Memories

On the other side of lockdown and social isolation, I keep thinking this:

“I want to make memories.”

Life is too short not to be moving in the directions we desire. I don’t mean this solely in a morbid way, though indeed, life can be literally quite short. Primarily, I mean that life can be unpredictable, and some eras of time are disruptive. In such times, I hope we have enough social resources and inner resilience to be adaptive.

Yet even in those times, we might ask ourselves, “What is something I can look forward to today?” It might be a small gesture, comfort, or intentional act. It might get us through.

And when life is more smooth, why not choose to make memorable moments on purpose?

I like this poem from Mary Oliver. It’s entitled, “Don’t Hesitate.”

Don’t Hesitate by Mary Oliver

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, be very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.


Yes, joy is not made to be a crumb. So why not plan memorable moments purposefully? And enjoy them when they show up unexpectedly?

–Renee Roederer