I’ve learned a lot about the power of memories over the past few months.  I love taking pictures and videos of my family, and have always done so.  I also love looking at old family pictures and videos.  There is something about looking at a picture that takes you right back to the time when the photo was taken.  This Thanksgiving, my dad came over and we spent a bunch of time scanning old pictures of him and the family into the computer.  He sat by me, we listened to the Carpenters, and he chatted with me about what was happening when the pictures were taken.  I learned a lot about dad, about my childhood, and about what really matters…..family, relationships, and memories.  We watched old home movies (you know the kind that are on a movie reel that you run through a movie projector?) and he shared about those times.  I was too young in the movies to remember anything, but once again, I learned a lot about my childhood and my family of origin.

Christmas came and I, of course, gave gifts with pictures….mugs with the kids for the grandparents, a Christmas ornament with a picture of the kids for my wife, and Christmas calendars with pictures of the kids to the grandparents.  My wife reminded me that this is what I do every Christmas…I give memories as gifts.

This year, I asked myself “Why do I spend so much time and effort to create memories with photos?”.  It occurred to me…because I value family, memories, and relationships! 

So, why start blogging?  My main rationale for creating a blog is to create an ongoing, easily accessible log of “memories”.  Memories of events that impacted me enough to write a blog, memories of learnings I’ve had, memories of significant events in my life or my kids’ lives.  Blogging-a way to immortalize memories with the added benefit of making the memories “sticky” for me (the writing solidifies them) with the ability to share with anyone that cares to read!

So, here goes.  http://stoddsblog.com is now live. 

My final comment and challenge.  In 2004 I made a decision to video tape memories of the year with my wife and kids at the end of each year.  I haven’t done it every year, but I did watch the memories of 2004 on Christmas with my wife and Monica.  WOW.  What a powerful experience to watch memories from 6 years ago.  The kids were so young, we were so young, but the memories quickly came back as we held back the tears.

Will you join me this year and every year in videotaping your kids sharing their favorite memories of the year?