Photographs play an interesting role in memory. They can serve as wonderful jumping-off points and can also convince your children that your own childhood actually happened.
Because my mother died when I was relatively young (13), I have had the opportunity to do a lot of thinking about how both photographs and family stories influence memory. After my mom's death, a variety of friends and relatives went right to work trying to establish a canonical memory of her -- who she was, what she was like, and especially what she believed. They also focused in on photos of her from before my time, so to speak.
There were two or three such memory-based versions of her that entered into the canon, depending on which set of people you were talking to. These would be pulled up as evidence in order to advise or even pressure me to align with a certain version of behavior.
I resented and resisted this, not so much because these memories were used to manipulate me (for example, I would be told "your mother thought *this* about [insert political issue]" or "your mother once told me *this* about how many children a woman should have"), but because those memories began to override my own memory of how my mother actually was with and to me.
I started to have trouble actually remembering who she was because the stories and photos and all of that were trying to tell me she was someone different from the person I knew.
I realized at about 18 or 20 that the only version of her that I could be sure of was who she was in relation to me. She may well have been other ways and other things, also, to other people and at other times, but I needed to hang on for dear life to my own memories of her.
But some of the damage had already been done.
As a historian, I am keenly aware that stewarding memory involves a serious level of moral responsibility to the dead. We need to pay attention to what we do with our memories.
Thanks for sharing this very personal and insightful reflection. It seems particularly interesting that there were different "canons" about the same person. Also, greatly appreciate your line "..stewarding memory involves a serious level of moral responsibility to the dead." My father passed away when I was 18 and I realize that I am the only one who can pass on his memory to my children, which makes me consider more deeply who he was, what he was like, what stood out in his character, what stories he might have related to them. These are memories that need to be nurtured as they will otherwise simply wither away. We indeed need to "pay attention to what we do with our memories". Thanks again :)
I'm sorry to hear that your lost your father so young, Ruth. That is very sad. I'm heartened by your memory response of trying to reflect more deeply on him than you might have otherwise; yes, these memories need ot be nurtured.
Dixie, I must say that your experience beautifully illustrates the complex and powerful role of memory and photographs in shaping our understanding of loved ones. It's poignant how external narratives and images can sometimes overshadow our personal memories, especially when those narratives come from well-meaning friends and family.
Your realization that the most authentic memory of your mother is how she was in relation to you is... profound. It's a reminder that each person's experience of someone can be unique and valid, even if it differs from the collective memory.
As a historian, your perspective on the moral responsibility of stewarding memory is invaluable. It's crucial to honor and preserve personal memories while being mindful of how we represent the deceased to others.
How has this awareness influenced your work as a historian and your approach to personal memories? Your insights provide a meaningful reflection on the importance of individual experiences in the broader context of collective memory.
Sol, thank you for your compassionate and thoughtful response. Your question is a good one; perhaps I should write an essay addressing this directly at some point.
A quick answer would be to note two points:
- That we must approach historical figures both critically and generously; if they would not recognize themselves in our portrayals of them (even if they might not agree), we have done something wrong
- That all historical sources are complex; there are no pure sources (even archaeological ones). We need to take provenance, perspective, archival processing, etc. into account with all sources, just as we take into account our own biases as historians reading those sources. This is okay -- it's just part of it.
I'm trying to think of things I've already written that touch on all of this...
This is some good food for thought. I like that you connected the threads of memorization and social media documentation.
I recently started a notebook as an outlet for the urge to post things online. Instead of posting a photo, I attempted a little sketch of the thing I wanted to photograph, and gave it the witty caption I would’ve posted. For me, it’s an exercise in humility and living the “hidden” life (though I’ve canceled that out by mentioning it here!) as well as in the use of lower-tech recording technology.
I also like to record my kids’ cute quotes in notebooks where I write them letters for when they’re older. I hope to convert the notebooks to a back-and-forth written conversation with them eventually.
Great idea to start such a notebook! This will surely be a treasure:)
As I was working on this post I read through our old diaries and I read all the quotes and little stories to my kids (the youngest of whom is now 12). We laughed tears and I was so glad that I had spent the few minutes to write these words down, as we would certainly not have remembered them. Your idea of a "back-and-forth written conversation" also sounds lovely!
