Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

by Brené Brown

This seems like yesterday, but it happened sixteen years ago, when Ellen was in the first grade. We played hooky one afternoon and spent the day at Hermann Park. At one point we were on a paddleboat in the middle of a pond when I realized she had stopped pedaling and was sitting perfectly still in her seat. Her head was tilted back, and her eyes were closed. The sun was shining on her uplifted face, and she had a quiet smile on her face. I was so struck by her beauty and her vulnerability and the joy on her face that I could barely catch my breath. I watched for a full minute, but when she didn’t move, I got a little nervous. “Ellie? Is everything okay, sweetie?” Her smile widened and she opened her eyes. She looked at me and said, “I’m fine, Mama. I was just making a picture memory.” I had never heard of a picture memory, but I liked the sound of it. “What’s that mean?” “Oh, a picture memory is a picture I take in my mind when I’m really, really happy. I close my eyes and take a picture, so when I’m feeling sad or scared or lonely, I can look at my picture memories.” She used the word “happy,” as we often do, but there’s no question that I was witnessing joy, that swirl of deep spiritual connection, pleasure, and appreciation.