Our memories highlight special people

I recently had one of those moments of discovery while reminiscing about major events and milestones in my life. I came to the simple yet profound understanding that certain memories are special, not only because of what I was doing at a given time but, more importantly, who I was doing it with. Now I realize that it’s not only what matters, but who matters.

Every one of us is on a unique journey through our earthly lifetime. We all have the same basic physical needs for food, clothing and shelter. And we all have the same emotional needs, probably the most important being to love and be loved.

When I reflect on the memories I hold most dear, I realize that certain people stand out in each one. Most are happy times shared – childhood activities with family and friends, vacations, road trips, spectacular hikes in the mountains, glorious days at the beach. Some are times when I struggled – with trying to get a passing grade in a difficult course, with problems on the job, with difficult relationships, or bearing the consequences of bad decisions. But always, I can reflect on the people who were there to either enjoy happy moments in time or to help me through a struggle – people who were in my life to bless me by filling a need. 

Most of our days are spent going through the motions of a routine. The special memories are made on the days when we have free time to spend with those we choose to be with. And there’s another wonderful thought - that we get to choose who we spend our time with, and also that different people have chosen to spend time with us. We get to choose to be with people who lift us up and support us. Those are the people who help us achieve our goals and find happiness.

There’s a song lyric that says, “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” I think the songwriter is saying that we are lucky if we realize that the relationships we have with others give our own life meaning, and that we find our greatest joy in interaction with other people. 

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I’m thinking it’s the perfect opportunity to write/text/call the most special people in our memories, telling them why they’ve made certain events we’ve shared so special. Maybe that will help others to also come to the same understanding - that the people who love us through life are great treasures to be cherished. 

Now ponder these: “Humans, not places, make memories.”- Ama Ata Aidoo; “The things we do outlast our mortality … made out of the memories people have of us.” -  R. J. Palacio; “I count myself in nothing else so happy as in a soul remembering my good friends.” -  William Shakespeare