How To Recall Forgotten Memories
This August, I'm taking my husband and daughter to the community where I was born and raised. It's hard to believe that more than 20 years have passed since I last visited, even though it's relatively remote and a long distance away.
I lived there until I was 15, when my parents moved us to a small Victorian seaside town in Washington State. It was a difficult age to move away from all I'd ever known and to a much larger town and new country with a culture different from what I was used to.
Looking back, I can see how growing up in that small community in northern British Columbia has shaped who I am today. The thing about living in a remote location is that there are generally two groups of people: those who were born there—their families quite often the original settlers of that area—and those who moved there looking for adventure or to escape their former lives.
My parents were part of the latter group. They were adventure seekers searching for a different life they could build from the ground up.
What's common among both groups is that the people of these small towns have the most incredible stories to share. They are pioneers, homesteaders, trailblazers, entrepreneurs, and often artists.
This trip came at a critical time for me because I was starting to forget the details of my childhood memories. When I close my eyes, I can still picture our log home with the sawmill just up the hill. While I remember the gravel roads that I would ride my bike to school on, some of my memories have gotten a little foggy, and I'm afraid of losing them altogether.
This small community was my start in life, and the fact that those memories are beginning to slip away has motivated me to action.
So, how do we recall the details of memories we've mostly forgotten?
Look through old photographs. If you can access photos of your childhood or other periods of your life, this is a great way to start recalling older memories.
Reminisce with your friends and family. Talk to your friends and family about events and experiences you shared together. Their recollections may jog your memory and vice versa.
Revisit places that were once significant. Take a trip down memory lane, literally. Visit your hometown and childhood home (if it's still standing). Walk down once-familiar streets and look for cues that remind you of what your life was like then.
Read through old letters, journals, and notes. Read your old journal entries, letters and greeting cards that you've kept. Look through old sketchbooks or any books you may have written in (including in the margins).
Cook a meal that reminds you of your past. Are there any seasonal or celebratory dishes that remind you of another time? It could even be the simplest meal, like cinnamon and sugar on toast, that may remind you of something you'd forgotten.
While all of these suggestions are intended to help you recall forgotten memories, they will only work if you make an effort to write them down if and when they come back to you. They say that memory is fleeting…and that's even more true with a memory you've already lost once. So when a memory comes back, write it down, make a note, or take a minute to record it on your phone.
Memory is like a muscle that needs to be flexed and trained—it gets stronger with consistent effort.
This month, I'm disappearing for a couple of weeks to return to my roots, awaken my senses, and immerse myself in the community where I once belonged. So now, when was the last time you walked down memory lane?