The Gift of Memories

April 6, 2017

Speaking of the importance of taking time to pause and reflect, I had a birthday recently.

I didn’t really want a group gathering on the day-of this year, so over the past month or so my wife reached out to some folks who’ve had an incredible influence in my life over the years, gathered some of their stories of fond memories of me, with pictures, and had them bound into a book that she shared with me as a gift.

The book even included some folks who I haven’t seen in quite some time, although their impact remains with me to this day. It really felt like some “this is your life” type stuff with current affirmations as well as good blasts from the past.

In a way, even though I didn’t do a group gathering, she brought the group to me.

Revisiting these memories and photos in the words of the people who shared them allowed me to think of them individually and collectively, and reflect on those memories as if they were in the room with me. When I tell you this was one of the greatest gifts…

Ubuntu,

From Aspiring Humanitarian, Relando Thompkins-Jones, MSW, LLMSW

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Relando Thompkins-Jones

I'm a macro social worker, social justice educator, and consultant who uses media and education to advance equity and social justice within people, organizations, and communities. I am also the Founder, Host, Editor and Producer of Social Justice Origin Stories, a storytelling project that highlights the personal stories and defining moments that have inspired individuals and organizations to labor for equity and social justice. I started Social Justice Origin Stories because I believe in the power of storytelling and making our experiences accessible to others, because I believe in the liberatory effects of social justice education, to support justice-seekers in finding community and feeling less alone given the relentlessness of oppressive systems, and hopefully to be a resource of support and reflection for those who are thinking through how they could best contribute to the work. We need all who can, to do what they can.