Important People in Your Life
A meaningful memory book tells the story of you and those who are important to you. Begin by making a list of loved ones to include and collecting memories that capture your special bond. You can divide your book into sections for each friend or family member, organise your photos by season or special event, or make each page a collage of moments. Don't forget to include amusing quotes and captions.
Happiness Book
Seeing and doing things you enjoy immediately improves your mood. When you're feeling lonely, discouraged, or uninspired, flip through for a new starting point. This does not have to be your own photography. It can be quotes, magazine cutouts, images from Unsplash—whatever makes you happy to see it. Simply creating is a joyful activity, let alone when it is right in front of you.
Childhood Toys
This is a fantastic idea for a baby book. Take photos of toys, stuffed animals, and even well-loved costumes, shoes, and capes as they grow out of them. It may be impractical to keep each object forever, but you can keep all of your memories between the pages of a memory book.
Favorite Songs and Albums
This type of memory book is appropriate for people of all ages. Make an autobiography out of your favourite songs and albums. Find the cover art, and perhaps even photograph your physical CDs and vinyl. Write a brief note about your memories associated with that song or album, or how it influenced you. With his book Songbook, author Nick Hornby did this brilliantly, but you don't have to be a bestselling author to "organise your record collection" in the pages of a book.
Quotes and Inspiration
We get ideas for how to live from a variety of sources. Whether it's family wisdom passed down through generations, favourite authors, or Instagram reposts, creating your own memory book allows you to collect it all in one volume to revisit for reminders. Pair quotes with photos of the famous family member, or with photos and illustrations that inspire you. It's like making a mixtape of all the knowledge you have. The best part about making it yourself is that it is completely unique to you! The beauty of your collection is that it will be as unique as you are!
Doodles and Drawings
Digitize those sketches and make them more permanent. This is also an excellent gift idea for the artist or doodler in your life. Photograph the best pages from sketchbooks, notebooks, and journals to compile a personal body of work in a professionally printed volume. This prevents your ideas and inspirations, as well as practise sketches, from becoming lost or scattered.
Commonplace Memory Book
This one is for the readers. Writing excerpts in notebooks for future use is one way to remember what you read. It's a tradition that dates back to the 18th century, but many people now keep notes on what they read without even realising it. Your memory book does not have to be visually appealing. It could be a compilation of your reading notes into a single volume. As you collect them, sort them into different categories—love, success, faith, money, and so on—and organise your book accordingly. You'll create a book that will be passed down for generations.
