This time of year is second to none for reliving precious memories. Curiously, those wonderful reminiscences are a product of electro-chemical science, adjusted by judicious editing by our brain.
Memories are fluid, re-shaped by our brains when we recall them. As any prosecutor knows, eyewitnesses can be remarkably inaccurate. Many of us have been unsettled by an old diary or photo album. Reunions with friends who shared portions of our lives prompt different tales of occurrences we all thought graven on our hearts.
For example, members of my only championship team relived the big game that clinched the title at our 20th high school reunion and believe it or not, not only could we not agree on who we played, half thought it was an away game, half at home.
Preserving memories
Cherished memories are woven anew each time we recall them, and those versions are how they are stored again. Thus, our fondest, most-visited recollections might be the most distorted. This is why tales of Christmas past can trigger more argument than agreement at holiday dinners.
Today’s ubiquitous digital records will do much to offset this brain idiosyncrasy, although with a psychological cost. Before our every minute was liable to be in the background of some selfie, we had writing – journals, diaries and published works.
My nearly 30 years of casting opinions on the waters has left about 300 pieces of hard evidence. While some are cringeworthy for their mistaken analysis and predictions, all give me a reflection of who I was and what readers thought.
Those pages will preserve faces and voices of respected colleagues and appreciated readers alike. Reading them reinforces how lucky I have been to write for Top Producer, and how I will cherish those people who made it possible.
Thank you all, Merry Christmas, and a grateful goodbye.
