Scrapbooking: How it Changed my Life and Lifted the Pain

 

I am a scrapbooking junkie. I admit it!

One of my favorite things to do is to put together albums of photographs of my life. This is an activity that when done feels like time stops. I don’t look at the clock, and before I know it, the entire day has passed in contentment, creative activity, and complete peace.

Every page starts off blank before I add photographs, embellishments, and journaling. I have to say that this does not intimidate me, because it is my forte. It is my mental release, my way of making sense of the world, my experiences, and the lessons I have learned in life thus far.

It is my bliss.  

Life, however, was not always so blissful.  Over a decade ago, before discovering my love of scrapbooking, I had been in a difficult, diseased, and depressed stage of life. Maybe you have experienced something similar, but back then, I awakened uninterested, sullen, troubled, heavy-burdened, and mildly, if not chronically depressed. We’ve all been there!

I struggled with a few minor illnesses and a few benign tumors with the threat of surgery. Life had become burdensome. I had lost my zest. I survived by doing what was expected of me. Like a robot, I did my duties and lived a life devoid of passion or interest. I had forgotten who I was, what made me smile, what made my heart come alive, and what I loved to do. I had forgotten to live creatively. Back then, I did not know that using my creativity would spur me out of my depression.  

So, sixteen years ago on a beautiful day April day in the Rockies, I walked on the path near home with a new friend. As we strolled and talked, she explained to me how she recorded her memories with photographs she had taken and how much fun it was. She even added stickers and used colored, acid-free paper, and special pens in her albums to allow them to last as long as possible.  As she spoke, I felt an undeniable spark spring up in my heart. I knew then that I needed to create scrapbooks myself.  

Eager to begin scrapbooking, I immediately bought an album. The first one I worked on was a re-creation of a scrapbook I had made of my high school years that was falling apart (the paper was already disintegrating). This was a big project, but I was determined to complete it. I dismantled the old scrapbook and removed all the old photographs I had collected from high school. I then scanned them and had them reprinted. I bought a royal blue album, all the acid-free paper I would need, some stickers, royal blue and gold paper (my school colors) to place behind the photographs and special pens that do not bleed and would last a very long time. I was excited! I envisioned how I wanted the album to look and planned how I was going to design it before I started putting it together.

This creative endeavor got me out of bed in the morning. It gave me the will to live.

As I started putting together this album, I began to realize how active I was when I was in high school. Memories flooded my mind and I started to feel better. I remembered all the different kinds of friends I had: the jocks, the geeks, the boy-crazy, drama queens, the shy ones, and even some of the partiers.

Back then, I was popular and could easily make friends with anyone. I did not judge much, and I was happy. As I created page after page and section after section of my scrapbook, I realized I functioned best and happiest when involved in different things.

I relished in the memories of my cross-country and track teams and all the races we ran. I remembered the times I would run to drill team practice right after cross country practice hoping the dance leader would not notice that I was forty-five minutes late! I remembered the Science and French clubs and the trip to Europe I was fortunate enough to experience during my junior year. I discovered that I had a poetic side, a scientific side, was very athletic and competitive, and I was romantic, spirited, and adventurous. I was more than I had imagined, and I loved my life back then.

Most importantly, through this creative process, I discovered what kind of life made me happiest, and I realized that I was far from living that fulfilling life now.

Putting together and completing the scrapbook and remembering all that I experienced in the past, touched a part of me deeply and lifted my depression enough to the point where I could now handle all my other ailments and not live in denial anymore. Discovering this creative endeavor was the catalyst that began my process of authentic emotional, mental, and physical healing and restored my life to a life of joy.

I began to make the changes necessary to bring myself to a peaceful and healthy existence. The changes would eventually lead me to new experiences and discoveries about myself. Holistic health did not happen overnight, and it is always a continuous process, but I am forever thankful to a friend who, until now, had no idea how much of an impact she had on my life just by speaking up about her creative bliss. I often wonder what would have happened to me if I had not inconspicuously stumbled upon scrapbooking. Humbling thought.

Today, I continue to scrapbook because I love the process of putting together albums of my experiences (the joyful times and the challenging, difficult times) to understand and interpret my life. Scrapbooking helps me to appreciate life, to celebrate it, and learn from it. It is also a lot of fun! Most importantly, scrapbooking helps me to know who I am and what I can become. 

Has your spirit died? Have you forgotten what makes you smile? Or, are you depressed and wonder why you should get up every day? Embark upon a creative activity; it will bring you joy and fulfillment, rest for your soul, and help you remember what is most important in life: living with peace and sharing your passion and creativity. It will help you take that first step in lifting the pain.