Cherished Moments: Creating Lasting Memories
- Carrie Woodcock
- Jul 24
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 22
Every week, I lead the Monday Morning Meditation & Self-Improvement Workshop at the Drop-In Center at ST.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. Last week felt like a typical Monday; I arrived at work feeling tired, unready for the weekend to end, and not particularly eager to conduct the day's workshop.
Although I had a plan for the session, it took an unexpected turn. One of the participants had been reading my first book, published in January 2020, titled CROSSROADS: My search for truth through music and a lot of red wine. She had been requesting a copy for weeks, and I finally, albeit reluctantly, brought one in. I rarely revisit that book these days, and generally prefer to avoid it. Writing it was an emotional roller-coaster over six years, an experience I'm not eager to relive. I don't even own an updated copy myself! However, since she insisted, I dug up an old copy for her to read.
The Drop-In Center then requested that I read an excerpt to start the workshop. This unexpected request surprised me, but I felt I couldn't refuse. So, I began searching through the book for a fitting passage that wouldn't be too lengthy to read.
The passage that caught my attention that morning was a reflective piece called: A Walk to the Cabin.
I began Reading...
CROSSROADS Excerpt:
April 28, 2017
The temperature had finally begun to rise to 60ºF. The late afternoon sunlight illuminated the valley below as we descended the handmade steps my father had built, making our way to the cabin. The new vegetation that had finally sprouted after the long winter seemed especially green in the glow of the sun’s rays, revealing the rebirth of spring. It had been awhile since I had made a trip to the cabin, and after the turbulence of the recent months I wanted to visit Dad’s cabin. It is the place that I feel his presence the strongest and I needed to feel close to him.
While I was reading, the strength of my emotions caught me off guard, rendering me briefly speechless and bringing tears to my eyes. After a few moments to regain my composure, I was able to proceed.
My son, friend Lisa, and I laughed and smiled as we made our way back to Dad’s cabin, invigorated by the signs of spring and the warmer temperature.
I hesitantly peeked through the front door, expecting to hear the scurry of tiny feet as they frantically vacated the shelter they had found for the winter, no doubt unwelcoming of our intrusion. I was not anxious to make their acquaintance, so we quickly glanced around the cabin, grabbed the log book that sat on Dad’s desk, and closed the door behind us. My friend, Lisa, continued down the slope into the valley searching through her lens for the perfect scene that caught her eye, as Will and I made our way up the rickety stairs that are badly in need of repair to the front porch.
Will and I stood overlooking the valley and flipping through the log book, reading through some of my father’s journal entries as well as entries visitors had left over the years. It is my favorite part of the cabin, and it is this book that I seek when I miss Dad the most. I am grateful to be able to read his words as well as the reflections left by others as they visited his place of solitude. Will added his own entry as we stood on the front porch that afternoon, laughing as he narrated our fears of encountering the chipmunks and other creatures that had inhabited the cabin.
We stayed just a little longer before making our way back to the house, but we decided we would return to the cabin at sunset in an attempt to capture a few more photographs of such a beautiful night.
As we retraced our steps to the cabin we ran out of storage space on the camera and we were unable to take any more pictures. I quickly pulled out my phone to capture a few. I fell back to capture Will and Lisa as they made their way down the steps in front of me, as well as a few others while we were there. The sun met the horizon at 7:49 PM and we slowly made our way back home.
When we returned Lisa and I sat on the front porch looking through the pictures we had taken. I almost forgot about the few that I had taken on my iPhone, but when we finally scrolled through them we noticed something interesting. Sometimes technology amazes me, and most of the time I don’t know how to work it. I happened to somehow have the Live Photo feature selected on my phone, which means instead of freezing a moment in time the iPhone can now bring your photos to life by creating a moving image. As we scrolled through the pictures I had captured, my friend noticed a sphere of light that was moving quickly through the pictures around Will and Lisa. I continued to swipe my finger across the screen moving from one picture to the next. The orb moved around rapidly, but remained present in all the pictures. I enlarged the photo attempting to see the details of the sphere, trying to determine if it was a reflection from the sunlight, or if there was another explanation. But enlarging the photo just seemed to make the spherical image of the orb even clearer.
Many believe these “balls of light”, or orbs, are thought to be spheres of energy from the spiritual realm…they may be trying to communicate with you, or simply letting you know they are there! Who knows what the truth is, but the discovery of the orb in the photos was a comforting ending to a perfect night. Not only had I made a very enjoyable visit to the cabin with Will and Lisa, but I also felt as if Dad had made that walk right along with us.
I still have all the photos I took that day on my phone, allowing me to share the live images with everyone. This led to an incredible discussion about experiences others have had in the past and the significant people they have lost.
We talked about the importance of memories. I explained that I rarely revisit that book because it symbolizes a deeply emotional time in my life, and writing it was like reliving many painful experiences over and over. However, I also shared that recently, I sometimes feel disconnected from that emotional side of myself, and surprisingly, reading it five years later was a positive experience. The tears that unexpectedly filled my eyes weren't necessarily tears of sadness. The reading not only brought back a beautiful memory of an afternoon spent with my son and friend but also allowed me to cherish a moment remembering my father and feeling that he is always with me, regardless of how many years have passed since he left.
We proceeded with our workshop, but I believe the members imparted something even more valuable to me than the lesson I had prepared for them. They reminded me that although I shouldn't dwell on those memories, they are integral to my story and have shaped who I am today. The pain eventually fades, and the memories can become pleasant to revisit.
That morning highlighted the importance of creating lasting memories with loved ones and cherishing the moments that define us along the journey.
After our workshop ended, I returned to my office. When I sat at my computer and noticed the date, I realized it was Dad's birthday. I don't believe in coincidences, and I think I needed that reminder today. Remembering Dad was wonderful, and it was also nice to reconnect with an emotional side of myself that I don't often engage with anymore. Perhaps most importantly, it was wonderful to create a new lasting memory of the special connection I feel with the people who attended the Drop-In Center workshop that morning, and it served as a wonderful reminder of what has inspired my career path.
Today marks a week later and my 48th birthday. This year has been filled with ups and downs, but as I sit here reflecting, I am deeply grateful for the incredible and supportive people around me. My attempt to downplay the day was short-lived when I realized I couldn't keep up with the outpouring of love from those close to me. My celebration began with lunch with my mom yesterday, and this morning I woke up to flowers and a lovely card from my son. At work, I received two more bouquets of flowers! I enjoyed lunch and birthday cake with the Drop-In Center, where we read our daily reflection and discussed how grateful we are for each other's support. I concluded the day with live music at the local winery alongside my boyfriend, son, friends, and niece.
I couldn't have wished for a more special birthday, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have so many wonderful people in my life.
I am more thankful than ever for the treasured moments I've experienced over the years, and I value the reminder of how important it is to create lasting memories. Yet, the most necessary reminder was to reconnect with the emotional part of myself that I occasionally lose touch with in my hectic life, and that it's time to return to doing what I love.
Thank you for all the birthday wishes!
Owner Total Transformation
NBC-HWC Health Coach
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