We’ve all heard the quote…
“…it’s the moments that take your breath away that matter”. But what if you can’t remember those moments – did they even exist? Did they make an impact in your life?
This past year, my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They say everyone reacts differently, but with her it was a pretty fast decline. I went from having her drive my kids to their practices in November to being hospitalized and not knowing where she was in January. It turned our lives upside down.
All of a sudden, there was a million questions I had to answer.
It’s not safe for her to live alone anymore—what should we do? How long will it be until she doesn’t know who I am? How much should I tell my children? How do I keep her happy and safe?
One question that is really sticking with me is—what is life like when you can’t remember an hour ago?
This has hit me in a way I could have never imagined. Most of us live our lives wanting to cherish the small moments, relish relationships, and accomplish something with our day.
Now, I am face to face and heart to heart with a woman who can’t remember what she did an hour ago. She lived the moment, experienced it fully, but then it was gone as quick as it came. Did anything about the experience actually stick somewhere in her heart even if she can’t access it?
How much of our life comes down to expectations? I have no idea what I had for breakfast 5 days ago and I’m comfortable with that, but if I couldn’t remember what I ate this morning I would be concerned.
Most of us are fully invested in moments of our lives that we might or might not be able to recall in the future. What impact did it make in our life if we can’t recall it in a week, a month, or a year?
I don’t have the magical answer, but I’m starting to take comfort in living in the moment without expectations for the future. I know that deep inside my brain, even if I don’t remember it, these moments are shaping me into the person I am every new day.
At this point, you’re probably thinking, “What on earth does this have to do with technology?” I’m getting there—I promise.
One of the things that has helped me in this quest to understand are the photos that pop up on my Apple TV. I can see the last 20 years of my life in small glimpses. Sitting and watching the pictures (like a tv show) brings me so much joy. Usually, the picture will bring back a flood of memories that I would never remember without the picture itself.
And then there are pictures I have no idea when or where they were taken, but I know whose face is looking into the camera and love it with my whole heart.
Technology helps me remember the moments I forget and gives me a glimpse into my past of the memories that have washed away. They’re memories of moments that I cherished at the time, but can’t possibly keep everything in my brain forever. They’re memories that I may not always be able to recall on my own, but they’ve made me who I am today.
I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences of the good you have found with technology. Please email me at hspear@ezmicro.com with your thoughts.