Write them down in a commonplace book of quotes - that will help :) When I read novels and come across a striking sentence, I will either mark it or copy it down which helps me to remember.
This is so important. Thankyou. A teacher of mine, Martin Prechtel, who is himself an incredible story teller, told us that in his village, Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, the people never wrote anything down for this very reason. Of course the invaders (the spanish, missionairies, aid groups, "developers, etc.) see them as primitive because they have no written language. But it was intentional. We think we write things down to remember them, or take a photo, notes, whatever... But they view doing such as precisely the act that makes you forget. And I have found this to be very true. Whenever I have a great idea, and I have managed to frget my notebook so I cannot write it down, well, lo and behold, I remember the idea!! Yet all the ideas I write down, well, its as if in the act of writing something down, taking a picture, etc, I am giving myself the permission to forget. Heck, we even call it "memory" in our computer don't we! We are giving our memory over to the machines. Wild. Great article, as always. https://gregorypettys.substack.com/
One of the things I miss in regard to photos and picture taking: When we would take photos, we really didn't know how they would turn out. Did someone's thumb obscure part of the photo? Did someone move as the picture was being taken and now there is a bit of blurriness? Was it too dark to take the picture? Too light? Part of the fun of taking the film into the photo shop and waiting to see the photos was wondering all these things and the anticipatory nature of eventually opening the envelope and pulling the photos out to see what transpired out of the camera's lens. It really is different now...
Yes, good point Mackenzie. There was not only limits, but also simply accepting what you got. Now we not only have continuous distraction from the moments we are trying to capture, but also the "tyranny of choice" in retaking better shots endlessly.
When I was in first grade, my school began an after-school aerobics club, but joining meant I could not take the bus home, and my busy father didn’t really want to drive me. He said I could join only if I memorized the 23rd Psalm. Later he told me he thought it would take me at least a week, but I knew it by heart within the hour. I got my after-school aerobics, and because he asked me to recite it every once in a while, I also got a psalm I never forgot. Only later did I realize the gift of knowing this bit of scripture. It was in my mind wherever I was: at peace in nature, crying in the car, scared on an airplane… knowing it has shaped me as I’ve grown. Realizing that spurred me to memorize more scripture, and to encourage my children to memorize good things, but I’ve gotten out of the habit. Maybe it is time to start again...
I have recited Psalm 23 many times when feeling anxious and also during several months of morning sickness -- it was always a balm to my soul. I, too, think I need to take up the habit of memorizing scripture and help my kids to do the same.
Thanks for sharing this story Daina :) Psalm 23 is an especially potent verse to have close to heart. We memorized this verse as well as the Nicene Creed, the Beatitudes, and more with our children as well. At the start it felt like it might take forever to remember, but with persistence it worked perfectly and will be forever accessible to them, especially in those moments in need as you describe.
Wow, this is excellent! There is much to consider here. I appreciate you all writing this comprehensive and thorough piece on memory. Very practical
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on AirPods, headphones, speakers, and other technologies of sound as it relates to memory. Asking the question: in a world where I’m provided with so many opportunities for input through devices (phone, podcasts, audiobooks, music, etc) am I able to properly think and meditate on the texts in my heart? I recounted stories of the past where men meditated and memorized texts while working, but is this habit more difficult when we prefer to put on AirPods as a first choice?
I thought that you would enjoy this :) I hope that this post will also help point readers toward all the wonderful resources you have collected on your Substack. Interesting reflection on "input"- I feel that when input comes from a page, I can determine the pace. I can set a page down, think, reflect, pick it back up. Although audio input can be controlled, it feels more imposing to me.
I think the problem began back in the kodak days when advertisement programming started about "creating memories" (which is a pretty bizarrre phrase). So you didn't go somewhere to enjoy it in the moment; you went to take photos and "create memories" to enjoy in the future . . . i traveled extensively in my 20s and relatives were often perturbed because i didn't have photos to show them - since i didn't carry a camera. I wanted to experience things, not record them.
