Part 1 – A Whisper That Meant Everything
This post is part of From Unravelling to Weaving: My Journey to Recollections Within–a foundational, five-part series sharing the personal journey that gave life to Recollections Within. Each chapter will explore the moments, losses, and revelations that shaped the heart of this community.
They say “every journey begins with a single step.”
This one began with a whisper.
The true genesis of Recollections Within didn’t start with a business plan or a strategy meeting. It began in a quiet, unassuming moment, one that felt almost sacred in its simplicity. On December 6, 2022, during a rare afternoon nap, the name “Recollections Within” arrived, not through logic or design, but as a gentle whisper, settling softly inside me.
It was that liminal space between waking and dreaming, the place where thoughts drift in and out like fragile threads. A lot of ideas come to me in that space, both good and bad.
The phrase “Recollections Within” came to me as if gifted by an unseen hand. It felt like more than just a name; it felt like a message, a calling, something important. It struck me so deeply that I wrote it down in a note in my phone, which is the only reason I know the date that it happened.
At the time, I didn’t fully understand what it meant. But later, when I realized the initials matched my Mum’s name, a wave of emotion washed over me. I cried, sensing a connection deeper than words—a sign from her, or from memory itself, that I was on the right path.
The Genesis: From Jewelry to Stories
Initially, I imagined Recollections Within as a small business making memorial jewelry, tangible keepsakes made from dried flowers, preserved handwriting, or other personal relics. I pictured delicate pieces, each carrying the weight of a life or an experience remembered, worn close to the heart.
But as I began to sketch out ideas and gather materials, I found my focus shifting.
It wasn’t the objects themselves that stirred me. It was the stories: the lives and memories behind those objects, the whispers of history they carried.
I realized then that my true calling wasn’t in crafting jewelry. It was in creating space: space for memory, for storytelling, for honouring the threads that connect us all.
The name, Recollections Within, wasn’t destined to be just a brand. It was a promise, a commitment to enshrine these stories with the reverence, respect, and complexity they deserve.
The Shift: A Lingering Purpose
For years after that moment, the name stayed with me, tucked deep inside my heart. It was a quiet presence during times of joy and sorrow, a reminder of something sacred waiting to unfold. Even when life felt overwhelming or chaotic, the whisper was there, an undercurrent of purpose beneath the surface.
During those years, I began to explore what it would mean to truly hold space for memory. I poured fragmented ideas into that same note on my phone, often just disjointed thoughts and phrases.
Slowly, these quiet musings became profound questions that felt both deeply personal and universally resonant:
How do we truly honour the people and experiences that shaped us, while still fiercely owning our own evolving story?
What does it mean to unearth our stories and give them voice, so they can illuminate our path ahead and connect us to each other?
The Promise: A Sanctuary Unfolding
These questions became my compass, guiding me toward a vision bigger than I’d first imagined. Recollections Within would not be just a business or a collection of products. It would be a sanctuary: a place where memories could be held, where stories could be shared without fear or judgment, and where connection could be woven between strangers and sisters alike.
I wanted to create a haven where women could find solace in shared experiences, understanding in diverse narratives, and strength in collective wisdom. This prospect felt like a profound calling, a way to transform my own experiences into something meaningful for others.
I want to be clear: this whisper wasn’t a promise of ease or certainty. It was a promise of purpose. A recognition that the path ahead would not always be smooth or simple, but that it would be meaningful.
That the act of holding space—for ourselves, for our histories, for each other—is an act of courage and love.
Over time, I saw how memory itself is fragile and complex. It can comfort us and challenge us. It can heal, but it can also open old wounds. Yet, despite the risks, I felt compelled to build something that would hold all of this: grief, joy, confusion, resilience, without trying to tidy it up or make it palatable. Being a woman isn’t “pretty”.
The name “Recollections Within” began to weave itself into every part of my life. It shaped how I saw the world, how I listened, and how I reached out. Even in moments when I doubted myself or feared failure, that quiet whisper stayed close, a tether to something true and lasting.
This is where the thread began. Not with a grand unveiling or a loud declaration, but with a quiet whisper in the stillness. It was the seed of everything Recollections Within would become: a journey toward building this space for all of us.
In part 2 of the series, I will share the moment from my past that began my metamorphosis into who I am today: when loss forced me to rewrite my life and propelled my entire world in the most unexpected direction.
If you feel moved to, please share a moment that changed your life in the comments, or in our community forum, The Common Thread. Your voice is what will make this community everything it’s meant to be.
Photo Credit: Marc Schneider
