What to Do with Memories

Summary

"What to Do with Memories" contemplates the personal and emotive process of engaging with past experiences, weighing their impact on the present and the shaping of one's identity.

Abstract

The article "What to Do with Memories" delves into the introspective journey of recalling and cherishing memories. It portrays the act of remembrance as a delicate balance between living in the present and revisiting the past. Through poetic prose, it questions the authenticity and purpose of memories, suggesting that they are both a source of nostalgic joy and a potential hindrance to fully experiencing the now. The narrative explores the emotional attachment to memories, likening them to songs and poems that one may not fully understand but feels deeply connected to. The author reflects on the selective nature of memory, emphasizing the care taken to preserve certain moments, even as they inevitably fade like dew in sunlight. The piece concludes with a meditation on the transformative power of memories, acknowledging their role in personal growth and the formation of one's character.

Opinions

The author perceives memories as a mixed blessing, enriching life but also posing a risk of being lost in the past.
There is a sense of curation in how the author chooses to remember and honor certain experiences over others.
Memories are likened to precious pearls that require care and polishing to maintain their luster.
The act of remembering is not just passive recollection but an active, passionate engagement with one's past.
The author suggests that memories shape one's identity, with each recollection adding to the narrative of self.
There is an acknowledgment that some memories are transient, which may be a natural part of moving forward.
The piece conveys a sense of wonder and adventure in the experiences that have shaped the author's life.
The author questions the moral judgments often attached to memories, implying that they are beyond such simplistic categorizations.
The narrative implies that the emotional resonance of memories is akin to a melody, suggesting that there is a harmonious aspect to how they are retained and recalled.

A story of remembering

The faces, the words, my feet — each step I recall A smell, a taste, a song, an embrace Tenderness, passion, remembrance of a lesson?

Do I forfeit the now, an illusion of truth? Do I peek through the window & claim to have all proof?

Am I the singer of songs — the words of which I don´t know? The writer of poems — of which the outcome is never so?

Maybe…

But who´s to feel the passion with which each memory I caress The energy with which each character I bless

I carefully select the time & the place Where these moments should reside Because of all I do, the passion I feel

Time goes by — that’s why I Reel them in Shiny as pearls, I polish them new I treat them with care — They sometimes disappear

Like the morning dew In the sunshine I am the child playing in the field The teenager — I would never yield

Risk-taker, adventure seeker Men who made me feel weaker And stronger…I recall them all

I could not dare hold his hand in the mall An Alice band preventing me from a fatal fall

The dance, the trance, the glance The fence, the bench, the quench The pain, the rain, the blame

So short-lived are some, how can’t I go back Trace once more my finger around eyebrows so black

Dive the Caribbean, sail the Atlantic Steer a Ford Bronco across country Drink Tequila & go substance full monty

If there’s no good nor bad, no right nor wrong Why do I even care to justify this song?

As it’s finely tuned, with an energy of love My sweet voice A melody amongst angels above.