Now it is like "kodak moments" on steroids. I think the powers that be are right on track to create a populace of docile sheep who will do whatever their cellphone/tablet/laptop tells them. And if google is their only source of literature, well narratives that don't support the current paradigm or regime can be altered (a good reason to keep real books). Who knows how they might alter books like "1984" - which those of us born near it's 1949 publishing date thought was a scary fantasy, not destined to become reality at least in our lifetimes!
I support your hearkening back to real reality, which some spiritual paths continue to embrace. I too started journaling daily in 2nd grade at school with a handmade diary cover similar to yours (:
I don't think the virtual reality goggles are going to take over most minds, though i understand that many young people are pretty addicted to gaming, so who knows. Actually i think the ubiquity of cellphones is a big problem mentally and psychologically, but also there is a physical basis to much of the problem.
I am sure you have noticed the normalization of anxiety and depression across the spectrum of our society, especially among our younger ones for whom the use of anti-anxiety and anti-depressive drugs has also become normal. And it is not all due to the effect of social media on our brains. There is substantial brain (and body) damage from the radiofrequency the devices all use. (i do not use a cellphone at all, and am on a wired computer, listening to your article via a text to speech program).
Thanks for adding your reflections Yantra :) That is an interesting reminder about the "kodak moments" which seemed to sow the start of stepping away from the experience to record the experience. We explored the point you make about "1984" in our recent post on "Booklegging".
yes, thank you Ruth - i also read that post back then and just reviewed some of it. Very perceptive what Peco says in the intro about the proclivity of big tech to "move fast and break things" and about "it’s ability to bulldoze and demolish anything that stands in the way of innovation". This attitude is i think one of the greatest current challenges we face - especially considering the rapid rollout of all kinds of untested technologies, like massive wireless radiation and warpspeed vaccines - and the concurrent demise of many calmer, quieter, gentler and time-tested ways of life. Which is why i value the perspective your articles provide.
I have a close relative who often chastised/reminds us that we need to be "making memories"--i absolutely detest that phrase! Figures that it originated as a Kodak marketing ploy 🙄
Commonplace books are making a comeback. A year ago I didn’t even know what they were.
As I teen I had a little calendar book wherein I would jot down 3 things for which I was grateful, every night at bedtime. A soul-nourishing habit to develop.
Also, in our homeschool, occasionally we study a work of art for 5 mins then put it away and try to recreate with pastels. We recommend this fun exercise.
Yes, a commonplace book with a nice pen has been a helpful practice for me. Deliberately choosing, categorizing, and writing down ideas and quotes into the notebook has helped to solidify and recall them later on.
I offer some resources that might be of use to fellow readers:
This year I have begun using a one line a day five-year memory book to record daily happenings, and I anticipate being able to look back on it and see-- what was I doing on *this day* for each of the last five years? Each entry offers room for only a snapshot of the day, so that makes it very doable every night. An internet search will yield different styles of this type of journal to suit one's taste (search "one line a day five-year memory book")-- and you can start using it at any time; you don't have to wait until January 1.
I also wanted to offer a couple of sources of art prints for study, as I wanted to do this for a while but wasn't sure where to start. I have used two of Simply Charlotte Mason's artist portfolios, and they were well made, with useful summaries about each painting/artist. I have also seen Riverbend Press recommended as a source for sets of quality prints, but have not used them myself.
Finally, I have kept a "Book Book" since 2005, recording every book I've read in that time in a small Moleskine. It's not elaborate-- I jot down title and author, number the books each year, and at the end of the year I circle outstanding titles from the previous 12 months. This little notebook is one of my most precious possessions-- an artifact of my life that reflects passing seasons and evolving interests and the unfurling of my personhood. The years I was breastfeeding-- I read many, many books! Years I was suffering from depression--very few titles. Some years, only novels. Some years, more non-fiction. My transition from Evangelical Protestant to Eastern Orthodox Christian is also evident. I am 40, but I hope to one day pass this notebook on to a book-loving young relative.
Rachel, thanks so much for adding these suggestions! Loved all of them:) My kids used a similar memory journal where they recorded just one thing each day for about one year (there is even a "sketch" a day version. Keeping a "Book Book" is another great idea and interesting that you were able to observe your faith evolve via these notes. Reminds me to get back to mine as well....
