Can't Remember What Happened Yesterday?

It seems that whatever we want to remember we aren't very good at and whatever we don't want to remember (or don't intend to) we seem to be very good at. Your most intense memories are usually those of when you were growing up - a special birthday, your first date, your bully, your first broken bone, etc. Once we hit adulthood it seems the days go by slow and the years go by fast. If you are an adult reading this blog, what do you remember most about the last 100 days? Last 10 days? Yesterday? Don't make a list of things you probably did, rather, what specifically - in detail - do you remember?

If you were given a list of a hundred random numbers, how many could you remember if you had an hour to memorize them? That would be a chore... a very boring chore.

We remember most things - without trying - when there are more senses involved (i.e., sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell). Memorizing a list of numbers is just using sight whereas your first date would involve the sight of your date, the sound of their voice, the touch of holding hands, the smell of perfume/cologne, and the taste of dinner. This is true for things we don't want to remember; for example, a bloody car accident. This would involve the sight of the horror, the sound of the pains, perhaps the smell of fuel, and the touch of trying to help someone who's hurt. The retention of a memory is stronger when it is new because it hits these senses in a more profound way.

There are other senses beyond the traditional five that could be involved - such as a sense of humor. Things that are funny tend to stick in our memories better. A sense of danger is another one. How many times can you recall getting an eerie feeling about NOT doing something?

The next time that you wonder where all of the years went, why not try to make memories of future years instead? Make it a point to immerse yourself in situations that would involve stroking as many senses as possible in new ways. The old advice of find a hobby or try new things is absolutely true - and it isn't a matter of finding a new way to be bored. It is true that you have to find ways to mix it up. When you were younger everything was new. As you get older that slows down dramatically, but it's up to you to do something about it.