Capturing Moments For Memories
BY ARLENE HARDER, MA, MFT
Today's Take-a-Break
Look around and see something that brings you pleasure.
Later today, retrieve this memory
Continue using this technique in the days ahead
(See below for explanation) |
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The idea for this Take-a-Break arose the morning I hiked up Vetter Mountain above my home in Altadena, California. When I got to the top I got a card that says:
"This certifies that on 6-20-99, Arlene Harder climbed Vetter Mountain Lookout Tower guarding the Angeles National Forest against fire and is therefore a recognized member of the ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ORDER OF SQUIRRELS."
It's signed by the person manning the tower who was a cheerful, informative fellow but whose handwriting leaves something to be desired, or I’d let you know his name.
Let me explain what I mean by "capturing some moments" and how this Take-a-Break can apply to you.
In keeping with my summer theme of "Celebrating Life," I've been thinking lately about the need to not only stop and smell the roses, but to remember the smell. How? By consciously taking in an experience and making a "photograph" of it for my memory bank.
For example, when recently flying to a conference on comprehensive cancer care, I had to sit next to the window, although I generally prefer an aisle seat. Taking advantage of the situation, however, I decided to see how well I could remember a scene below. Pressing my face to the window, I would pay particular attention to some aspect of the countryside, trying to "capture" that picture in as many details as possible, something like taking a Polaroid snapshot, and then close my eyes. When I'd open them a moment later, I would check to see how accurate my memory had been. (Of course, I couldn't wait too long to open them or the scene would have changed.)
Since it takes about fifteen seconds for the brain to absorb an experience so that it can later be remembered — I was taking about that long to play my game, I can still see in my mind's eye much of the countryside over which I traveled.
The idea for capturing a moment is to become consciously aware of as many of your senses as possible — seeing, smelling, touching, hearing, tasting, and noticing the sensations in your body — while you experience whatever you are doing. For example, this morning — while hiking up the mountain — I tried to see how well I could capture the images of the dark green cedar trees, the bodily sensation of steadily climbing the well-worn trail, the pleasure of hearing a bird singing a light song just overhead, the sensation of taking in a deep breath of clean mountain air, and the taste of cool water from the canteen going down my throat on a hot day.
Now, the evening of the day of the hike, as I sit before the computer in the middle of a major writing project, I’ve just taken a break and decided to share with you how my capturing those moments earlier today has helped bring a relaxing break to my work. First, I pictured in my mind the view from the top of the lookout tower, remembering the dramatic change in vegetation on those slopes that face north and those that face south. Then I recalled with great pleasure the cool breeze that blew up the side of the mountain where we later sat eating our lunch and looking across the valley to mountains on the other side. (Now if I could just remember where I left my hat that disappeared during the hike, it would have been an absolutely perfect day.)
'Cause I've gotten so much pleasure lately from this awareness game, I want you to also have fun. That's why I suggest you take this Take-a-Break right now and capture a moment to put into your mental basket of pleasant images so you can retrieve it later when you need it. The only requirement for capturing the moment is that you consciously become aware of what you are experiencing as you do it.
Look around and see something that brings you pleasure.
It could be a greeting card from a dear friend that you have open and standing on a nearby table, a trophy you received for winning a high school debate, an abstract painting you bought at a seaside resort simply because the bright colors struck your fancy, or any of a hundred things in the room that ordinarily melt into the background. Notice how it feels like to consciously experience these things.
Later today, retrieve this memory.
Notice how easy it is to add a little pleasure and relaxation to your day.
Continue using this technique in the days ahead.
Consciously take advantage of small moments to notice lots of little things you usually take for granted — like the delightful way your grandson bites his tongue when he's concentrating on a task, the feel of your partner's hand on your arm as he or she gives it a loving squeeze, the dew on the grass when you go out to get the paper. Even on days when most things aren't going well, there are small moments that are, at least by comparison, worth recalling.
Most of all, remember that taking the time to "capture some moments" can later be turned into a retrieval of those moments — doubling your pleasure.
© Copyright 1999, Arlene Harder, MA, MFT |
