I am a big fan of digital photo books. I do my best to stay on top of them but honestly I usually only get to a yearly Instagram book and making a book when we travel. Though I have big intentions at getting yearly books put together, this year when I received my Instagram book I couldn't help but be taken back a bit. Seeing the everyday...and even the slightly mundane, flooded me with memories, emotions, and joy. I did not realize that the pictures I take on my phone could mean that much. But they do.
The thing is we take our cameras everywhere. Instagram is my place for pretty everyday inspiration as well as when I am somewhere where I only want a one photo memory compared to ten that I would otherwise take on my camera.
I often laugh to myself when people talk about social media being so surfacey. Yes, it is true, but I also believe that there are a lot of us out there that show more than that. Sure I don't take pictures of my husband and I fighting (I don't think that would go over too well anyways) but some of the images I do have remind me of seasons that weren't necessarily easy.
I think to myself...that was taken when I was really sick last year...and was suffering with depression. That was when my nephew was being so ridiculous and driving me crazy but then he did something really funny and I had to take a picture. That photo was taken on a sad and lonely walk when I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the nature that surrounded me and had to capture it to remember.
I suppose anyone following along wouldn't necessarily know all of this but I suppose what I am trying to say is that my Instagram photos wowed me this year. Also probably because I was much more active on it then previous years. But it tells a story. And I am so thankful for that. If you get the chance, I encourage you, too, to tell your story by making a book. It is such a gift to yourself to see all those little photos encompass a year of your life.
I cannot help but smile and feel blessed remembering all those different days and how even the ones that are hard are proof that I have gotten through them. They give me hope for the future as well as put all those days and years that fly by into a little more perspective.
And while I am talking about it, I thought I would show off my little photo book collection so far. I love being able to flip through these every once in awhile.
Photo book made with Blurb.
To read more about my photo books, check out the following:
Instagram Books: 2011 and 2012
All photo book/scrapbooking related posts
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