Documenting Holiday Memories
Kiera Slye
“...there are little nuggets of magic and joy all around you. Sometimes, you might not feel them right away, but time has a magical way of helping your mind see through some of the pain and find the light in hindsight. ”
Is there one Christmas that sticks out in your mind where all the magic just came together and it is one that you will always remember? Do you have certain family traditions that you do every year for the Holidays that you never want to forget? Or, are you in a period of growth and change and the Holidays just suck and you wish they weren’t happening right now? If so -- I hear you and I get you. I’ve got some insight I want to share.
One photo can spark a handfuls of memories. This photo is one of those for me. This is an image from the first Christmas I can truly remember. Christmas 1989. It was the year I received the gift I had wanted most from Santa and is one that I still have to this very day! My light up sparkly princess doll! This wasn’t just a battery operated doll with plastic glowing lights, it was a symbol of light and a beacon of hope for the future.
Christmas 1989 Rochester, New York
At 5 years old, I was in the middle of a transitioning through the turmoil of having my nuclear family break up. My mom and my biological father divorced the year prior. It wasn’t an easy or fun time for our family, but we were doing the best we could to find ways to be silly and find joy in our new life.
I remember that my mom was trying desperately hard to make Christmas magic for us again. As a 5 year old, I asked all the questions one would expect:
We had just moved so “How would Santa find our new house?”
We didn’t have a fireplace so “How would Santa get into our new house?”
“Was Santa really watching all the time-- because that’s kinda creepy?”
“Will he even hear my wishes for the magical light up princess doll?”
All of these questions were answered when I woke up Christmas morning hugging my magical Sparkly Princess Doll. Santa had found our new apartment and had come down the paper chimney that my mom had hand drawn on the wall with wrapping paper. It was a Christmas Miracle and I am so glad my mom documented this moment for me to be able to share with you almost 30 years later!
With my Nonnie proudly showing off my Sparkly Princess Doll - Christmas 1989.
One key thing I have learned through photographing through all of the good and hard times in my life is that there are little nuggets of magic and joy all around you. Sometimes, you might not feel them right away, but time has a magical way of helping your mind see through some of the pain and find the light in hindsight.
I am sharing this story with you in hopes that whatever you are going through this holiday season, you can take a second to sit down and document it.
Use your cell phone or Camera and photograph what your home looks like right now on the surface level.
Did you decorate your home this year?
Are you traveling to see family or friends?
Are there special traditions you do every year that you don’t want to forget?
Is there a story about your year this year that you want to be able to share with your future generations?
Consider taking short video clips of the sounds on Christmas morning or the sound of clinking forks on plates at Christmas Eve Dinner. Those sounds will fill your mind with memories years later.
Take one simple step and document your life NOW.
If you’re up for it- go a step further and hand write yourself a letter about right now or email yourself about what life is like right now. Print out that photograph and that email and put them in an envelope together to save for the future. Over this next year, I’ll share more ways you can work on your Time Capsule and ways for you to access your memories for years to come!
Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays to you all!
xoxo-
Kiera
P.S. I know you’re dying to see what Princess Sparkly Pants looks like today!
She was stored for 30 years and literally fell apart the second my toddler tried to touch her! Poor Sparkly Princess! Luckily, my father in law was here to help put her back together! I just don’t think she’ll be sparkling any time soon!