Riddle me this, dear reader… is there anything you would erase from your mind if you were given the option to forget something completely?
That’s right. I’m getting all Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on you today. (Although, for the sake of this exercise, let’s assume that there are no odd side effects or shady corporate employees to consider.)
So, what would it be? The red pill or the blue one? If you choose to forget, what memory would you erase? It could be anything – a relationship that ended badly, the loss of someone important to you, or an embarrassing moment.
I spent a lot of time thinking about my answer to this question. I think I’d keep all of my memories, even the painful and embarrassing ones ones. Why? Well, the practical part of me worries about the domino effect. If something is painful enough for me to contemplate forgetting it completely, then I bet that this something had a pretty significant effect on who I am today. If I erased an experience from my memory, how would it change me?
via giphy.com
(I couldn’t resist using that GIF.)
The less practical side of me wants to serenade you with “The Dance” by Garth Brooks. (Feel thankful that this blog is not a aural medium. If you’re a regular reader, this is probably not the first time you’ve been thankful for that particular fact.) I mean, the man makes a good point, even though he’s coming at it from a slightly different angle. If you knew how a given story would end, you might choose to forego the journey to get there. Who knows what wonderful things you might miss along the way as a result? I feel the same way about this memory question. Getting rid of a painful memory would likely rob me of some good things as well – or at the very least, of some things that made me a stronger person.
(Now, if I could change the past… well, I might have a different answer for that one. It might be worth the risk to have more time with those I’ve lost. However, that’s a question – and some weighty contemplation – for another day.)
It also occurred to me that this question might strike a chord with pet lovers in particular. Those of us that keep bringing new animals into our lives do so knowing that we’re likely setting ourselves up for a heartbreaking loss somewhere down the line. We keep taking the first step on the journey anyway. I wonder if this tendency affects how we answer the Eternal Sunshine hypothetical as well. I can’t imagine erasing any of my beloved pets from my memory, no matter how sharp and painful that loss might be at the moment.
via giphy.com
Now it’s your turn… would you choose to erase anything from your memory?
I spend energy every day to repress memories because I have hyperthymesia. I remember too much in general and my autobiographical memory is… well, let’s just say it is a blessing and curse. Though some days I wish I could forget (lots of things!), mostly I feel that it is what it is and it mostly is a blessing. Now, if I could go back and change the past? That’s a whole different deal 🙂
Sue recently posted..Brotherly Love | Wordless Wednesday
I can imagine! That goes far beyond just remembering… the amount of detail sounds like it could be staggering at times.
There are definitely things I try to avoid thinking about. But I don’t think it’s a good thing. In fact, it’s probably better to face sorrowful memories and integrate them into our lives.
Jung talked about the shadow self. And we’re never whole until we integrate all aspects of ourselves into our lives.
As for pets, Agatha and Christie’s mondo destructiveness was not a happy memory. And neither was their passing.
But even the painful memories are part of what made me the dog person I am today.
So what has brought out this philosophical bent today?
Pamela recently posted..Breakfast in Bed? Wordless Wednesday
Ah… I meant to mention in the post that I was taking inspiration from some of the NaBloPoMo writing prompts. However, then I promptly (hehe) forgot.
Very interesting question. Yes, I would chose to erase some of my memories. Instead, I tattooed the Serenity Prayer on my wrist and say it as needed. ♥
M. K. Clinton recently posted..When He Speaks
I don’t think I could do it, nor would I want to. I have plenty of reason to want to, but everything I survived through made me who I am. And I wouldn’t want to change that. 🙂
24 Paws of Love recently posted..Zappa Socializes Again!!
I kicked my high school government teacher out of a banquet my student group was hosting. I’d forget that. Or, that time that a scorpion crawled out onto the edge of the tub while I was in the bath. Not the real stuff.
Jessica recently posted..Sometimes Being Bad is Being Good
I’d want to forget a scorpion too! Eek!