In this rollercoaster of life we are afforded many things. Likely one of the best and some would argue at times the worst can be memories. The end of each year has many reflecting on what happened over the course of previous months. Laughter, tears, and all that makes us human as we pass through the daily ups and downs. And, woven into this fabric of all of it are memories.

Truth be told I try to take moments each year to reflect back on just what has occurred in my own life. I think about those moments of belly laughs, those moments of sorrow, and those moments when I just don’t know how I’ve passed through them without imploding. I think about the smiles, the hearts, the genuine people that feed my soul. I think about those that live life differently than me by choosing the negative, choosing judgment, choosing the glass half full. I think of the humility that drives my daily walk and how others seem to let self righteousness fill theirs. I think of how grateful I am for all that I’m given and how I sometimes should be even more so.

In all of it there are mountaintops and valleys. And, there are moments and souls that take our breath away. In all of it their are memories. In my own life I’ve grown to harness these memories as drivers for good and see them as gifts. They are gifts to warm our hearts, calm our minds, and sometimes direct us toward doing better. Regardless, there are certain random dates, places, and moments that fill our minds and encourage our movement forward.

What are your memories that feed and drive what you do? Are they recent or decades old? Are they ones that took your breath away or anchored in the mundane? I encourage you all to reflect on these from time to time as reminders of all that has made you who you are. I also would suggest that you view them through the lens of being gifts…. If only for a moment.

Photo Credit: An extremely unique Brewery that was once in Columbus, Ohio that fills me with some very special memories. The door was closed and sign removed, but I can’t help but smile when I drive by because of the memories it holds.