Sounds a little sadistic, right? Believe it or not it works. You'll find yourself remembering the things that you loved about the person come into focus even sharper. Pictures are a great source of memory revocation. Images on pages invoke images in your mind.
In prior article I've mentioned that my mother-in-law lives with us. Well after nearly 8 years of being a widow, she finds this method of dealing with the holidays blues very theraputic. She also has a double-whammy of a hurdle during the month of December she needs to overcome - her wedding anniversary is December 14.
She has developed a sort of ritual about preparing for the holidays. In the last few years, I've pulled out all the pictures of Dad and put them in a wonderful scrapbook, complete with memories she has provided (in her own handwriting). She will spend about an hour or so pouring over the pictures, set the book aside (usually back on the shelf not to be touched for another year), pull out a beautiful monogrammed handkerchief and cry. After the tears have subsided, she is in a lot better spirits and ready to face another holiday season without the love of her life.
When I prepared the scrapbook for her, I really didn't think it would bring on this kind of behavior. I created it for her to look at year round (as my kids do with theirs). I've found however that grieving people handle scrapbooks in different ways. They use them as a sort of shrine to the lost loved one. Interesting how the human mind works, isn't it?
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