Inspirational message

Creating a scrapbook is valuable in so many ways. For one person it can be a relaxing activity. For another it might energize and inspire the imagination. Making a scrapbook can help build your own self-esteem or be used to encourage someone else. Any time energy is focused into a productive project, you’re doing something good for yourself—and probably for others too.

Reminiscing is good for the soul. Just taking time out to remember what you did last summer or who came to last year’s Christmas party can be a positive, enriching experience. It’s fun to look back to see what has changed and what hasn’t.

One of the most remarkable things about scrapbooks is that they can help people heal. Whether you’re creating a scrapbook or just reminiscing, the pages often hold a therapeutic, healing power.

A scrapbook can help someone who is grieving. While the pain of losing a loved one never goes away, remembering special moments with that person can help lessen feelings of loss. Although nothing can replace the unique presence of those we love, photos enable us to remember, celebrate, and communicate to others the impression they made on our lives. We can “bring back” lost loved ones just by remembering and reliving the good times we shared with them.

Reflecting on the past can be bittersweet, but it’s the kind of pain that brings healing, peace, and restoration.

Moving On

Sherry stood in front of the row of identical doors and heaved a sigh. Orange paint peeled off the storage building in random patterns. “What a run-down and dreary place,” she muttered to no one.

Not that it made much difference. She planned to be surrounded by enough piles to block out her surroundings. Key in hand, Sherry opened the padlock and yanked on the door handle, waiting as the gray, metal panels rolled up out of the way.

Early morning sunlight spread quickly into the small room, casting shadows on the back wall. Sherry surveyed the large number of boxes piled almost to the ceiling and for a moment had second thoughts about conquering the task at hand. Good thing Mom only had a two-bedroom duplex. Her mother had always told her she tried to tackle too much at one time, but today she was determined to get through this unpleasant task.

Almost a year had passed since her mother died suddenly from a brain aneurysm, leaving Sherry stunned and emotionally immobilized. Her mother had always been her best friend, and her absence left a huge hole in Sherry’s life. At the time she was barely able to handle the funeral arrangements, much less sorting and dispersing her mother’s belongings. Her only sibling, Ben, lived overseas and had only been able to come home briefly for the funeral. Her husband, Joe, had suggested storing her mom’s belongings until she was ready to go through everything.

Sherry told herself that she was as ready as she’d ever be. She’d willed herself to keep moving through the shock and denial immediately after her mother’s death, though she still couldn’t shake the anger. Some days she was so angry she didn’t even want to shake it. She felt cheated—her mom had been only sixty-four years old. Her rational mind knew there was nothing she could have done to predict or prevent what had happened, but she was still mad at herself for not being more attentive to her mother’s health. She was angry with her mother for leaving, even though she knew that made no sense. She was angry at her brother for not being more available right after their mother’s death, when she needed him most. Today she was furious to be stuck—again—dealing with the aftermath alone. And she was angry with herself for being angry with those she loved. Sometimes it felt like the guilt was the only thing that checked her growing bitterness.

But as she stood facing the daunting task of sorting through her mother’s belongings, a new wave of resentment washed away even the guilt and brought back fresh anger. Fine! she thought. I’ll just get this over with.

Pushing up her sleeves, Sherry started shuffling and slamming boxes marked “books” and “tax records” and “clothes” without even opening them. Adrenaline spurred her on for about a half-hour. She slowed down a little and was more careful with the boxes marked “china” and “decorations,” looking inside long enough to pull out anything she wanted to keep as a memento but not long enough to let her emotions get the best of her again.

The next box was “gardening.” Her mother had loved to garden and always had a plethora of seeds and how-to guides and tools. Maybe she would keep those. But she couldn’t look at them. She added the box to the modest “keep” pile.

An unlabeled box caught Sherry’s attention.

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This excerpt used by permission.
from Hugs for Scrapbookers © 2005 Stephanie Howard
All rights reserved.
Published by Howard Publishing Co. Inc.