Do you have items which you keep merely because of the positive memories they bring to mind?

Just as when something reminds us of a happening that caused us to feel pain, fear, sadness etc., we tend to re-experience those emotions in varying degrees.

In the same way, positive memories bring a feel-good factor.  

I worked for over 40 years as a psychologist in adult mental health. The one fact that I had to work hardest to instil in people was that increasing the daily feel-good vibes in small ways, is possibly the most important step towards feeling better overall.

Who hasn’t at some stage brought back some kind of souvenir or keepsake from a holiday in the hope that, when back home in the daily routine, a glimpse of it will remind them of the happy experience and lift their spirits?

I love to make detailed decorative items that will be brought out by the family at Christmas. I picture them diving into the storage boxes each December to rediscover their treasures. Items that may have already seen numerous Christmases are greeted again with the excitement of a visit from an old friend.  

It is hoped that these may become much treasured family heirlooms brought out each year to evoke good memories of other Christmases and add to them.

Any item that the brain experiences along with positive feelings will tend to re-evoke those feelings to some degree each time it’s encountered again. Any gift presented at a happy time will be a bringer of happy feelings to the recipient. The longer a gift lasts, the more good vibes it can bring.