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Happy Monday! Here’s a thought to start out the week on a positive note! Let’s make time for the memories, not just the management of caregiving.

It’s easy to get stuck in survival mode, ticking boxes and solving problems. But every now and then, step out of the role and step into the moment. Do something small and meaningful together—like building a memory box. It’s a gentle reminder that love isn’t just about caring for their needs, but honoring their story.

There is so much to be found in this moment. The laughter over old stories. The way their eyes light up when a song from the past plays. The quiet joy of just being together.

That’s why I want to tell you about something small, simple, and beautiful: a memory box.

Not a Pinterest-perfect craft. Not another item to add to your to-do list. But a meaningful, shared project—a way to gather the good stuff, while you still can.

A Box Full of Heart

Find a small box—wood, tin, cardboard, whatever feels right. Then, if your loved one is able, sit down together and decorate it. Use old fabric scraps, dried flowers, buttons from a forgotten sewing kit, broken jewelry, ribbons, stickers, postcards—anything that holds meaning or just brings a smile.

Let it be messy. Let it be colorful. Let it be the two of you.

You don’t need a theme or a plan. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating something with your hands while your hearts remember.

What Goes Inside

Fill it with memories. Tiny treasures. Things that might not mean anything to anyone else—but hold everything to the two of you.

• A photo from a favorite trip
• A note or card you once wrote each other
• Their favorite recipe, handwritten
• A handkerchief, a ticket stub, a dried flower
• A silly magnet from the fridge
• That little charm they always kept in their purse

And don’t forget to write things down. A funny quote they said – in my house they are called Joycie-isms. A story they told you for the fifteenth time—but still made you laugh. A reminder of what made them who they are.

Each item you place inside becomes a thread in the fabric of your story—one that doesn’t unravel when they’re gone.

A Legacy Worth Passing Down

This box isn’t just for you. It’s something you can pass along. To your children. To your grandchildren. A tangible reminder that love doesn’t end when a person is no longer here. It lives on in the way we remember them. In the way we tell their stories.

One day, someone will open that box. They will run their fingers over a worn photo or faded scrap of fabric. They will feel the heartbeat of a story worth telling again.

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Caregiver Hack of the Week

Make space for joy—it’s stress relief in disguise.
Creating something meaningful like a memory box isn’t just a sentimental project—it’s a moment of peace. Slowing down, crafting with your loved one, and reminiscing together can actually reduce stress for both of you. It shifts your focus from tasks to connection. And sometimes, that shift is exactly what your heart needs.