Remembering to Live

I was reading a book recently (Moonwalking with Einstein) about a man’s decision to try to improve his memory. The book covers his path from an interested observer (he was sent to cover the story of the U.S. Memory Championship for a magazine), to the methodical way that he learned to utilize different techniques, to his eventual role as competitor in that same championship! Which was inspiring to me– someone who forgets why she opened the fridge on a regular basis. According to the author, and the other competitors, anyone can learn to improve their memory.

I remember one passage in particular stuck out to me quite a bit: the author was talking about how we age, and our lives calm down, and there is less and less to distinguish one day from the next: everything simmers down into a gray murk of monotony. When you have fewer milestones to pin dates and memories to, there is less to remind you of what you did and have done. On the other hand, if you fill your life with achievements, and new experiences, you can easily recall that Monday two weeks ago: oh, that was the day I made that amazing jerk chicken at home for dinner and it was so beautiful we walked the dog through the park for an hour afterwards…. or had great sex…. or whatever. You get the drift.

Without getting all sappy and lecture-y: I think that one thing I have really taken to heart this past year is learning to live more. To be more present in the moment and to really savor and be grateful for what I have at that second. I may not have saved as much money as I should have, but I’ve taken amazing trips and had delicious dinners and laughed and learned more in the past couple months than I have in recent times. I’ve let go a little bit of some of my fears and anxieties and have tried to really experience each day to the fullest. I look back at my calendar and as I let my mind drift back to the things I did on a particular day, a whole load of sensory memories come back to me: Oh, that day I did my taxes? I got to the accountant’s office late and we had a hilarious conversation about restaurants, and he recommended that I go to La Silhouette, which a friend ended up taking me to for a belated birthday dinner, and when we went there was this amazing scallop appetizer and we had a heart to heart about a situation that has been bothering me lately…

The more that I pack my days with meaningful experiences with people that I love and value and adore, the more that I allow myself to be open to making more great memories, the more that I realize how lucky I am to have the freedom and support to explore my world in this way. It makes me more grateful for everything that I have.

Tomorrow’s post: Recent buys…