memory
Several years ago I came to the realization that my memory just isn't as good as most peoples'. People I know would talk about places or events that I remember being at but I would not remember the conversations or incidents that occurred there that others remembered. Yes, two different people will always remember different things about the same event but this was more than that. One example is that I had a conversation with my mother in which the topic of air conditioning (or lack thereof) in Europe came up. I said something about it not getting as hot (at least in Austria) as it did here so it wasn't as necessary. Then she told me that the summer I lived in Austria all I did was complain about how hot it was. Why didn't I remember that?
Monday I saw an old friend, John, whom I hadn't seen in 18 years. Something he said (which, of course, I've now forgotten) got me thinking, "Wow, I can't believe he remembered that!" I later read through some old emails from him and was shocked by how little I remembered not only of what he had written but what I had written myself. His emails contained portions of my emails and in some cases my emails in entirety. I had already forgotten many things I had written to him 7-8 years ago. Seeing what I had written refreshed my memory of some things but of others, I still had no memory of them occurring. I suppose they occurred since that's what I had written and I have no reason to believe these are made up things but still I could not remember them.
People are often upset when you don't remember certain things. They think you don't care and if you just tell them you have a horrible memory, it sounds like an excuse. But what else can you do? I hate that my memory is so bad and I wish there was a way to improve it. I know there are "brain games" and such but those only seem to help me remember facts and lists and I've never had a problem remembering those. I can still remember Latin declensions although it's been more than 25 years since I learned them but I have so much trouble remember events and conversations. Why is this? What is wrong with my memory? I don't think it's a question I'll ever get answered. I'll have to continue on making what sounds like excuses for not remembering.
Monday I saw an old friend, John, whom I hadn't seen in 18 years. Something he said (which, of course, I've now forgotten) got me thinking, "Wow, I can't believe he remembered that!" I later read through some old emails from him and was shocked by how little I remembered not only of what he had written but what I had written myself. His emails contained portions of my emails and in some cases my emails in entirety. I had already forgotten many things I had written to him 7-8 years ago. Seeing what I had written refreshed my memory of some things but of others, I still had no memory of them occurring. I suppose they occurred since that's what I had written and I have no reason to believe these are made up things but still I could not remember them.
People are often upset when you don't remember certain things. They think you don't care and if you just tell them you have a horrible memory, it sounds like an excuse. But what else can you do? I hate that my memory is so bad and I wish there was a way to improve it. I know there are "brain games" and such but those only seem to help me remember facts and lists and I've never had a problem remembering those. I can still remember Latin declensions although it's been more than 25 years since I learned them but I have so much trouble remember events and conversations. Why is this? What is wrong with my memory? I don't think it's a question I'll ever get answered. I'll have to continue on making what sounds like excuses for not remembering.