The most common motive behind taking a picture is to remember a given moment, right?

When we look at a photo from our own past, the emotion that was felt when it was taken seeps through as if we just experienced it all over again. This could be joy, love, peace, pride, or even grief, sadness, pain, or anger. But no matter what, we’re in some way appreciating a moment that has passed.

Yesterday, when visiting an antique shop, I was immediately drawn to a bin of random old photos. I picked up a stack and started flipping through them. The moments were so real, and most likely completely forgotten. I decided to try and pull myself into the time and place each photo was taken so I could sense the feelings, thoughts and experiences of the people I was looking at.

Let me just say, appreciating other people’s lost memories might become my newest hobby (someone has to do it!). It was amazing to stand there and for those few minutes (ok… maybe not so few) completely forget about my own life.

I was a seamstress, pausing from my work to take a group photo (see me way in the back?)

And I was a daughter, laughing, while dad gathered wood.

And in this one, I was on a dock, taking photos of my niece, but stopped to pet the deer (?!)

I’m going to keep these, and will most likely gather more random old photos through the years. I’m adopting these people’s memories because they deserve to be appreciated.