Healing Through Photo Journaling

Album Outline

Celebration of Life Album

You’ll never know the beauty of bringing your memories alive through your own words if you don’t try

Opening the Gift Within:  Our precious memories become buried beneath our overwhelming pain. You can set them free by opening the gift that lives within us; and you will discover as I did, that wrapping ourselves, in our unforgettable and cherished memories, of our yesterdays will heal our brokenness, and keep our loved one’s spirit alive within our hearts.

Healing Journaling: This healing journaling becomes a unique reflection of our memories, thoughts and feelings. Through journaling we can transform our memories from scattered recollections, into meaningful stories, that will aid in our healing.  Journaling is “Our Voice” that will speak when we are no longer here to tell our story".  It’s this voice that is at the heart of our healing. Writing invites us to look inward and to capture the memories within. Our journaling gives us a place to share what we hold dear, and a place to go when we need uplifting.  Journaling gives us room to travel through our healing process one story at a time expressing each in our own words.

Gathering the Memories: Go through your photos and choose all the ones, that make you smile, remind you of your yesterdays together, that evoke feelings within you, and spend time reflecting on the stories as they begin to  unfold. Next make a list of special and ordinary memories, occasions and moments.  If it comes to mind it belongs here. Don’t waste time wondering if it’s important enough. Continue your list by jotting down other moments you shared that you didn’t find photos for. Now make notes next to each one, about the stories that came to mind as you selected your photos, or as you recalled the moments.  Next, place an x next to the ones that you have the strongest feelings about; the ones that made your memories begin to flow. Write what comes to mind even if at the time it doesn’t seem important. For your memories without a photo, paint the picture with your words.

Together Our Photos and Journaling Weave Together

“Our Story”!

 Each Story Completed Becomes a Gift of Healing

Journaling Tips: The first sentence is always the hardest. Once you get it on paper you will find your words will begin to flow.  Try to journal as many stories as you can in one sitting, while you’re focused and your words continue to flow. Write as if you’re talking to a friend and you really want them to know how special this person was to you, who they were, why they made such an impact on your life, etc. Writing a letter/s is an awesome way to share the beauty of your relationship, as you reminisce about your yesterdays, those special moments shared.  You’ll be surprised at the depth of feeling that will pour out onto your paper and the healing that will transpire.

Story Suggestions: You’ll find some of your most cherished memories are within the stories you and your family share at holiday gatherings. The ones that make you laugh, the ones that make you cry. Just let your heart talk to you and write what it’s telling you.  Add a “Gratitude Page/s”.  Ask family members and friends to write their favorite memories of your loved one and add them to your album.  Write of the blessing that they were to you and the joy they brought into your life. Write a prayer from your heart “thanking God” for the memories He has gifted you with.  Copy the lyrics of a song and/or poems that consoles and comforts you.  Write about the laughter and sunshine they brought into your life and the life of others. Focus on one story at a time.

Going Deeper: What I miss the most about you?  What memories of you do I want to preserve for my children?  What are the traits I admired most in you? How their personal faith affected you! How they are living through you today! Things that I’m glad we did together? What are the ways I keep you alive in my heart? What words or act of kindness did someone say or do, in your time of need, that you found meaningful and why? The possibilities are endless. It will be through your unique journaling that you will discover, your precious memories were so much stronger than your pain; and you will recognize, the enormous healing that has taken place within your heart. You then will begin to look forward, to a future, with many more precious memories, yet to unfold.

Copyright © Marlene Stratman 2008

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © Marlene Stratman 2008

All rights reserved.

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