Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. We made it to Chapter 12, the final chapter of the book. This year is finally coming to an end and I hope everyone fully enjoys the last few days of 2023.
A few weeks ago, one of my friends was praising how I managed to balance my professional life with everything that has happened to me and my family this year. That’s when I really took the time to think about everything I overcame, all the stressful events I had to endure and despite all of this, I remained strong.
This year was a nightmare; from fleeing my house to go somewhere safe because of chaos in my neighborhood, to losing unexpectedly 5 members of my family in the span of 7 months, let’s just say that 2023 didn’t hold back. In the midst of everything that unfolded, I have learned one thing, and I will end this year with an article in which I share that one lesson: “Create memories and always make time for your loved ones.”
Growing up, my dad would always take pictures of us. Whether it was in the morning, before getting in the car to go to school or at night, no one could escape the flashlight of his camera. Fast forward to a lot of years later, we have drawers filled with pictures of us along the years. Thankfully, this passion for photography was passed down to me. I love capturing pictures and making memories. Some people never understand why I do that, but I truly believe that one day, memories will be all we have left.
I remember back when I first started using social media, I would often see people at “Build a bear” shops, building bears for their loved ones and using voicemail of people who have passed away. Basically, you would press either the hand or the stomach of the bear and you would hear the voice of someone who have passed away. I used to think it was amazing how we could still listen to our angels’ voices years after. There are some people who had a positive impact on my life, but they have left me way too soon. I often wondered how they sounded like and wished sometimes I could listen to them. That’s why I started collecting voice notes, and videos that will eventually help one day. 
Nowadays, during this digital era that we live in, making memories goes beyond taking pictures. We are fortunate enough to now be able to easily capture and immortalize every little moment with the ones we care about. As we navigate through this short adventure called life, I say let’s all get in on making memories and building strong connections with our favorite people. Here are three meaningful but simple ways we can start to do so :
1. Quality Time: Don’t miss a chance to spend uninterrupted quality time with your loved ones. Whether it’s a weekend getaway, a family dinner, or a simple evening at home, find the time to be there for one another. These will be moments filled with love and laughter, that will have a positive impact on not only your relationships but also your mental health. Quality time provides a break from daily challenges and allows individuals to relax, recharge and create lasting memories.
2. Create Traditions: Establishing family traditions brings a feeling of keeping things going and tightens the bonds between family members. Growing up, every January 2nd, my mom would throw a family diner and invite some of my cousins and my aunt. One day, my cousins came with a life changing idea. Since we all live close to one another, they thought it would be best to just have one big family diner. Instead of everyone eating in their respective household, we decided to put all our foods together, set up tables and chairs outside and share our meal together. The first edition was a success and we agreed to make it a tradition from now on. It’s become one of our most cherished traditions that we have instilled in our family, and one we hope will transcend time. This event allowed us to create so many memories and now looking back at everyone we lost this year, we can’t help but be grateful for the time we shared with them. 
3. Document Life Stories: Take the time to document the stories and experiences of your loved ones. Record videos of the elders talking about life stories, write down anecdotes, take pictures… There are so many creative things that can be done, not only to preserve the richness of your family’s history, but also to provide a meaningful way to connect with past generations.
All of this to say that life is really short. I know you have probably heard this a million times before, but trust me everything can change in just a few seconds. This is when we will understand the importance of creating lasting memories and cherishing time with loved ones. So from now on, let’s stop avoiding spending time with our elders, let’s be there for them. After all, one day all we will have left are memories.
I want to end this article by expressing my gratitude to everyone who stood by me this year: my family, my friends, and a special shout-out to my coworkers who made sure not a single minute passed without a smile on my face. I appreciate you all so much, thank you once again!
That’s all I have for today guys. Since it’s my last article of the year, I am wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2024. May this new year bring joy, success and happy memories for all you and your loved ones. Until we meet again, stay safe and be blessed…always!!!