I used to drive by my old childhood house and neighborhood with my kids and tell them little stories about when I was a girl. Seeing the ‘real’ thing always floods the memory with good things. It was good to show my kids that I lived in a concrete reality when I was their exact age. They loved driving around in my old stomping grounds and imagining me as a ten year old there.
Glad you enjoyed it :) Yes, nothing beats revisiting actual places and retelling stories about them. I am so glad that we can visit my childhood home in Switzerland each year (with me recounting all the stories and memories along the way) and that my children have come to know my town over the years and have formed their own memories there as well.
I practise using my memory when I play music. Since I was six years old I have been learning the flute through the Suzuki method, which focuses on aural and memory skills. Every time a student moves up a level they perform a piece by memory - the next piece I need to memorise is twelve minutes long. I have noticed when playing in a community ensemble that the skill of memorisation is underdeveloped in most players, even experienced ones. One time the conductor taught us a very simple round as an exercise, and everyone except for me panicked and wrote it down. I wouldn't say I have an amazing memory, I've just been taught how to memorise information!
A couple of weeks ago I decided that I would venture out in our (still fairly new-to-us) village without my phone. I had to drop off an envelope at a local house, so I checked my apple maps and, seeing that it was only 3 streets away, thought I would have no problem arriving in good time. Despite growing up in a world (and initially navigating a semester abroad in Europe) with no smart phones, I failed in my errand! Happily, the people out and about were kind and tried to help me, but I had transposed the street names and was asking for an address that didn't exist. It was a moment of realizing just how bad my memory has become for things like this. Even memorizing phone numbers no longer comes easily: more than 4 digits in sequence and I have to look twice!
A few years ago I decided to memorize some poetry: I think the time has come for me to revisit that practice and perhaps gain some new techniques as you suggest here.
Thanks for sharing Kerri! It's surprising when we realize how reliant we are on tech even to navigate our surroundings, but people are still a great resource when ending up lost :) I use Google maps at home to draw maps when I go out and have developed a good sense of direction and know that even when I get lost I'll eventually find my way again. Memorizing phone numbers seems a thing of the past as they simply get saved in contact lists. Our teenage son, who does not have a phone (nor wants one for now), has made a handwritten list of all his friends phone numbers and has been memorizing them, getting his younger brother to quiz him. Glad you found some inspiration from the suggestions here:)
I wrote an essay on memory recently. On how the Gospel was once only oral, not written down at all - same thing with the book of Genesis. I think it would interest you. I've taken to memorizing poems and I call upon them when I need them. I often recite "A Vision" by Wendell Berry to myself when I am out wandering the landscape gathering wild medicine. In fact, I think I'll go do that now - it's nearly time for the St John's Wort harvest! Bisous! Alissa
Great article. Can you tell more about the memory game your mother made? What a beautiful idea! I think also of the amazing power of music to help memory (and think of Oliver Sacks' Musicophilia in this regard) plus maybe exercising your geographic power will help (thinking of the amazing brains of London cabbies, who have jaw-dropping spatial memory of their city).
Yes, the London cabbies are amazing! My mother found a photo shop where they provided this service (you can also make puzzles, cups, etc.) and thus simply had to select the desired amount of photos. They printed them up on sturdy carboard squares and packaged them in a box. Quite the treasure :)
Photographs play an interesting role in memory. They can serve as wonderful jumping-off points and can also convince your children that your own childhood actually happened.
Because my mother died when I was relatively young (13), I have had the opportunity to do a lot of thinking about how both photographs and family stories influence memory. After my mom's death, a variety of friends and relatives went right to work trying to establish a canonical memory of her -- who she was, what she was like, and especially what she believed. They also focused in on photos of her from before my time, so to speak.
There were two or three such memory-based versions of her that entered into the canon, depending on which set of people you were talking to. These would be pulled up as evidence in order to advise or even pressure me to align with a certain version of behavior.
I resented and resisted this, not so much because these memories were used to manipulate me (for example, I would be told "your mother thought *this* about [insert political issue]" or "your mother once told me *this* about how many children a woman should have"), but because those memories began to override my own memory of how my mother actually was with and to me.
