Memory

Some thoughts about memory

I think we can all relate to long-term memory becoming less clear particularly as we get older. We assume it’s a part of life, we assume it’s aging and people just accept this. We may know people that don’t like to turn the page backwards, they may not like pictures, home videos, discussing the past or they lack a nostalgic appreciation for times to remember.

I’ve often wondered if we can learn from thinking back or if this could reinforce or strengthen our ability to remember. All my life I’ve had this very detailed memory being able to recall names, numbers events and details that other people just shake their heads and have no idea what I’m talking about because they aren’t able to remember these things. I used to just think that most people were like me and I couldn’t figure out why others couldn’t remember details like I could.

In many areas of life we how the effort of putting in work gaining repetition in order to develop something is successful. Strengthening it, make it stronger and making it more useful, applicable and alive. Why would memory be any different? Is it possible that by looking back appreciating the past whether that’s talking about it looking at photos asking questions keeping things alive we can actually work to strengthen our capacity to remember in general? Is it possible that by identifying people that are sentimental, nostalgic and a bit “stuck in the past“ We can find that the long-term memories might be more functional than those who press on and purposely don’t look back at all? 

I’m very far from a brain chemistry scientist but I am able to make some distinct parallels in the world around me and formulate questions in order to try to make more sense of it. Memory is an amazing faculty. It’s a gift from God. Why not use it? Flex it, put it to work!