The Wonderful Power of Memorabilia

Never. We never lose our loved ones. They accompany us;
​they don't disappear from our lives.
We are merely in different rooms.
Paulo Celho

A corner in my home office

by Skip Cohen

On Sundays I always jump the tracks and stay away from business topics. I rarely know what I'm going to write about until I get up in the morning. But this morning was tough - looking for inspiration, I scrolled through my Facebook notifications and found nothing but repetitive political themes, infomercials on how to lower our electric bills, reduce an enlarged prostate, and fireworks displays.

Somewhere in my pondering, searching for something I could write about, I was looking around my office. It occurred to me that my office has become a memory museum focused on family, friends, and my life in the photo industry.  And every "exhibit" has a backstory.

From a Hasselblad dark slide signed by friends at my going away party in 1999 to my Dad's college fraternity paddle; one of my favorite prints by good buddy Bob Coates; books signed by Avedon; and even a tourist bought shot of me and good buddy, "Hoss" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...the list goes on and on.

Don't be mistaken - I don't live in the past. However, the inspiration of so many people who have come into my life energize my quest to make more memories into the future!

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Every "exhibit" has a backstory

There's so much we often take for granted. All those little pieces of memorabilia we save from past adventures, concerts, and meetings serve a purpose. For me, they're reminders of great friendships and lessons that keep helping me grow... and even the special people I've lost over the years remain immortal.

So, the next time you're experiencing a creative block, stop what you're doing and take a look around you. Dust off those memories that go with all the mementos sitting on your desk, a bookshelf, or hanging on the wall. And the best ones? Those people we love and miss. Whether they've passed on or are on the other side of the world - to quote Paulo Coelho, they're merely in different rooms.

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday with plenty of time to make new memories and cherish the old ones. Always go for those therapeutic eleven-second hugs with the people you love the most. And if they're not with you today they're still watching over you - send them a neurochrome!

​Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

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