I started to have trouble actually remembering who she was because the stories and photos and all of that were trying to tell me she was someone different from the person I knew.
I realized at about 18 or 20 that the only version of her that I could be sure of was who she was in relation to me. She may well have been other ways and other things, also, to other people and at other times, but I needed to hang on for dear life to my own memories of her.
But some of the damage had already been done.
As a historian, I am keenly aware that stewarding memory involves a serious level of moral responsibility to the dead. We need to pay attention to what we do with our memories.
Thanks for sharing this very personal and insightful reflection. It seems particularly interesting that there were different "canons" about the same person. Also, greatly appreciate your line "..stewarding memory involves a serious level of moral responsibility to the dead." My father passed away when I was 18 and I realize that I am the only one who can pass on his memory to my children, which makes me consider more deeply who he was, what he was like, what stood out in his character, what stories he might have related to them. These are memories that need to be nurtured as they will otherwise simply wither away. We indeed need to "pay attention to what we do with our memories". Thanks again :)
I'm sorry to hear that your lost your father so young, Ruth. That is very sad. I'm heartened by your memory response of trying to reflect more deeply on him than you might have otherwise; yes, these memories need ot be nurtured.
Dixie, I must say that your experience beautifully illustrates the complex and powerful role of memory and photographs in shaping our understanding of loved ones. It's poignant how external narratives and images can sometimes overshadow our personal memories, especially when those narratives come from well-meaning friends and family.
Your realization that the most authentic memory of your mother is how she was in relation to you is... profound. It's a reminder that each person's experience of someone can be unique and valid, even if it differs from the collective memory.
As a historian, your perspective on the moral responsibility of stewarding memory is invaluable. It's crucial to honor and preserve personal memories while being mindful of how we represent the deceased to others.
How has this awareness influenced your work as a historian and your approach to personal memories? Your insights provide a meaningful reflection on the importance of individual experiences in the broader context of collective memory.
Thank you for sharing, Dixie!
Sol, thank you for your compassionate and thoughtful response. Your question is a good one; perhaps I should write an essay addressing this directly at some point.
A quick answer would be to note two points:
- That we must approach historical figures both critically and generously; if they would not recognize themselves in our portrayals of them (even if they might not agree), we have done something wrong
- That all historical sources are complex; there are no pure sources (even archaeological ones). We need to take provenance, perspective, archival processing, etc. into account with all sources, just as we take into account our own biases as historians reading those sources. This is okay -- it's just part of it.
I'm trying to think of things I've already written that touch on all of this...
I wrote a bit about personal memory in this review, here: https://currentpub.com/2024/04/09/review-permanence-memoir-and-memory/
And about cultural memory here:
https://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2023/01/hard-times-landscape-and-memory/
There are other bits and bobs having to do with history linked here -- https://thehollow.substack.com/p/selected-essays-by-dixie-dillon-lane -- but I think those are the most relevant.
Thank you again!
No problem at all Dixie, thank you for your thoughtful answers too! I will check out the links you shared.
Cheers!!
This is some good food for thought. I like that you connected the threads of memorization and social media documentation.
I recently started a notebook as an outlet for the urge to post things online. Instead of posting a photo, I attempted a little sketch of the thing I wanted to photograph, and gave it the witty caption I would’ve posted. For me, it’s an exercise in humility and living the “hidden” life (though I’ve canceled that out by mentioning it here!) as well as in the use of lower-tech recording technology.
I also like to record my kids’ cute quotes in notebooks where I write them letters for when they’re older. I hope to convert the notebooks to a back-and-forth written conversation with them eventually.
Great idea to start such a notebook! This will surely be a treasure:)
As I was working on this post I read through our old diaries and I read all the quotes and little stories to my kids (the youngest of whom is now 12). We laughed tears and I was so glad that I had spent the few minutes to write these words down, as we would certainly not have remembered them. Your idea of a "back-and-forth written conversation" also sounds lovely!
Love the humility aspect. 💗
I went to a drawing class last week and it was great.
