Souvenirs: Our sensorial selves, memories of the future
What do souvenirs mean to you?
What do they say about the people who collect them and the places souvenirs purport to represent; then, now, and in the future?
It’s a “Good Tourism” Insight by K Michael Haywood.
(You too can write a “GT” Insight.)
Contents
- Souvenirs
- Our sensorial selves
- Memories of the future
- What do you think?
- About the author
- Featured image (top of post)
Souvenirs
Having returned from a month in Portugal my head, while writing these words, is still abuzz with the sounds of Fado, the glorious sights of the Douro Valley vineyards, the sensations of Porto, Lisboa, Sintra, Obidos, Nazare, Alcobaca, beach and country life.
But, by the time you read these words, it will be the souvenirs of that trip that help to keep alive my memories of that time; revelatory of the good life, the deepening of relationships, the feelings that come from being-in-the-world.
Souvenirs, the memorabilia that we cannot resist having and collecting, constantly reminding us of how travel changes our lives, sharpens our sensibilities, enriches our perceptions, and banishes ill-conceived preconceptions.
Souvenirs that provide insight into what constitutes value, how it’s manifest and remembered, especially through our senses. Giving rise to emotions and feelings. Playing into our imaginations and our creative pursuits for higher-value achievements.
Throughout our homes, decorative and found objets de art and nature, records, books, clothes, collectables, knick-knacks; each a nostalgic reminisce; a statement; a means of sharing weird and wonderful stories about places we’ve been, people we’ve met.
Also see K Michael Haywood’s “GT” Insight ‘Souvenirs: Can three pieces of coral inspire tourism towards ocean regeneration?’
Souvenirs, reflections of who we are, our interests, what we deem important, beautiful and worthwhile. Touchstones to episodic moments and what we gleaned and learned about the world, ourselves and those dear to us, the cultures of people, the tears of joy, a confluence of everyone’s sensual and lived experiences.
Souvenirs, reminders of the vitality of destinations offering happiness advantages, especially through awe that evokes mindfulness, and the conscientious efforts of everyday people dedicated to creating and embellishing the authentic senses of their place, revealing and revelling in the pride they have for their own communities.
Clearly, souvenirs constitute a study with multiple themes, especially the artisanal movement that honours design and craftsmanship, provides essential livelihoods, and reassures everyone that originality counts if the future viability of communities-as-destinations is to be honoured.
Representative of travel’s transformative gifts, souvenirs serve to arouse awareness, curiosity, and desires, as we transition toward our own desired and not-so-distant futures, serving as “the lens through which our brains continue to view the world and shape our reality”.
Our sensorial selves
As revelatory reminders of the value we crave, souvenirs serve to re-engage our senses that, as time goes by, continue to elevate the novelty of place and the ordinariness or exceptionality of the people we’ve met.
As we recall the sensations that triggered our feelings … continue reading this “GT” Insight in full at The “Good Tourism” Blog.
