January has never been a good time for me to keep resolutions – September is my January. The summer must give me a boost of energy which keeps me motivated to keep going!
However, the new year is a great time for reflection and I think a kinder way of taking stock. Rather than struggle to give up things I enjoy when it is all dark and dingy, I look forward to things the new year might bring: a family event, a holiday, a new project.
So, what am I looking forward to in 2019? Well I have been inspired by a current client’s project where we are putting together the family archive and digitising it.
She and her siblings lost their parents a couple of years ago and having dealt with all the formalities their attention has turned to what they should do with all the family photos and papers. Their parents lived full and interesting lives with some historic achievements which the family really wanted properly documented. My client has stepped forward to act as the family archivist and had called me in to help with the two metre stack of photo albums, the one box of other photos and videos, ten boxes of papers related to two books already published and one unfinished book which they would like to get completed and published. It is easy to see why the task might seem overwhelming as well as having to manage the inevitable emotions.
By digitising the archive, it becomes much more accessible for the wider family. Once we have a system in place it can be replicated for current and even future generations.
It has spurred me to do with same in 2019 especially as there are so many ways to capture and present family stories – it will have a lovely thing to look back on in January 2020.
If you are inspired to do the same but not sure where to start, I would love to share with you some tips and tricks I have found works well over the years so give me a call.
