Thursday, April 30, 2020

I forgot what I don't remember?


 Memories, light the corners of my mind, misty water colored memories... of the way we werrrrre. I have always been intrigued by our memories. In my late teens I began to notice how people could experience the same event but have completely different versions of that event. Of course I noticed more issues regarding memory as mom's dementia began to progress but it really began to show up after my father passed away. My dad was raised in a large family, sometimes I would ask an uncle or aunt about a story that my father repeatedly told us, only to discover that they had a completely different version. There are also huge differences between the older brothers and sisters compared to the younger ones, which would make sense.

 Makes me wonder what is true and what is me wanting something to be true. I was watching a program last night about our memories and how they shape us. They did an interesting study of people who were close to the twin towers on 911. They asked them about where they were and what they were doing at the time of the attack. I would think something like that should be stuck in your mind. They then asked people the same questions a year after the attack, then two years later, five years later etc, etc. Around 60% of the people were somewhat consistent with their stories; however 40% of the people had completely different stories and believed the latest version to be absolutely true. As an example, a person may have originally described quickly leaving their office and trying to outrun the dust and smoke, where ten years later they said that they were on holidays visiting parents and watching it on tv.

 I have often said that I'm glad I didn't delete my old posts. Many times I imagine an event happening in the fall for example or maybe a story regarding a neighbor, only to look back and see the timeline was completely wrong or that the neighbor had already moved away two years before the event. Makes me wonder what past memories I have are false. I do know that my sister and I have very different memories of childhood events. I used to wonder what was wrong with her, now I wonder how many times was she right about something and I was wrong.

 They also talked about how mood and emotions cloud our memories. For example if a couple met for lunch and they were newly dating, they remembered things as being really good, the restaurant had a friendly atmosphere, the food was fantastic, the other person was charming, funny and dressed really well. If on the other hand,  the couple was coming to the end of a relationship. They remembered the restaurant as an uncomfortable place, that the other person was rude, that the food was not good etc. Our little brains add things in.

That's sometimes why I want to document what is happening around me and also include my emotions and feelings regarding this frustrating situation. I don't want to think it was nothing in the future but I don't want to think I was hiding in the basement either.

 It's also why I don't hold grudges against people for past mistakes, or at least I try not to. If they are good to me now then let's live in the now, why be upset with someone when my memory of some past incident, has me as a perfect angel and them as a terrible villain. With the exception of course of something serious. I remember in my late teens someone classifying me as a friend to someone. I remarked that he used to be such a bully to me (actually "the" bully in my younger life) he answered by saying yes, that he remembered how stuck up I was to him, that I thought I was so much better than him. I was shocked to hear for the first time what was going through his mind at the time. To be honest I was afraid of him but I also wouldn't doubt that I (without realizing it)... was snobby to him.

 Same right now with a high school friend, his version of high school emotionally has completely taken me by surprise. I always thought he was one of the people getting through unscathed at the time, his version has him being treated horribly. Some of our memories are the same but the versions are often completely different. Enter in a third friend and his version is also completely different... so what is real?

 Finally last night they spoke about healing people mentally, that people who unfortunately have PTSD for example, may have their memories worked over, meaning adding in positive feelings with a traumatic experience to lessen the impact. If they succeed that would be great, at least they wouldn't have to relive the experience over and over.

 If our memories shape us into the person who we have become... but we are making them up as we go, then who are we really?

12 comments:

Bathwater said...

I did not start blogging until a year or more after my divorce. I remember my post divorce life much more vividly than the 18 years I was married. Mostly because I have 15 years of written stories to refer back too.

RJ said...

I remember visiting my parents in the early 90s. My sister was also in town. I clearly remember my sister saying “It figures you’d show up with a new BMW”. She doesn’t remember making the comment. I’ll never forget it.

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

I like it when you get philosophical, Steven.
I think blogging is a good practice, not only to leave a record of who we are at a certain point but because it cleans the cobwebs in our heads.
As for making memories, it’s more about being purposeful and aware than about lying to ourselves, right?
That’s called delusion. I’m sure it’s in the DSM.

XoXo

Dave R said...

Memories are, I believe, the results of neurotransmitters which lock in a certain chemical code. The memory isn't really stored anywhere. Remembering is triggering that chemical code to reproduce the 'memory.' Unfortunately, that reproduction is never really as accurate as we think it is. This is why recorded facts are more reliable then eye witnesses in trials.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

That's why eye-witness evidence is not as trustworthy as people think it is.

Bob said...

That's the root of many family arguments; the fact that no one sees the same things the same way.

As for grudges, I count three that I've held onto, and still hold onto, and will probably always hold onto. Perhaps one day I'll do a Grudge Post ...

Anitia Moorecock said...

memories, light the corners of my mind, misty water colored memories... of the way we werrrrre...lets hope you get that day job back.

my mind hurts this is too deep, this is more a post for the mistress.

Jimmy said...

I hold a grudge. It includes PTSD.

HuntleyBiGuy said...

There is a certain world “leader” who has zero retention. Even showing him recorded evidence has no bearing on the truth.

I think I agree that our emotions can cloud our memories. If we were happy at the time our memories are more positive. And if you’re a naturally positive person I think you will have mostly positive memories.

Deedles said...

Memory, all alone in the mooooonlight….. I decided to go a different route. Balder Half can't figure out why I can remember something that happened when I was three and can't recall where I left my coffee cup five minutes ago. I can't figure it out either, and who cares? Steven, sugar, do you have any wildwood flowers (an old country song) you can sniff for a while? Do it nekkid. I'm not being disrespectful of your introspection, I'm just shedding a buttload of this oppressive ennui that I've been saddled with for the past week. Hi!

Mistress Maddie said...

Now that is an interesting post. I'm not sure how it all works. My mother is always impressed by my memory, things I can remember so far back, and such small details. Even things I was told.Comes in real handy with family history stuff. We would drive places when I was young, like when traveling. We could go somewhere in the area to do shopping or getting groceries, if we were camping, been their once and would remember instantly how to get us back. She always said if not for me she would have had us lost for hours. Even when my buffoon father got us all lost in the woods once on a hike, I got us back. It is memory or a photographic memory? I have no idea how I did it. But I know in the last story their was a bear. And not gay one.

Bohemian said...

A Memory is so personal to the one Remembering or Telling it that it's not so surprising our versions have various perspective... not only from one person to the next... but also even with our recollections over Time. I find as I Age that my Memories have grown Fonder and probably more embellished over Time. Perspective is everything tho', and some people have Amazing Memories and Total Recall... mine is sketchy and isn't getting better with Age! *LOL* Not to mention, I Love to tell a good Story... as did my Parents... so I'm sure we Weaved a lot of elements into each Story that wasn't all that accurate. *Winks*