Why you need to make, keep memories

It is believed that once a memory is stored, it stays with you always. While that may be true, over time memories can fade, or be pushed aside and covered up with new ones, making it difficult to recall them. Improved technology has made it easier for us to preserve our memories with smartphones. With […]

It is believed that once a memory is stored, it stays with you always. While that may be true, over time memories can fade, or be pushed aside and covered up with new ones, making it difficult to recall them. Improved technology has made it easier for us to preserve our memories with smartphones. With just a tap, the device can bring some long forgotten memories back to life. 
There is no doubt that we all love happy moments because we believe that these moments will always trigger happy memories. These moments could come from events like our weddings, naming ceremonies, wedding anniversaries, child christening and even long vacation trips. Then when we get back or perhaps after these events, there is one habit we are all guilty of: uploading these pictures to our social media pages to share with friends and family. The question is: why?
The reason is because the importance of keeping memories cannot be over-emphasised. This apparently seems to be true given the responses of a cross section of people when asked why it is important to keep memories.
Oshofa Ifeoma, for instance, loves taking pictures, just for the fun of it. “Recently, I started flipping through my collection of pictures and it brought back memories. I thought of the time, place and event that took place for each picture I took,” she recalled.
“The importance of keeping memories shouldn’t be overlooked, as it can be used to tell stories to those coming behind. Secondly it also helps you remember past events which ordinarily you would have forgotten about,” Ifeoma added.
“Keeping memories can shape or mar you; it all depends on what they entail. Some memories are meant to be forgotten, not remembered at all while some are best kept for referral purposes,” notes Umar Ibrahim, an engineer.
“A tragic memory should be totally forgotten, but memories like your wedding day, child naming ceremony and more can always be remembered through pictures or videos,” he said, adding that memories can go a long way in telling stories as well as relating a past event to children.
Citing one of his most memorable experiences, Rex Emecho says: “I remember when I graduated from school, I really wanted my parents and siblings to come, but they kept insisting that they were too busy. I didn’t know they had a surprise package for me. On the scheduled date of my graduation while we were in the school’s auditorium, I got a call from my elder sister who said I should go to the school park. On getting there I saw my parents and all my siblings. I was elated and while in that mood, my brother captured my reaction.”
He added enthusiastically that: “So each time I watch that video, I still remember the joy and excitement I felt when I saw them all, coupled with the fact that I was graduating that day. I still have that video and I hope to keep for a very long time. This shows how little moments can trigger memories.”
Doing this is a combination of fun and torture. Fun choosing the pictures of places, people and things you most want to remember and torture trying to remember where each picture was taken. If you really can’t remember then just don’t bother with captions.