Scrapbooks that Heal

United States
August 22, 2007 8:32pm CST
Most of us scrapbook the "big events" in life, birthday parties, holidays, vacations and so forth. But, how many of us scrapbook about your divorce, the death of a loved one, a disease, depression, cancer, a child with a disability. How many of us only record the happy events in our lives, but avoid the sad things, the things that show our weaknesses, our sadness, our heartbreak, our pain. There is a reason for that...those are things we don't want to face, we don't want to admit, we just don't want to look back and remember. But do you know, that facing those fears, can actually make you feel better! Trust me...it's true. A few years ago, I went through a very nasty, heartbreaking divorce. I thought I was going to die...Two years later, I met someone new, but I still had so many feelings from my previous experiance, I didn't know what to do, so I wrote about it. Yes, I really wanted to just throw those old pictures of my ex-husband, or burn them, or well...there was a million things I could think of to do with those photos', but I decided to go ahead and scrapbook them before I married this new man. I spent two weeks scrapbooking those photos, journling the stories behind those photos, and basically, getting all my feelings out that I had hidden for 2 years. I did it, and when I finished that scrapbook...I closed the book, and haven't openned it since. When I closed that book, I felt that I FINALLY closed that chapter in my life. Someday, when my son wants to know about his biological father that took off 3 weeks before he was born, I have that scrapbook to show him, with stories, names, relatives that my son will never know. They are all in that scrapbook. And until he wants to know about the man that abandoned him, those scrapbooks will remain closed, because that chapter in my life, in OUR life, is done and over and closing that scrapbook...it was the most liberating thing I have ever done. I urge everyone to scrapbook the things that you don't want to talk about. I urge everyone to scrapbook your true feelings about having a child with a disability and the struggles, I want you to scrapbook the death of that one person that meant the world to you and is no longer with you. I challenge everyone to scrapbook the hard times, because the hard times are what makes us who we are. I challenge you to tell me your hard times and ask how to begin scrapbooking them. I'm here to help you! Good Luck...and don't forget to close that book when you are done with it.
2 people like this
6 responses
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
24 Aug 07
thanks for sharing all that. you're right, it's important to chronicle the sad periods of life as well. I guess I do that, in the sense that I write everything into a diary. and then I keep the diary and usually don't open it anymore. and by writing my feelings down it actually helps in the carthartic process. however, I don't think I would want to 'scrapbook' per se about events that cause me pain. first of all, I wouldn't have photos of that event or person and it would be a waste to use all my embellishments on scrapbooking that event. I suppose if it were a disabled child etc that would be fine, and the frustrations, the joys can all be journalled and photos can be scrapped. thanks for the discussion.
@livvy092002 (1032)
• Philippines
24 Aug 07
Wow, that was a nice job! Scrapbooking helped you in many ways. It allowed you to let go of your hidden emotions and helped you to discover more about your own true self (apart from keeping those pictures and mementos in order, just kidding) :-) Really, we have to have an outlet for the pressures and stress brought about by our experiences in life. As for me, i have also done scrapbooking or arranging photos in an album and putting captions on the pictures explaining my interests and experiences. It helped me cherish the memories and attune more my values and priorities in life. I also maintained a Journal, sort of a diary. When i'm too depressed, hurt, happy, sad, or feeling just ordinary.. i write everytime in my journal which i kept for many, many years now.. my feelings, my emotions, my thoughts, just anything..no holds barred..were all jotted down in that journal. All these helped me grow emotionally and spiritually.. i get to know myself better. I became aware/conscious of what i think, feel, say and do.. And yes, it helped me made a better, stronger person.. just like you. Good luck!
• Canada
23 Aug 07
I love what you did and think that would be a great way to deal with all the pain and heartache we feel when times are bad but don't know if I could ever do this . But wrighting things down is a good way to realease what we have built up inside and I can see how this would be very beneficial . It was such a nice idea not only for you but also for you son who will one day have questions and it will show him something of what he will always have questions about .
@Daelin (683)
• Brazil
23 Aug 07
I have tried scrapbooking but I stopped after a while. I admire who does it. As you pointed out it is a good way to have a closure.
@Buggheart (445)
• United States
23 Aug 07
I have never thought of doing that. One of my faults is that I tend to take more pictures of places and things than of people which is a bad thing. I was recently looking at pictures from a trip I took with friends and most of my pics were of the sights in England but my friend's pics were mostly of us friends. So having said that I can't say that I've got pictures of unpleasant events or experiences. I think that's a really good idea though and I'm so glad to hear that it helped you out so much. I just read a book about a scrapping chick who scrapped her wedding as a means of getting over the divorce and being OK with being with a new guy. Your story reminds me of that.
@alamode (3071)
• United States
23 Aug 07
While doing a clean-out of my file cabinet, I came across many folders of things that had gone on with me over the years, and I had considered making a book of them... then had second thots cuz I don't want to seem too strange!!! Mine are xrays, MRI films, doctors' release orders, medical bills, etc--- I've had some rather nasty illnesses and injuries in the last 26 yrs!!! Maybe that would be just the thing to help me get past my anxiety over the path my life has taken--- think I might burn mine, tho!!!