But I don't draw at home. I'll have to think about why I won't draw at home.
I act like I am too busy.
"Reliance on a support system of machines to hold our collective memories is a formula for docility."
Some good lines in this article.
Wonder if I will be able to remember them.
Write them down in a commonplace book of quotes - that will help :) When I read novels and come across a striking sentence, I will either mark it or copy it down which helps me to remember.
Good idea Ruth.
I was also being funny about memory in relation to the topic.
This is so important. Thankyou. A teacher of mine, Martin Prechtel, who is himself an incredible story teller, told us that in his village, Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, the people never wrote anything down for this very reason. Of course the invaders (the spanish, missionairies, aid groups, "developers, etc.) see them as primitive because they have no written language. But it was intentional. We think we write things down to remember them, or take a photo, notes, whatever... But they view doing such as precisely the act that makes you forget. And I have found this to be very true. Whenever I have a great idea, and I have managed to frget my notebook so I cannot write it down, well, lo and behold, I remember the idea!! Yet all the ideas I write down, well, its as if in the act of writing something down, taking a picture, etc, I am giving myself the permission to forget. Heck, we even call it "memory" in our computer don't we! We are giving our memory over to the machines. Wild. Great article, as always. https://gregorypettys.substack.com/
That's fascinating Gregory - thanks for sharing!
Generation X here 😊👋
One of the things I miss in regard to photos and picture taking: When we would take photos, we really didn't know how they would turn out. Did someone's thumb obscure part of the photo? Did someone move as the picture was being taken and now there is a bit of blurriness? Was it too dark to take the picture? Too light? Part of the fun of taking the film into the photo shop and waiting to see the photos was wondering all these things and the anticipatory nature of eventually opening the envelope and pulling the photos out to see what transpired out of the camera's lens. It really is different now...
Yes, good point Mackenzie. There was not only limits, but also simply accepting what you got. Now we not only have continuous distraction from the moments we are trying to capture, but also the "tyranny of choice" in retaking better shots endlessly.
When I was in first grade, my school began an after-school aerobics club, but joining meant I could not take the bus home, and my busy father didn’t really want to drive me. He said I could join only if I memorized the 23rd Psalm. Later he told me he thought it would take me at least a week, but I knew it by heart within the hour. I got my after-school aerobics, and because he asked me to recite it every once in a while, I also got a psalm I never forgot. Only later did I realize the gift of knowing this bit of scripture. It was in my mind wherever I was: at peace in nature, crying in the car, scared on an airplane… knowing it has shaped me as I’ve grown. Realizing that spurred me to memorize more scripture, and to encourage my children to memorize good things, but I’ve gotten out of the habit. Maybe it is time to start again...
I have recited Psalm 23 many times when feeling anxious and also during several months of morning sickness -- it was always a balm to my soul. I, too, think I need to take up the habit of memorizing scripture and help my kids to do the same.
Thanks for sharing this story Daina :) Psalm 23 is an especially potent verse to have close to heart. We memorized this verse as well as the Nicene Creed, the Beatitudes, and more with our children as well. At the start it felt like it might take forever to remember, but with persistence it worked perfectly and will be forever accessible to them, especially in those moments in need as you describe.
Wow, this is excellent! There is much to consider here. I appreciate you all writing this comprehensive and thorough piece on memory. Very practical
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on AirPods, headphones, speakers, and other technologies of sound as it relates to memory. Asking the question: in a world where I’m provided with so many opportunities for input through devices (phone, podcasts, audiobooks, music, etc) am I able to properly think and meditate on the texts in my heart? I recounted stories of the past where men meditated and memorized texts while working, but is this habit more difficult when we prefer to put on AirPods as a first choice?
I thought that you would enjoy this :) I hope that this post will also help point readers toward all the wonderful resources you have collected on your Substack. Interesting reflection on "input"- I feel that when input comes from a page, I can determine the pace. I can set a page down, think, reflect, pick it back up. Although audio input can be controlled, it feels more imposing to me.
Thanks, appreciate it! Hope it is able to serve others well. I agree, interesting thought about pacing.
