Memories are the time machines that take you in
the past. Memories are an integral part of living beings. Organisms, animals,
birds, aquatic creatures all depend upon memories for their growth and
survival. Their growth and survival strategies depend upon the memories of
their past experiences. Our folk stories vouch for memories of dogs and horses who
never forgot their masters and the elephant who took revenge with the needle
pricking tailor. Microorganisms do ‘remember’ the antibiotics and mutate to
develop resistance so as to survive. Memories have a special significance in
human life. Pleasant or unpleasant, recent or past all are important. These
memories helps to live, not just survive.
Be it an aged widower in torn patched ‘dhoti’(धोती) spending
his remaining life on a ‘charpai’ (चारपाई) kept in a corner of one room apartment or be
it a same age rich widow leaving in a royalty having attendants around provided
by her NRI son. Both have an incredible support of their past memories, good as
well as bad. These can be the reasons for survival or for a death wish. One
just can’t forget memories, (but for those who have Alzheimer’s), they might
surface again. One lives with memories and dies with memories to be in the
memories of others. A person without memories is brain dead.
Memories need to be articulated. Everyone needs
to do this, more so for the senior citizens as the articulation helps in many
ways. The unpleasant memories when released reduces depression, curtails
brooding. It helps to vent out latent suppressed feelings and venting out of
feelings gives a fresh lease of life. The pleasant memories have positive
vibes. When shared these results in a sense of wellbeing and satisfaction. The memories therefore need to be shared, be
these pleasant or unpleasant. This will help to improve quality of life in the
seniors, the brooding will reduce and positive vibes will dominate.
Many of the seniors may not have scope to share
their memories. They may not have friends or such relatives who want to be
patient listeners. If there is no one to listen then they can certainly write
(except those who have untreated cataract) or type out. Writing memories is
best way to vent your feelings and reduce internal pressure. If writing or
typing is not possible then the seniors may take someone’s help to pen it down.
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| My sixty year old school tiffin |
Memories add flavor to life just the way a
matured pickle enhances taste of your meals, but it has to be in a moderate and
acceptable quantities. Excess of memories in routine life and excess of pickle
in meals have a potential to spoil. A speaker giving anecdote or two is welcome
but the one who has no substance but just anecdotes becomes a bore. So have a
proper control for the recall of your memories. Excess can be problematic. Let
there be scope for other thoughts to occupy your mind. Occupying mind space
with only memories will block other thought process and result in limitations.
It’s like RAM of the computer, it has to be free to carry out many other
activities, and one can’t just block it. So have a proper blend that will keep
brain active.
One shouldn't be judgmental with memories.
There is a generation gap and what one feels was wrong couple of years back may
not be true today. Times have changed and are constantly changing. A handshake
with a friend of opposite sex (it might not be an era of boyfriends or girlfriends)
five decades back might have had more thrill than hugging a friend today.
Therefore judging emotions, morality, culture etc. may not be appropriate.
Remember things have changed, so don’t pass any judgment, but you can certainly
brood to have not born in late last century. It would have been different, but
don’t regret the hand shake half a century back was definitely more thrilling
than a hug of today. (Is it judgmental?). Hold on to the memories that you
have. They are forever, as long as your brain is alive. The world might change
but not your memories. The only reason everyone holds on to memories so tightly
is because memories are the only thing that don’t change when everyone else
does.
Every one leads a life that gives tears, smiles
and memories. The tears dry, smiles fade but memories last forever. Don’t just
keep these with you but shares with others. That will make life more
meaningful.
Many of the senior citizens would have loads of
memories that they would like to share. I would love to listen or read if
shared with me. Those who want to publish their memories on net, I can help
them. Share them before they fade out. I have started a blog www.Majhya-Aathavani.blogspot.in
for sharing the memories. I will start with mine but others are welcome. Do
write in comments if you feel like sharing memories, we will work together, I
will contact you.
Happy memories……….
