by Peter Harris

Created on: April 25, 2008

I used to associate scrapbooks with my childhood. My parents encouraged me to keep one and this pattern I find repeated now as I urge my daughter to horde anything and everything, skilfully arranging it all onto the pages of a large scrapbook. This activity itself is immensely pleasurable, giving me and my daughter some quality time together.
It also serves a wider purpose because I know that keepsakes are often misplaced, so a scrapbook - to me at least - represents the ultimate treasure basket. Flicking through a scrapbook has to be the single most fulfilling thing I can do. If done correctly, it will open doors that you thought were closed long long ago. It provides a nice tribute to an individual`s life.

The book itself too can be quite diverse - things may be arranged around broad themes, or stages of one`s life. The book should be as individual as the person creating it, making it all that more special and poignant.

I have several versions of a scrapbook at home, some with great sporting moments with newspaper cutouts and photos, others containing copies of what I consider my proudest moments such as the first page of my very first children`s book I wrote.

You also don`t have to be a collector to enjoy your scrapbook; this is a misconception. Memories are part of the natural rhythms of life - each with its own unique print. This should be treasured.

I love the versatility of scrapbooks, too. In this day and age, many can be bought pre-arranged, with photo-style slots for your pictures. Others have hints and suggestions on the page with lots of bright colours to help attract children. But in its simplest form, a scrapbook should be just that - a place to store your most precious memories. I find it most rewarding to fill the pages slowly over time, seeing them grow as I grow myself, emotionally and physically.

Another advantage of keeping a scrapbook concerns organization. It is most useful for someone like me who can never seem to easily lay my hands on anything easily. I will search for this photograph or that report for hours on end, often grazing parts of my body and cursing in the process. But if everything is in one place - my scrapbook - I find it more accessible since everything is in one place. Plus, as a bonus, I will find more than I bargained for whilst browsing those amazing pages, taking me on a journey unlike any other.

So, thanks mom and dad, for encouraging me to create my very first scrapbook all those years ago. It has breathed new life into my everyday existence and reminded me that some dreams should not be dreamt alone.

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