I think the problem began back in the kodak days when advertisement programming started about "creating memories" (which is a pretty bizarrre phrase). So you didn't go somewhere to enjoy it in the moment; you went to take photos and "create memories" to enjoy in the future . . . i traveled extensively in my 20s and relatives were often perturbed because i didn't have photos to show them - since i didn't carry a camera. I wanted to experience things, not record them.
Now it is like "kodak moments" on steroids. I think the powers that be are right on track to create a populace of docile sheep who will do whatever their cellphone/tablet/laptop tells them. And if google is their only source of literature, well narratives that don't support the current paradigm or regime can be altered (a good reason to keep real books). Who knows how they might alter books like "1984" - which those of us born near it's 1949 publishing date thought was a scary fantasy, not destined to become reality at least in our lifetimes!
I support your hearkening back to real reality, which some spiritual paths continue to embrace. I too started journaling daily in 2nd grade at school with a handmade diary cover similar to yours (:
I don't think the virtual reality goggles are going to take over most minds, though i understand that many young people are pretty addicted to gaming, so who knows. Actually i think the ubiquity of cellphones is a big problem mentally and psychologically, but also there is a physical basis to much of the problem.
I am sure you have noticed the normalization of anxiety and depression across the spectrum of our society, especially among our younger ones for whom the use of anti-anxiety and anti-depressive drugs has also become normal. And it is not all due to the effect of social media on our brains. There is substantial brain (and body) damage from the radiofrequency the devices all use. (i do not use a cellphone at all, and am on a wired computer, listening to your article via a text to speech program).
Thanks for creating a unique space.
Thanks for adding your reflections Yantra :) That is an interesting reminder about the "kodak moments" which seemed to sow the start of stepping away from the experience to record the experience. We explored the point you make about "1984" in our recent post on "Booklegging".
yes, thank you Ruth - i also read that post back then and just reviewed some of it. Very perceptive what Peco says in the intro about the proclivity of big tech to "move fast and break things" and about "it’s ability to bulldoze and demolish anything that stands in the way of innovation". This attitude is i think one of the greatest current challenges we face - especially considering the rapid rollout of all kinds of untested technologies, like massive wireless radiation and warpspeed vaccines - and the concurrent demise of many calmer, quieter, gentler and time-tested ways of life. Which is why i value the perspective your articles provide.
I have a close relative who often chastised/reminds us that we need to be "making memories"--i absolutely detest that phrase! Figures that it originated as a Kodak marketing ploy 🙄
Commonplace books are making a comeback. A year ago I didn’t even know what they were.
As I teen I had a little calendar book wherein I would jot down 3 things for which I was grateful, every night at bedtime. A soul-nourishing habit to develop.
Also, in our homeschool, occasionally we study a work of art for 5 mins then put it away and try to recreate with pastels. We recommend this fun exercise.
Yes, a commonplace book with a nice pen has been a helpful practice for me. Deliberately choosing, categorizing, and writing down ideas and quotes into the notebook has helped to solidify and recall them later on.
I offer some resources that might be of use to fellow readers:
This year I have begun using a one line a day five-year memory book to record daily happenings, and I anticipate being able to look back on it and see-- what was I doing on *this day* for each of the last five years? Each entry offers room for only a snapshot of the day, so that makes it very doable every night. An internet search will yield different styles of this type of journal to suit one's taste (search "one line a day five-year memory book")-- and you can start using it at any time; you don't have to wait until January 1.
I also wanted to offer a couple of sources of art prints for study, as I wanted to do this for a while but wasn't sure where to start. I have used two of Simply Charlotte Mason's artist portfolios, and they were well made, with useful summaries about each painting/artist. I have also seen Riverbend Press recommended as a source for sets of quality prints, but have not used them myself.
Finally, I have kept a "Book Book" since 2005, recording every book I've read in that time in a small Moleskine. It's not elaborate-- I jot down title and author, number the books each year, and at the end of the year I circle outstanding titles from the previous 12 months. This little notebook is one of my most precious possessions-- an artifact of my life that reflects passing seasons and evolving interests and the unfurling of my personhood. The years I was breastfeeding-- I read many, many books! Years I was suffering from depression--very few titles. Some years, only novels. Some years, more non-fiction. My transition from Evangelical Protestant to Eastern Orthodox Christian is also evident. I am 40, but I hope to one day pass this notebook on to a book-loving young relative.
