Have you ever walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went there? Of course you have. Me, too. The real question is whether we remember before we wander back out.
Memory is a goofy thing. Some people can recall the batting averages of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds, every line from “Caddyshack” and the license plate of the first car they owned. Yet they can't remember to take the garbage can to the curb on Sunday night.
Others can remember every birthday, anniversary and appointment without ever looking at a calendar.
Scientists say memory is affected by attention, stress, health and sleep. That all sounds reasonable, but what about age? Or, more specifically, birthdays? It seems every birthday after 40 quietly steals a few brain cells on its way out the door.
The experts explain that distraction is one of memory's biggest enemies. That makes sense. I can start one project, get interrupted by another, notice something else that needs fixing, and 20 minutes later find myself standing in the garage holding a screwdriver with absolutely no idea why.
Stress doesn't help, either. When life gets busy, the brain seems to prioritize the important things while tossing the little things into the recycle bin. Unfortunately, it occasionally decides that remembering where I parked my truck is one of those “little things.”
Sleep also plays a big role. Most all of us have experienced the fog that follows a restless night. Coffee helps, but only to a point. After the second cup, I am awake enough to realize I have forgotten what I was trying to remember in the first place.
The good news is that memory can improve with practice. Repetition strengthens recall. That's why I always put my keys in the same place. Unless I don't. Then I spend 15 minutes accusing my wife of moving them before eventually finding them in my own coat pocket.
Context matters, too. We remember experiences tied to strong emotions. That's probably why I can vividly recall every embarrassing thing I've done in public, yet I still can't remember someone's name five seconds after being introduced.
So, we need to pay attention. Get enough sleep. Reduce stress. Stay healthy. And repeat important tasks until they become habits. Or, maybe most importantly, we should just start writing everything down. With that in mind, if you see me walking through the grocery store staring at a handwritten list, don't assume I'm getting forgetful. I'm simply embracing modern memory management.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find my reading glasses. I'm almost certain they're sitting on top of my head.
Have a great week, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 | 
