I got tired of forgetting so many things, so I started keeping a diary.
So far have not yet gone back and read it though, so I don't know if it's actually going to turn out to be valuable.
So far have not yet gone back and read it though, so I don't know if it's actually going to turn out to be valuable.
At 35 I haven't lost it yet but for at least 50% of my life have been a HEAVY marijuana user because it helps dull this problem.
School was easy but dreaming is a nightmare. Again, drugs are the the only thing that helps. I hate having such vivid dreams and remembering all the awful details. I remember dreams from decades ago like I had them last night. It's horrible mostly, again, marijuana was a God send.
Killing my memory with drugs and alcohol isn't great but I've found it better than the alternative and often discuss with my therapist how jealous I am of people that waltz through life confidently forgetting all their screw up and mistakes.
I had to train myself to care less about my mistakes and also to let myself forget. I get that replaying in your head over and over. I still remember an embarrassing moment from the fifth grade, but perspective has taken the sting out of it.
It's amazing being able to see exactly what I was doing and thinking about in, say, 1997 or 2003, say, where without it I wouldn't have much idea. But even more important maybe, was reading through recent weeks' entries and frequently becoming aware of patterns I otherwise wouldn't. Like when you complain about something into your diary, then notice you said or felt almost the same thing every week for months, when you had no recollection of that, it really changes your behaviour! You become more informed about the context of today's thoughts and feelings.
If, God forbid, he were to pass, those journals would remain, echoing some of his memories, experiences, feelings, and conclusions.
I think about that when I'm feeling down on journalling that day.
I feel the same way with photos I take on my phone! More time taking than consuming.