When you experience an incredible moment, you think you’ll remember it forever. Some people do have an uncanny ability to recall an event in exceptional detail, remembering everything from the way sunlight played with oak leaves to form mystical shadows, to the way the air smelled like a comforting mix of baking bread and hot coffee.
But not all of us have that type of multi-sensory, photographic memory. Even people who do have a highly developed capacity to remember events, conversations, images, and feelings sometimes start to have trouble remembering pertinent details as they age.
Memories Do Fade
The fact is, memories fade. As our brains work to store new memories, older ones lose some details. It’s believed that the complete memory still resides in the brain, but our ability to access it in full deteriorates.
A study conducted by MIT and reported in 2013 brings to light information about memory extinction. According to the study, it isn’t that the memories vanish; it’s that newer memories take higher precedence. As we have new experiences and acquire more information, the newer memories give us a new perspective on things, thus lessening the impact of our older memories.
In short, our memories fade over time, to varying degrees for each individual, lessening in intensity, detail, and accuracy.
Preserve Accuracy
Have you ever listened to two people try to retell a story about something that they experienced long ago? Both may agree on some of the details, but they may vehemently disagree on other points. In fact, they may even sound like they’re telling completely different stories!
Because humans are so complex, we may interpret an original experience in different ways. Over time, we process our memories and form certain ideas and conclusions based on our individual interpretations. It’s not unusual for some of us to “rewrite” some of our memories, either because we’ve genuinely forgotten the details and are trying to fill in the gaps, or because we don’t necessarily like some of the details we’re remembering accurately.
To preserve the accuracy of our memories, and to avoid confusing inconsistencies in family stories that are passed down from one generation to the next, it’s a good idea to record our memories while they’r still fresh in our minds.
If you want to preserve your family history, it’s important to capture your memories before they start to fade away. This way, you’ll be preserving accuracy and logging enough information so that your children, and their great-grandchildren, will be able to understand and enjoy the stories that are passed down.
While Loved Ones Are With Us
The elderly among us have so much knowledge and a great deal to share. They’ve seen innumerable changes throughout their lives, and they’ve experienced adventures, first loves, heartbreaks, successes, failures, and rebounds. They are survivors, and they have much to teach the rest of us.
These loved ones won’t always be around. In their older years, some of our relatives may forget the wonderful true stories that made up their lives as they develop conditions that prevent them from remembering key events and life lessons. Preserving their memories while these loved ones have their full mental abilities is an important, worthwhile endeavor that current and future generations will appreciate.
Turn To Living Family History
We know how frustrating it can be when you can’t remember a story, a date, or even the name of someone who once mattered a great deal to you. Living Family History puts tremendous value on the memories that make up each family’s heritage and legacy. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to capture your memories while they’r still fresh. Visit us to see how we can help you preserve and share your unique family history.
(Link to the study: http://news.mit.edu/2013/how-old-memories-fade-away-0918)