6. Tigers 2024

“ We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange. As often as not, we are homesick most for the places we have never known.” - Carson McCullers Nostalgia impacts human life daily by reminding us of our happy memories which motivate us to continue living and achieve our goals. However, spending all your time dwelling on nostalgia retracts from these benefits since it leads to loneliness and depression. Contrary to what McCullers stated, I feel nostalgia for old memories and a desire to develop new memories are not completely split apart since it is these happy old memories that fuel one’s desire to make more memories that bring one joy. While nostalgia does not affect my life daily, I do find myself occasionally reminiscing on the past. Whether it was a video game I used to play or a funny memory I had with a friend I do not talk to anymore, I reflect on these memories when reminded of them and they bring me happiness while making me desire to ex

Memories can be something we hold dearly. Sometimes, we become so obsessed with these memories that they deteriorate us. We hold fond memories with our family, friends, and lovers. Not only do we have memories of people, but also animals, places, and objects.  We may always look back at these memories.  The hilarious people you laughed so hard with that you felt like you'd almost pee your pants, the place where your father would take you out for breakfast when you were little, or the stuffed animal you couldn't sleep without at night. Associations like these are things humans can't help but look back at because of the warm feelings it gives us. However, bad memories also exist in our lives, like the people who snickered when you froze during your presentation, the chemistry lab you dreaded going to every day at school, or the hoodie your ex-lover had given you.  Memories are bittersweet; they can either uplift or overtake us.  Whether good or bad, memories play a significan

Memory is a privilege.  Working in a senior citizen home, I've encountered a lot of difficult situations that have left a mark in my own memory. I've watched as people struggled to walk two steps on their own and picked them up when they fell. I've watched as people struggled to lift a spoon to their mouth properly. However, the most painful thing I've seen is watching as people struggle to recognize their own loved ones.  image from The Jackson Labratory Many of the people I work with and help have Alzheimer's. Just an hour ago as I was at the home, a lady complained to me about how she is no longer able to remember things as well. The expression on her as she said so was filled with anguish and embarrassment, and I am disappointed in myself to say that my response was "It's okay." Memory seems like such a common and easy thing when we have it. It can be viewed as both positive or negative. Examples of positive memories are birthdays, marriages, and p

In the book The Giver (yes, the book we had to read several years ago), by Lois Lowry, memory is portrayed as a complex ability that allows the protagonist Jonas to gain his individuality and break away from the dystopian society. The memories themselves are what causes Jonas to make the drastic decisions that led up to his journey out of his safe, albeit monotonous, home.  In The Giver , all of the people in the society are mostly ignorant of the past(besides The Giver). Everyone seems to be happy without these memories and the monotonous life. Their society even has medication to get rid of and forget pain instantly. However, all of the humans in community have forgotten or not known things in order to achieve “sameness.” This state of being alive but lacking true human experience creates a want for more in Jonas.  See, memories are an important aspect of the human experience. This idea is reinforced with the drab, almost depressing, imagery of life without it. After all, it isn’t tr

Some of my fondest memories are the most distant in location and age. When I was a toddler, before kindergarten, I would spend months at a time in Thailand at my grandparents' house over the summer. There I would feed the two dogs that lived in their backyard, play with Legos and other toys, go to theme parks, and frequent a large indoor playground. Occasionally, we would go on day drives south to Hua Hin at a resort, where I ate food and swam by the beach. But some of the best memories were with my grandparents; teaching them how to play cards, my grandma knitting pajamas for me and my grandpa telling me stories as I fell asleep. Back then I didn’t know that I would still remember and cherish those seemingly small moments. They seemed insignificant, everyday occurrences that I took for granted. It was a simpler, stress-free period. (Picture by iStock) We often don’t realize in the present that our life now would be something nostalgic. I had played club soccer for nearly my whole

Picture from Google Memories should be forgotten.  Having the ability to recall memories, to think about our past should be forbidden. Every time I am trying to make a life-changing decision my memories flash before my eyes making me conscious and unable to make a good decision for my future progress. Memories frighten me as I keep overthinking about my mistakes in the past which then affects my decisions in the present and all this leads me to have a bad future.  The notion of forgetting memories is tempting, especially when confronted with the haunting specter of past mistakes. But, it is impractical and takes away the richness of human experience. Instead, we should have a different approach towards memories. Our memories are invaluable for teaching us life lessons from our past, guiding us toward wiser life choices. For instance, the memory of failing a test because of not studying will teach you to study next time. Memories are the best teachers.  However, there is a darker side t