With My Camera Phone

If only my photo could convey – the sound of my boots brushing the grass, the slosh of tea in my flask, birdsong, the sound of my heart beating in my ears after the last steep push to the top, the breeze pushing its way through the Scots pines reminiscent of surf, stillness, the warmth of the sun on my face and cool air on my skin, the caw of the crows and the frenzied flapping of pheasant wings, the creaking of branches, the silence of the clouds gliding by, the smell of mud, of sheep poo, of the bread of my sarnie, of my strawberry lip balm. And of course the tightness in my cheeks from smiling..

Remember when we used to wait a week for our photos to arrive by post? Would they turn out? What was on that film? Just a handful of photos to act as memory joggers. One or two photos to bring the event alive in our minds. An aide to retell the story of a particular day, month or even year. Now, however, we are able to be snap happy with instant results. All and any moments captured and digitally stored, to be lost in the library of multitudinous other similar photos held on our phones.

As a therapist I try to bring all your senses to the party, to reconnect your mind to your body, and enable all the messages to be heard. This takes a little quiet, some effort and practice to consciously visit each sense. Learning to be aware of the interplay between your senses can help you feel more alive. Think of food and joy, of butterflies in the tummy and excitement. But you could try this yourself with just one photo. Use it not just to picture the scene but to remind you of the experience in all its fullness. Feast all of your senses, not just your eyes. Take a ride on your remembered  emotional journey, not just the rehashed story.  If that is too difficult it may be a reminder to live in the fullness of our moments, creating rich memories on which to draw, rather than just take another photo.