Forgetting to Remember

Many of us can look back on out formative years with great fondness.
We were surrounded by people who looked after us, taught us, and
provided the values and socialization needed to succeed in the modern
world. Others met our most basic needs, and we were completely
dependent.

Remembrance of people and past events plays an important part in many
religions and cultures. Some light candles and offers up prayers.
Special days are set aside as memorials or celebrations of lives past.
This occurs both in the East and West, and some of the ceremonies are
quite similar in content, despite differences in language and culture.
This is universally acknowledged as a way of paying homage.

More than simply marking the calendar, however, we mark our hearts
when we think back to fond memories of people we’ve loved and events
that were important to us. This provides a sense of stability in a
rapidly fluctuating world in which people frequently move, change
jobs, change partners, change friends, and change interests.
Sometimes it feels hard to keep up with the movement. Yet by being
centered with our memories, we can return again and again to our zone
of comfort and serenity.

By far, the best way to remember those still living is by keeping in
touch with them. Picking up a phone requires little effort, yet may
mean so much to the recipient of the call. Better still, send a note
letting them know how special you think they are. That’s something to
be treasured by both sender as well as the receiver. Keep a journal
or diary of each day, and mention something worth remembering.
Although it takes a few minutes and some thought, the results are well
worth the effort. And by making this a habit, you may look forward
to this quiet time of reflection.

By provoking a positive emotional response, it’s easy to touch the
soul. Perhaps with a global response of people making a connection
to those they care about, the world would be a better, and safer,
place to live.