Wednesday 2 January 2013

Pick Your Precious


A Very Happy New Year everyone! Everyone here is hoping that you all have a 2013 full of all the things you love best, and more besides. 

2012 was a tough one for many of us. I'm not sorry to leave it behind and I know I'm not the only one. It went out with a whimper here: I didn't end up doing many of the things I'd planned. But you know what? All the same we still had plenty of turkey and pudding and presents; we had Uncle Dave home to stay for a week; we got to spend some time with Little E and enjoy a delicious dinner made by his dad (the excellent Kenny-Who-Cooks); we visited Granny G; and Grannie F's unexpected admission to hospital (after a nasty fall) has meant she is closer to us than usual, so she has been much visited too. That's all good (apart from the hospital bit, obviously. .) and has left me looking forward ..

First up? Well, you know what it is this weekend, don't you? It's the first Sunday of the month! And, yes, Storytelling Sunday will be back! It's a real pleasure to be able to say - Storytelling Sunday returns thanks to popular demand. Sounds like you all do have another year of stories to tell after all. So I've thought about it, and thought about it; and I have come up with a twist for 2013...

Storytelling Sunday 3: Pick Your Precious

There is no excuse for not joining in with this one - everyone can do it! Pick Your Precious is about celebrating the little things you love: those souvenirs, bits and pieces, things from your past you can't bear to throw out. You know, the special little something you have tucked away in a drawer or up on a shelf? Or the thing you  love most in a room? Or the object you would save if you knew you had to leave the country? Your favourite things.

Start looking around, see what you love. Pick Your Precious is for short story tellers and for long. You can take the idea of simply a photo with a few words; or, if you are a can't-stop-yourself storyteller, you can expand as much as you like. The thing to keep in mind is that at the end of the year you'll have a permanent record of the little things you hold dear - and your family will know why you are holding onto them! Doesn't that sound like it might be worth it? No more "Do you really need that?"

You can make this as quick or as carefully documented as you like. You'd be surprised, once you get started, what big stories small objects have to tell. Storytelling Sunday 3? We're celebrating our small stuff!

Things to keep in mind:

- You can still delight us with ANY story you have in your head. Same as before if you can't find an object for the month.
- A photo definitely counts, so if you aren't inspired by a "thing", a photo will work too.
- It's easier to tell a story round an object than to pluck something from thin air so if you haven't joined in before you might like to give this a try.
- If you are having trouble coming up with a choice, ask someone close to you. You might be surprised at what they suggest you think of as precious!

Starting to see the possibilities? I hope so because I'd love to see you back here on Sunday for Round One. Let's see where this takes us!



35 comments:

Unknown said...

Happy New Year Sian. It does sound as if there were nice times despite worries.

I love Pick Your Precious, I have just the thing. I suspect a few things.

Jane said...

Happy New Year Sian and I love your idea x

debs14 said...

Oh yes, I love this idea! My family would say that 'one woman's junk is another woman's precious' as I am the ultimate keepsake keeper. Hmm, will be hard to choose just 12 for the year ...

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

A fine twist for this year. Will give it some thought.

scrappyjacky said...

I'm not a great storyteller...and only occasionally join in with Storytelling Sunday [though I always love reading everybody else's stories]....so I love this idea....and can see a mini album from it at the end of the year as well.

KathiJo said...

mmm, made for most of us, aren't scrappers and bloggers hoarders of stories and pictures and stuff in general.. good idea Sian and thank you... you inspired me for my weekly dips into the past on week 3 over on LuckySnapping.. Kathi x

alexa said...

And a very happy New Year to you, Sian, and all of yours too: tall and not-so-tall :). Am sorry to read of the worrisome bits and hope Granny F is recovering well - and you too. That's a great theme, even for the aspiring minimalist, for there are always precious moments and memories. Looking forward to another year with you.

Sue Althouse said...

Happy New Year, Sian! I hope you have a much better 2013. Great theme for Storytelling Sunday!

Unknown said...

I have been so excited about my new job that I had completely FORGOTTEN AGAIN that this Sunday was the first of the month (I think I shall mark it on my calendar for the rest of the year). I do like the twist you have come up with for this year. I think that with my busier schedule this year this is going to be much easier. It is amazing the stories that come to mind when looking at things we hoard :)
Happy New Year to you!

Kirsty.A said...

This soundfs good. I'll put my thinking cap on. Best wishes for 2013

Linda said...

Happy New Year Sian! Love the sound of 'Pick Your Precious'! Looking forward to joining in again this year.

Lou said...

Happy New Year to you all! Best get my thinking cap on for PYP x

Susanne said...