Rachel, thanks so much for adding these suggestions! Loved all of them:) My kids used a similar memory journal where they recorded just one thing each day for about one year (there is even a "sketch" a day version. Keeping a "Book Book" is another great idea and interesting that you were able to observe your faith evolve via these notes. Reminds me to get back to mine as well....
Ah, Ruth, I loved this!
I used to drive by my old childhood house and neighborhood with my kids and tell them little stories about when I was a girl. Seeing the ‘real’ thing always floods the memory with good things. It was good to show my kids that I lived in a concrete reality when I was their exact age. They loved driving around in my old stomping grounds and imagining me as a ten year old there.
Glad you enjoyed it :) Yes, nothing beats revisiting actual places and retelling stories about them. I am so glad that we can visit my childhood home in Switzerland each year (with me recounting all the stories and memories along the way) and that my children have come to know my town over the years and have formed their own memories there as well.
I practise using my memory when I play music. Since I was six years old I have been learning the flute through the Suzuki method, which focuses on aural and memory skills. Every time a student moves up a level they perform a piece by memory - the next piece I need to memorise is twelve minutes long. I have noticed when playing in a community ensemble that the skill of memorisation is underdeveloped in most players, even experienced ones. One time the conductor taught us a very simple round as an exercise, and everyone except for me panicked and wrote it down. I wouldn't say I have an amazing memory, I've just been taught how to memorise information!
Thanks for adding that aspect of memorization Raudi!
A couple of weeks ago I decided that I would venture out in our (still fairly new-to-us) village without my phone. I had to drop off an envelope at a local house, so I checked my apple maps and, seeing that it was only 3 streets away, thought I would have no problem arriving in good time. Despite growing up in a world (and initially navigating a semester abroad in Europe) with no smart phones, I failed in my errand! Happily, the people out and about were kind and tried to help me, but I had transposed the street names and was asking for an address that didn't exist. It was a moment of realizing just how bad my memory has become for things like this. Even memorizing phone numbers no longer comes easily: more than 4 digits in sequence and I have to look twice!
A few years ago I decided to memorize some poetry: I think the time has come for me to revisit that practice and perhaps gain some new techniques as you suggest here.
Thanks for sharing Kerri! It's surprising when we realize how reliant we are on tech even to navigate our surroundings, but people are still a great resource when ending up lost :) I use Google maps at home to draw maps when I go out and have developed a good sense of direction and know that even when I get lost I'll eventually find my way again. Memorizing phone numbers seems a thing of the past as they simply get saved in contact lists. Our teenage son, who does not have a phone (nor wants one for now), has made a handwritten list of all his friends phone numbers and has been memorizing them, getting his younger brother to quiz him. Glad you found some inspiration from the suggestions here:)
I wrote an essay on memory recently. On how the Gospel was once only oral, not written down at all - same thing with the book of Genesis. I think it would interest you. I've taken to memorizing poems and I call upon them when I need them. I often recite "A Vision" by Wendell Berry to myself when I am out wandering the landscape gathering wild medicine. In fact, I think I'll go do that now - it's nearly time for the St John's Wort harvest! Bisous! Alissa
Here is the essay on memory and ancient thinking:
https://divinenature.substack.com/p/when-the-oral-gospel-reigned
Thanks for sharing Alissa!
Thank you for this wise piece.
Also, thanks for the PDF file at the top. I was just about to print my computer screen when I saw the button.
Great article. Can you tell more about the memory game your mother made? What a beautiful idea! I think also of the amazing power of music to help memory (and think of Oliver Sacks' Musicophilia in this regard) plus maybe exercising your geographic power will help (thinking of the amazing brains of London cabbies, who have jaw-dropping spatial memory of their city).
Yes, the London cabbies are amazing! My mother found a photo shop where they provided this service (you can also make puzzles, cups, etc.) and thus simply had to select the desired amount of photos. They printed them up on sturdy carboard squares and packaged them in a box. Quite the treasure :)