I’ve noticed recently that there’s no sense of time in my memories. When I think back on an event that happened yesterday and then compare to a memory from 10 years ago, they both appear equally vivid and present. As an example, I made a music video for a band a while back. Filming took place over 3 days. I remember everything about the experience. The locations, the jokes we exchanged, their names, where we debut the video along with the crowd, what the band was wearing each time I saw them, even their random friends who came to support, and where I placed the lights/smoke machine, etc… etc… Suffice to say I could walk you through the whole 3 days in tedious detail… BUT, if I didn’t know what year all that occurred in, I wouldn’t know it was nearly 4 years ago. There is an upshot to it. The downside is that I can stay mad about something for a very long time. While 10 years ago may be dimmed by the light of a distant past for you, it was yesterday for me. Still, I would rather have this memory and be forced to confront and grow by the always present experiences of my life than to just forget and lack their lessons and contribution.
Also, for those who think they have a bad memory… I used to. I used to be the guy who would laughingly deflect a lapse with, “ahh~ whoops! I have a shit memory, sorry! Too many drugs I guess! lol~” And it was true. There is a portion of my life lost to me. Mostly elementary and middle school. Some of high school. Then one day I decided I was going to remember names the first time they were told to me. Got tired of always asking and dismissing what ultimately amounts to my own lack of conscious effort to remember. That was the start. Once I learned how to remember, then I had this memory. It’s a learned skill. Start trying to remember people’s names on introduction. The results will surprise you.