The Perspective Of Longevity
Photo of me taken on the Oregon coast by the fabulous © Tracey Clark
My current mantra: I am not in a hurry. I am not in a hurry.
This past Tuesday I joined in on another Paperclipping Roundtable discussion. The Roundtable is a great weekly podcast that covers all kinds of topics related to scrapbooking with a variety of different guests from week to week. This week the topic was about telling longer family stories.
One of the themes that came out of the discussion, that's absolutely relevant to me and my life right now, is the idea of embracing a perspective of longevity. Of being a part of something for the long-haul. I see my scrapbooks as a life-long project and welcome that wholeheartedly. There will always be more stories to tell and more moments to celebrate and more connections to be made between past and present.
I absolutely love that.
I also love that my 12x12 albums are works in progress and that they reflect the evolving nature of my life. There's no being in a hurry and no catching up. Instead there is enjoyment and fulfillment and love. My scrapbooks are not judgmental - they welcome new stories at any time, even if it's been awhile since I last added a page, and they care very little whether the story comes from 1976 or 2010.
I'm finding that the way I view scrapbooking can help me in the way I approach this new home.
It's ok to take my time. It's ok to get a feel for the rhythms of this house just like I hunt for the rhythms of a story. It's ok to tackle one big story (one room) or to tackle little bits of different stories as the inspiration hits (one box here, one box there). It's ok to take a break for awhile and come back with fresh eyes. It's ok to let it evolve one day at a time because I'm in it for the long-haul.
I'm reminded once again that it's not about the extra stuff on the page or the extra stuff in the boxes. It's about what's most essential: the people, the right now, the old & new memories, the photos, the words.
My scrapbooks are home to my layouts. This house, moment by moment, is becoming our home.
Bring on the the beautiful, wonderful long-haul.
Beautiful photo, Ali! Thank you for the continued inspiration and down to earth approach to life and to scrapbooking.
You are a blessing to me!
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i love the photo! i really needed this today - as our town is under water i need to be reminded to take things one day at a time!! thanks.
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beautiful Ali!
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Thank you for such thought-provking ideas...gives me much to think about in my own life...take care
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I'm with you on that one Ali!!
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Great post...thanks for your words today.
mac
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It's interesting you post about this today b/c it's something I've been struggling with a bit. We're a military family and move house (and state and sometimes country) every few years, and recently it has been even more frequently than that. There are things we like about this lifestyle, but it can be difficult to invest--in schools, churches, friends, and even houses--when EVERYthing seems to be for the short haul, and nothing really feels like "ours." I want my children (and myself!) to have a sense of deep-rootedness, but it's something I have to be creative about and work hard at, in a life where we are "transplanted" often. Thanks for giving me some new ways to think about this!
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Absolutely!
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Absolutely!
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Absolutely!
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Absolutely!
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I really, truly want to be just like you Ali.
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Ali, this perspective is sooo right on, and totally hits home with me!I just moved about 2 months ago and feel pretty settled now, but yesterday I finally unpacked all my scrapbook albums (3 boxes full) because I just couldn't find a perfect place for these heavy treasures . I finally decided that the walk-in linen closet would have to do for now. As I pulled each one out of the box I sat and enjoyed them, savoring them, then pretty soon my daughter was there enjoying them too. Scrapbooking is a life long love, it makes me happy to know that there is no end in sight. Enjoy your new home and please post more pics, I love seeing it boxes and all.
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Well said!
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Ali, thank you so much for this post.
I have a colossal confession to make. I have been collecting scrapbooks supplies/stuff for 11 years now. I have a cute little craft room that my husband bought me. I surf blogs, I have books, I have magazines.
And yet. Yet. I have not made a single layout. :( I have some in progress. I have TWO partially completed December Daily albums. I captured a whole week in the life. I have over 15, 000 digital images on my computer. I have hundreds of pre-degital pictures. I journal for my kids all the time in books and have my own journal as well.
Yet. I don't make layouts. Cause I'm afraid it won't be perfect. That I'll remember more details later and it will already be done. That people will look at it and not like it. That I should already be done books for both my daughers (two and five) and how can I possibly, ever catch up.
I just re-read Staceys Photo Freedom and have resolved to change this. I want to enjoy making things, I want to just document something, anything and not be so paralyzed. Sigh. Wish me luck. :D
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That episode of the PaperClipping Roundtable struck something in me like a stone cast into deep waters. Your words here are like the the next ripple. Thank you.
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I know you can do it Heather! I have hundreds of imperfect layouts that don't tell complete stories...but they each tell little bits of the bigger story of my life (and the lives of those I love most).
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Ah, blown away by that photo of you!! I want one like that of me (but will have to wait 'til this dang sprained ankle heals a bit more....). Meanwhile, I have to say thanks for your writing - WOW! So right, so real, so perfect - everyone of us can learn something from this outlook. I need to look at my scrapping like this - it's a journey, I'm in it for life, enjoy it as I go. I've not scrapped for several years now, stuck where I last left off. I keep making excuses, doing other things, procrastinating. Now, with this new outlook, maybe I'll see where I can go with it. Thank you.
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I'm with Heather above. I'm a collector. I've yet to have "produced". I think I need to be hauled away somewhere for a week, with my stuff, sans kids.
Are you saying you have 1976 in the same album as 2010?
side note: have you completed your triathlon? How did it go?
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In one of my albums I do - the one I created for my Yesterday & Today workshop at Big Picture I have stories about me from all different years (it's an "all about me" 12x12 album).
Triathlon is this weekend!
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Excellent post!
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Hi Ali. Congratulations on the emerging next chapter of your life story...your beautiful new home! As always thank you for the inspiration and the caring philosophy for a life approach to scrapbooking. Enjoy the triathlon and the experience of your mind, body and spirit enjoined! At least that is how sports seem to work for me -- it is a time when all three come together and it just, well for lack of a better expression...ROCKS! Cheers to you this weekend!
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How did you get so Zen?
--good luck in the triathlon!
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Good Luck Heather,
Your words were so meaningful to me. I am right there with you. I make lots of cards and little books for others but mine own albums only have supplies and photos that are sorted and organized to be attached.
Your words reflect a heart that is full of love and truth--great tools for telling stories.
We both have the capacity to do this. Thanks for your story.
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Hi Ali,
This was a lovely post and very meaningful.
I added your phase: "Instead there is enjoyment and fulfillment and love" --Ali Edwards to my desktop.
Thank you.
Ellen
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