Nice twist - I'll be looking for an item for sure - maybe just in the background of a very old photo - where it will tell a second story.

Lea Lacoste said...

love the idea Sian, i'm gonna take a look around i think!
thank you for your lovely comment on my blog, i'm very glad i discovered your blog and will keep on coming! Happy new year to you and your loved ones.

Beverly said...

Love this year's focus! I definitely have great possibilities and love Jacky's idea of the 12 stories making a perfect mini album :)

Alison said...

Great idea Sian...looking forward to another year of storytelling with you! Glad things are I proving at home
Alison xx

Scrappi Sandi said...

Oh yes! I hope to join in with each & every Storytelling Sunday in 2013, now I'm working Saturdays instead of Sundays!! I'm loving your idea & can see a mini book to document 'My Precious' items coming together nicely as the year progresses!! :D

Sandie said...

I hope 2013 is a better year for you Sian, I can relate to things planned for Christmas not coming together, but glad you had a great time anyway.
Pick your Precious is a great theme. I'm sue you will have a huge following of readers and writers. Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year x

Jennifer Grace said...

Ooh, great idea! It will make a fabulous mini-book too. I'm in! Happy New Year to you all - I hope 2013 is a fabulous year for you. x

Abi said...

Happy New Year Sian! I am so excited that S.S is back and that it has a twist! I am having trouble deciding what to write about for this weekend. A precious photo or a precious thing?! What a choice! xxx

Ladkyis said...

Pick Your Precious eh? That means a thing that I keep and would not like to lose. That's hard. I am not a keeper of "things" even though my house is stuffed with....clutter the only thing I would save if there was a fire and all the people were safe would be the fireproof box with the deeds of the house and the file with the negatives and photographs CDs - both kept near the way out. A precious thing? OK off to have a rummage through Dad's box

Cate Brickell said...

What a fantastic idea! I think I might be able to remember to play along this year!

Mitralee said...

turkey and pudding are important and sometimes it's best to leave last year behind in the dust! Always love your blog posts. ;-) Happy New Year Sian!

Miriam said...

Genius! You see now why I refer to you as 'She of the good ideas'? this year You will be 'She of the brilliant ideas' I love it and I have so much stuff labelled junk by my boys but precious by me, I can't wait. Wishing you & yours the happiest of New Years. xx

Maria Ontiveros said...

I love this idea! I've already got my first post planned out and some thoughts about what to do in the future as well.
rinda

Alana said...

Hope granny is recovering now and you are all well. Yes, I'm going 2013 will be a good year and how better to start it off with our thoughts about our 'precious' stuff:)

Sabrina DS said...

Dear Sian,
First, I wish you a super-duper Happy New Year. I hope 2013 will be even better than 2012. I received a Very Inspiring Blogger Award last week, and I thought I would, in return, nominate YOU. For more info about this award, you can visit my blog. This Award this allows us to express gratitude and spread the word about our favorite blogs to our followers. I hope you'll jump on the bandwagon!
On Sunday, I'll participate to Storytelling Sunday. One of my favorite times of the month!
Hugs from Bordeaux, FR
Sabrina.

Sheena said...

Happy New Year Sian x
I'd love to join in for the very first time so I'm gonna get looking & thinking :D

Missus Wookie said...

Oh how lovely to open my reader and see your post :)

Happy New Year to you and yours - especially the poorly ones. Hope Granny F feels better soon.

Neat twist to the idea of STS, looking forward to thinking about it and coming up with some stories to share.

Melissa said...

As soon as I saw your title, I thought you were going to talk about The Hobbit movie (which we thoroughly enjoyed!). LOL

I'm so excited about this idea because I've been wanting to document the stories behind some of my things, and I already have something in mind for this Sunday. I made something last year for an online class that I never shared on my blog & it will be the perfect start. Thanks so much for inspiring us again this year!

Happy 2013!

Becky said...

I have recently said on my blog that I am only going to post once a week - apart from Story Telling Sunday of course! Thank you so much for continuing with this, I love it so much. Now off to look for something precious for this Sunday!

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I need to see if I can find my hope box from high school. It has a bunch of little things I can't quite let go of. Or keep track of apparently either. :)

Jo said...

Happy New Year Sian! I love this idea and my story is all ready :)

Barbara Eads said...

I'm up for the Storytelling Challenge. Now just to find a few moments to tell it!

Looking forward to another year, here with you at High in the Sky!

Nathalie said...

Dear Sian,

Many good wishes for you in 2013. I have followed your Story Telling posts last year and never felt like I had enough memories to record but "Pick Your Precious" sounds easier to me! I hope to be able to join, at least once in a while :)

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