The Museum of You

It's my birthday tomorrow. Approaching another year of my life has made me look back on the things I have achieved so far. I am closer to thirty than I like to admit and find that I am becoming incredibly nostalgic around birthdays. Like most of the world, I have read 'The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up'. I have started to consider the things in my life that "spark joy", and my belongings that really don't. As I think about the items I want to keep, my mind turns to the family heirlooms that have been kept and passed down from generation to generation - items I love. The belongings we keep tell part of our story.

A love of photography has been passed down through the generations, as have cameras and photograph albums.

The collection of photographs I am proud of is growing as my love of photography increases.

Then there are other items important to me. There have been books I have read that have greatly influenced my life; the type of book I thrust into the hands of others, adding the words "you must read this". There are favourite books I have got lost in, and happily revisited the imaginary world over and over again.

There are people who have been there through everything. The ones I have laughed and cried with. People who, no matter the distance, are there for you - people I message on a regular basis and find joy in the conversation.

There are talents and achievements that I am proud of, and experiences I have learned from.

There are stories of loved ones that have been a huge part of my life. Photographs of stages I have loved and wanted to last forever. There are the exciting adventures that come to an end too quickly, and the ordinary mundane moments that repeat themselves daily, all of which make up my life.

Today's prompt for 'Blog Every Day May' was 'Museums'. As I thought about the items I treasure, I realised that each of us collects and eventually leaves behind a museum of our lives. Exhibits of memories told through photographs and letters, insights into our hobbies and even tools we used to create. We keep items that mean a lot to us, that spark joy; items which, I hope, will be treasured by future generations. Scrapbooks and other forms of documentation that invite our descendants to get to know us, to see our life's work, would be prominent features in our 'museum'.

In the attics of our homes there are museum collections curated by our ancestors waiting for us to explore. We each curate a little museum of our lives, what are you including in yours?