Reflection on writing Memory book
Most of the time, we are used to read memoirs of famous people, people who have contributed to the society in a big way, Gandhi, Lincoln, Mandela, MLK, memories from monks, great orators, statesman, scientists and well known people. It is important to read it to understand their thought process, struggle and the path they followed. Each one is unique and each teaches us something new. These were extraordinary people.
I have been a skeptical reader when I see memorial book of "normal" people whom I have (or may have) come a across in the past; they can be family members or family member of friends. All of them were nice people living normal life making contributions to society but is a book necessary? I consider myself an ordinary person living a normal life with no significant contributions to the society so far - nothing disheartening here. Every small contributions help and I have made few small contributions so far and one of them is just living life. Now, what happens if someone writes a memoir about me ... I hope not ... but this year my viewpoint changed a bit.
When my father asked us few months back to make a memory book for my mom who passed away last year, I had no choice. Since it is for my mom, we got the project started. Collecting old picture, asking all the young grand-kids to put down the thought. What is written in the book is not that important but the process we went though opened my eyes. The memory book is not for others, it is for you, it is another healing step. In the book, it may be a passage, a poem or a painting or ... it can be anything. The emotions while doing the book is all there and that's why it make sense to do reflection and capture that in a line in a notebook or in a memory book or a beautiful painting or anything one can think of ...
We capture the memory books when a child is born, the date when when the child smiled, called Mom/Dad, walked, went to daycare and so on. Why not for dear ones who pass away also ... a book/notepad capturing the thoughts and reflecting life. I feel this is more important than taking dip in holy rivers or chanting few mantras (without understanding the meaning). This is the final step - this is the step of letting the flower flow or observing the reflection of infinite space in the ripples in the river. Ganga (holy river) is everywhere ... writing the book is the final dip - at least that's what I felt like.
I have been a skeptical reader when I see memorial book of "normal" people whom I have (or may have) come a across in the past; they can be family members or family member of friends. All of them were nice people living normal life making contributions to society but is a book necessary? I consider myself an ordinary person living a normal life with no significant contributions to the society so far - nothing disheartening here. Every small contributions help and I have made few small contributions so far and one of them is just living life. Now, what happens if someone writes a memoir about me ... I hope not ... but this year my viewpoint changed a bit.
When my father asked us few months back to make a memory book for my mom who passed away last year, I had no choice. Since it is for my mom, we got the project started. Collecting old picture, asking all the young grand-kids to put down the thought. What is written in the book is not that important but the process we went though opened my eyes. The memory book is not for others, it is for you, it is another healing step. In the book, it may be a passage, a poem or a painting or ... it can be anything. The emotions while doing the book is all there and that's why it make sense to do reflection and capture that in a line in a notebook or in a memory book or a beautiful painting or anything one can think of ...
We capture the memory books when a child is born, the date when when the child smiled, called Mom/Dad, walked, went to daycare and so on. Why not for dear ones who pass away also ... a book/notepad capturing the thoughts and reflecting life. I feel this is more important than taking dip in holy rivers or chanting few mantras (without understanding the meaning). This is the final step - this is the step of letting the flower flow or observing the reflection of infinite space in the ripples in the river. Ganga (holy river) is everywhere ... writing the book is the final dip - at least that's what I felt like.
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