TL;DR:
- Use everyday photo memories to connect with loved ones.
- Share screengrabs with specific memories via text.
- Recall stories, strengthen ties, and create micro-moments of joy.
When we reflect on the past holiday season, many of us may recall beautifully extraordinary gestures that showed others how much they mean to us. As we usher in this first week of a new year, let’s take something ordinary and simplify it in less than 30 seconds. This may show your love and appreciation in a far more genuine way than any grand holiday gift could do.
You know those photos or memories that pop up in our photo app or social media platforms? It may say something like “On this date 10 years ago” or “Your Memories to Look Back on Today.”
When you see them, what do you typically do? Most of us usually smile (or cringe)!
For years, I’ve had a practice when it comes to these memories that pop up on my screen, a small shift in action. I use these photo memories as a vehicle to connect with my people not just during the holidays, but all year long.
Let’s use the memories that literally come into our hands and get them back out into the world to the people who matter most to us. Click To TweetLook What Popped Up!
Here’s what happens. A memory pops up. Maybe it’s a sweet picture of my kids when they were little, a hilarious picture with my friends, a memory with extended family, or a sweet picture of my mom. I screengrab that puppy, start a new text to a person or a small group of people and say, “Look what popped up!” Then I may share something specific I recall about that memory.
- The sweet picture of my kids? That goes to the “fam” text with Pat, Emerson, and Ryan. It reminds us of a memory that I swore I would always remember, but escaped our heads or hearts. It overtly reminds us of our history as a family of 4. Sometimes, I’ll just send it to Pat and we’ll look at each other like, “How in the world did we get through that time of diapers and preschool and loud plastic toys?” We feel proud and connected as a little team.
- The ridiculous, hilarious picture with friends? That will most likely be borderline inappropriate with some humor and “remember when we…” tomfoolery. As you can imagine, that causes a whole situation on a text thread.
- A beach memory with extended family? That goes right to my nieces and nephews in Western New York with a text that would read something like, “Ahhhh! Can you believe how little you were here?”
- And that sweet picture of Mom. Sharing that photo memory keeps bringing her into the room and help our grieving hearts remember something beautiful.
Recall Memories, Echo Stories, Strengthen Ties
These little screengrabs and texts take maybe 15 seconds. But it’s what happens after that initial text where the magic happens: Memories are recalled, stories are echoed, ties are strengthened.
Arthur C. Brooks, co-author of Build the Life You Want says, “To have enjoyable thoughts, 2 things are important: people and memories.” Micro-moments of joy are created through this simple act of sharing photo memories with people who are important to us. Furthermore, since we know that happiness is a discipline, this small shift in action helps our brain code this optimistic pattern: Good things have happened in the past, so we anticipate good things for the future.
Author Emily P Freeman invites us to enter 2024 by asking ourselves what worked and what didn’t work in 2023. I can tell you that this works every time and I plan to prioritize this small shift in action in 2024.
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I hope that 2024 is filled with all kinds of new and beautiful memories.
Let’s cherish and honor the memories that come into our hands by sharing them with those who mean the most to us. It doesn’t have to be a beautifully extraordinary gesture. It can be a 15-second screengrab that shows someone how much our time with them matters.
Recall those memories.
Echo those stories.
Strengthen those ties.
Some more happiness just may pop up in 2024.
Small Shifts; BIG Gifts!
The next time a memory pops up in your social media or photos, take a moment to share that memory with those who shared it with you. You are strengthening connections and helping your brain anticipate good things in the future!
About Suzanne Dailey
Suzanne Dailey is a proud member of the Teach Better Family! She is an instructional coach in the Central Bucks School District where she has the honor and joy of working with elementary teachers and students in 15 buildings. Suzanne is Nationally Board Certified, a Fellow of the National Writing Project, and has a master’s degree in Reading. She is dedicated to nurturing and developing the whole child and teacher. Suzanne lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.
Check out the Teach Happier Podcast here!
