Memories - are they (un)important?
A few days ago, I had this discussion with an ex-colleague, Amit about this matter, and a comment that he made, precipitated my thinking. "I cannot forget things", he said. "I have enjoyed all the aspects of my past relationships..but there are some bitter memories too..which I do not want to let go off because they help me move on".
We, or rather, most of us have memories, and u'd agree with me when I say that memories are VERY IMPORTANT. Memories denote our life, what is important to us, events that have influenced us, affected us, triggered our thought processes and our reactions to situations. They act as our very personal collection(s), where we store those who are most dear, most lovable, most hatred, most hurting, most despicable, wildest, least pleasant, precious and special to us, in our lives thus far.
We all carry memories with us, that are special to us, for the happenings and events they cage, for the people they involve and for the times that have been happy and joyful for us. And at the same time, we also carry with us the bitter ones...the ones that hurt, are sad, for the people we have lost, circumstances where we were treated unfairly and events that loom large on us like a dark cloud, which haunt us, even years after they took place.
So then, how important is it for us to carry memories?? The positive ones take us to days which were full of fun and joy, peaceful, exciting and full of love and laughter. These are the ones that give us strength and encourage us to move on. But the negative ones...they create a complex mosaic of our motives and passions that control our lives, piece by piece they uncover the truth which make us bitter, inhuman, angry and dejected? Are the negative memories to be carried?
We are all humans, we cling to things of our past. Those of you who have suffered a heartbreak, have lost a loved one, would probably grok on what I am saying. We cannot forget the people that we have loved so intenesly, not becoz we can't forget..but becoz we don't want to. And inspite of how seldom we allow ourselves to think of them, when you touch that place in your heart where they still live, the pain of it will take your breath away. And with time, we only reminiscence about the ones that we WANT and WISH to.
We, or rather, most of us have memories, and u'd agree with me when I say that memories are VERY IMPORTANT. Memories denote our life, what is important to us, events that have influenced us, affected us, triggered our thought processes and our reactions to situations. They act as our very personal collection(s), where we store those who are most dear, most lovable, most hatred, most hurting, most despicable, wildest, least pleasant, precious and special to us, in our lives thus far.
We all carry memories with us, that are special to us, for the happenings and events they cage, for the people they involve and for the times that have been happy and joyful for us. And at the same time, we also carry with us the bitter ones...the ones that hurt, are sad, for the people we have lost, circumstances where we were treated unfairly and events that loom large on us like a dark cloud, which haunt us, even years after they took place.
So then, how important is it for us to carry memories?? The positive ones take us to days which were full of fun and joy, peaceful, exciting and full of love and laughter. These are the ones that give us strength and encourage us to move on. But the negative ones...they create a complex mosaic of our motives and passions that control our lives, piece by piece they uncover the truth which make us bitter, inhuman, angry and dejected? Are the negative memories to be carried?
We are all humans, we cling to things of our past. Those of you who have suffered a heartbreak, have lost a loved one, would probably grok on what I am saying. We cannot forget the people that we have loved so intenesly, not becoz we can't forget..but becoz we don't want to. And inspite of how seldom we allow ourselves to think of them, when you touch that place in your heart where they still live, the pain of it will take your breath away. And with time, we only reminiscence about the ones that we WANT and WISH to.
Aha! It's as easy as providing a "rewind" button to one's life :) Well, it is overwhelming to realize a person's intellectual extreme, when she can envisage the separation of the bitter memories. Yet, it is far from being real... Right?
ReplyDeleteNow, why can't there be a choice? Simply because it would topple down the entire purpose of human creation. For me, memories are like etchings on the brain, some can be filled up (though they often get etched on the same spot again and again!) some can't.
The idea is that it makes the mind "beautiful"! I think having negative memories makes way for a process of control... control the etchings that are waiting... control their way, their depth and their place!
On "Gudi Padhwa", you savor the sweet of jaggery along with the bitterness of the "neem"... I would "swallow" the neem and then chew the jaggery :) I know, this trick can't be applied to life... But there are ways to "swallow the neem" :)
Definitely agree with you on that one! Amen to that. Practicality is the order of the day, the time of the idealist is over. :-|
ReplyDeleteAshley.