. Lol. It’s great to access these memory banks, I love my memories, for the most part. Especially since recovery. But it can bring up overwhelming feelings, sadness, joy, smiles, tears, longing, and regret.
This reason I’ve been making mind movies lately is because I am thinking about all the fun times and adventures that we’ve had with our grandson these past ten years. I know we will have more, but not quite in the same capacity. The day-to-day memories will change. But we’ll still visit and do some holidays together. And who knows, maybe some more trips are in store for us.
Making a slideshow of the mind does not limit me just to my grandson, but I also have them of my sisters, mom, niece, stepdaughter and all those who have left planet earth that I love and care about. Yes, it’s called memories, but when I run them together, especially during prayer and meditation time, I get a whole new experience.
I have concerns about memory loss, as I’ve already lost one sister to dementia and this week the stark reality of my only living sister may be in the first stages of dementia sent me on a tailspin. The worse thing I can think of is Alzheimer’s and dementia. Therefore, I want to hold onto my memories and visit them as much as possible.
I know the Mind Movies sound a little weird, but it’s a pretty cool thing to do. I remember when I was new in recovery, they use to tell us to remember the last one (last time I got loaded) and think it through to the end- if we are thinking of getting loaded again. Play it out in your mind. Visualize it. If I thought it all the way to the end, the end was never a good result. Jails, institutions, and death would probably be the end result. Not to mention, sick, crazy, lost relationships and broke! I think you know what I mean.
Well, besides the mind movies, the memories I have, I am also making a real slideshow. I took a lot of pictures with our grandson over the last ten years and my friend suggested I make a slideshow for him to help him remember his time with us. I thought that was a great idea, so I have started that project.
I want to always remember all my memories and pray for that to happen. I don’t care if it’s good, bad or ugly, they are my memories and I want to keep them. Even the bad serve a purpose.
Question of the Week: Do you like to visit your memories?
