Out of sight, out of mind.

The idea that something or someone you can’t see doesn’t weigh heavily on your thoughts seems to be a warning for long-distance relationships. In reality, many love to quote another saying to counterbalance the distance, claiming that it makes the heart grow fonder.

The truth lies somewhere in between, especially when it comes to your loved ones. It would be foolish to presume that relatives stop caring about each other when they don’t live close by. However, it is equally unrealistic to expect distant relatives to think about you every day – after all, people have their own life to live! Little tokens you can carry around as sweet reminders of what you mean to each other can go a long way. Indeed, life is hectic, and when a million things happen at the same time, you can rely on your family to provide you with the stability and security you crave. Keeping those dear to your heart close by – through creative and beautiful solutions – can give you the strength to cope with the most challenging days.

Photo from https://fshop.com

Photos are a testimony to cherish

The days where you kept a picture of your relatives in your wallet are long gone. Nowadays, most people choose to save their favourite photos directly into their smartphone. The apparition of the first smartphone with a camera has started a brand new photo-taking trend that has remained popular. Selfies, spontaneous photos and through-the-lens experiences are a staple of modern life. But they don’t replace high-quality photography, the kind of portraits that captures a moment of your life and immortalises it forever. A photo you can look at years and years after the event with the same fondness is precious. Unlike an instant selfie that disappears in a few seconds, documenting the big stepstone events of your life matters. If you keep in your heart the memories of your wedding days – especially if some of your older relatives have since passed – you want to put your trust in someone who understands how meaningful each image will be in 5, 10 or 20 years’ time. You want a professional photographer to help you to keep the ones you love close by.

The most common approach: hang them up

Whether you choose to work with a professional or whether you use your smartphone to capture everyday moments, you need to decide about the best way to keep the happy memories at hand. For many homeowners, the favourite images land on the wall, in a picture frame. From photos of the children when they were born to pictures of the family holidays, using images to tell the story of your family is an excellent way to personalise your decor. You can even make photos a major part of your interior style. As a rule of the thumb, enhancing your picture wall once a year or a couple of years – depending on the pace at which you and your relatives make new experiences – can enrich your happiness and increase fondness towards relatives you may not see often.

Your little pick-me-up at work

Stress and depression in the working environment are, unfortunately, becoming frequent complaints. Despite the best efforts of your employer, it can be difficult to transform a hectic workplace into a haven of peace and tranquillity. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t find little pleasures to make your work life easier to deal with. Something as simple as getting a personalised mug with a picture of your family can brighten up your day considerably. You might even fool yourself into believing that the coffee tastes better out of it! Why so? Because your mind links the pictures to happy memories, which naturally helps you to de-stress even when you’re under pressure. Admittedly, you need to take good care of your mug at work – from washing it by hand if you’re worried about dishwasher-related damages, to storing it safely. As a rule of the thumb, co-workers are less likely to borrow personalised mugs. But you can never be too prudent!

Wear your heart around your neck

Last, but not least, the safest way to carry your loved ones with you is to wear them. Not literally, of course. But you can find custom-made jewellery to turn a family photo into a unique necklace pendant, for instance. Don’t be tempted by printed t-shirts as these tend to fade after a few washes. On the other hand, jewellery is more likely to last, from necklaces to earrings.

You can’t make a moment last forever. But through the magic of photos, you can keep those you love close to your heart so that your relatives are never out of sight.

*PR collaboration