Create Memories Together

All, Navigating Life

by Tori Roalef
August 5, 2025

When you think back on your year, does life quickly turn drab and boring? Days bleed into each other. Weeks glob together. Months pass by until the year looks like one giant blob that is hard to tease one day from the next. Maybe you remember your (too short) vacation, the few family get-togethers, and a little bit from the holidays. You recall a few highlights in the year, like a wedding or the first day on a job. If you tend to reach New Year’s Eve and think, *Another year. Where did all the time go?* Then stick around. This week, we’re building memories.

The Idea of the Week

We commonly want life to feel lively, fulfilling, and meaningful, full of connection and purpose. Each year, we are presented with 365 days to experience these meaningful moments and to look back at our reservoir of memories.

Like the majority of people, you likely do not have a complete recollection of 365 days, even for the most memorable years (that would be a lot to remember!). You may recall the year of many weddings, great moments of joy, love, and uniting. You may remember your special days, like the holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries. What about all the other 300-something days?

You reminisce about the year you graduated and all those previous years doing goofy teenage and young adult fun with your friends. The adventures you had. Do you still have those adventures? These adventures are proof that you can have fun on ordinary days—that a random day not tied to any Big Life Event can be memorable.

Here’s a question: Do special moments happen to us, or do we make them? We’ll leave that for you to ponder.

The Practice of the Week

This week, we invite you to create memories with your loved ones. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Harness novel experiences.

Discover new local places. Visit places across the country. Or, if it’s in the budget, travel to another country (Better yet, travel with us to Ireland and dive deeper into your healing journey! It’ll be memorable and healing.)

Harness your friend’s or family’s novel experiences.

It doesn’t have to just be new to you. Is there a place that you frequent but your friend has never visited? Capitalize on their novel experiences, too! You could show them the ropes, while they offer you a fresh perspective. Maybe you’ll notice something you’ve never noticed before.

Engage with your senses.

Have you listened to a song that takes you back to a specific time? Or smelled a candle that revitalizes a memory you had long forgotten? Our senses can create powerful associations with memories. Then reengaging with your senses can help you remember the moment later—almost like you’re reliving the moment.

Learn something new.

The most classic way to learn something new is to take a class. You could even bring a friend along because learning together is twice the fun! We often hold classes about wellness, such as the Family Constellations Workshop, where you will explore family dynamics through a series of group exercises and discussions.

Make the moment meaningful.

Even ordinary days can be memorable because you create meaning from them. For instance, today is probably “just another random Tuesday.” There are meetings, tasks to complete, chores, appointments to schedule, and then the normal daily routines: commuting, eating, and cleaning up. Choose one of those items. What is different about it today than when you did it yesterday, or the last time you did it?

Cleaning is not just a chore. Cleaning is the thank-you to your future self. It means giving yourself space to freely walk in your home, or space for your children to play with their toys. It is a constant “I love you” to yourself and family.

Commuting is not long or dreary because it is an opportunity to find every red item you can during your drive. What stories can you tell about your commute? What about the deer grazing at the side? The dogs on their walks. Or the birds milling in the air, and for a moment, looking like a symbol in the sky.

What does this moment mean to you?

Celebrate more—and create meaning from it.

Birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays are likely more memorable because you find them meaningful. Who says it has to stop there? Celebrate your wins—big or small. Make a new tradition. Break the script.

Do things together.

Participate in activities and discussions with your loved ones. It’s not just watching TV—it’s building a connection by discussing the movie. It’s completing a puzzle together. Playing a game. Working together to solve a problem or challenge.

For the busy folks, it may be doing chores together. Needing to re-paint your kitchen becomes a lively “paint and sip” with a friend. Grocery shopping is building connections, a glimpse into each other’s lives when regular check-ins are difficult. Work together on projects, and you may find that the task you were putting off becomes much more enjoyable—and memorable.

In this YouTube Short, Jay Shetty shares that “when you create together, it’s a special experience.” Creating something together is a bonding moment.

What will you remember about today?