‘Yesterday is but Today’s Memory’

‘Yesterday is but Today’s Memory’

• P.Natarajan.

To quote Khalil Gibran :-  “ Yesterday is but Today's Memory and Tomorrow is Today’s Dream “. Learn to enjoy today - it becomes a good memory later. Abraham Lincoln said that “ No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar”. Quotes like these inspire to read further on the subject :-.

Memory is the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, impressions, etc.or recalling previous experiences. The expression ‘He Can Do it from Memory’ conveys the ability of the mind to store and recall past sensations, thoughts, knowledge, etc.

Recognition Memory is distinctly differ from Recall Memory. When a person is able to capture in his mind the image of an individual whom he had met sometime ago indicates the recognition memory. If you are able to recall a ten digit telephone number of an important activity, the recall memory is active. Remembering familiar places of past visits, the directions is termed as Topographic Memory.

Flashbulb Memory makes you to remember- ‘ where you were or what were you doing at that time’’ -  whenever you hear emotional news (say) the assassination of a person of national or international importance or an incident like 9/11. They are clear episodic memories.

Explicit Memory involves conscious process of recalling the information. For example how to start a light motor vehicle depends upon the procedures remembered sequentially right from inserting the ignition key to levels of acceleration or to cite another (ii) remembering the procedures in sequence for a laboratory experimental set up  for the preparation of Chlorine Gas. The Equation what my memory prompts to write here pertaining to this is :- ***

***2 KMnO4 + 16 HCl = 2 KCl + 2MnCl2+ 8 H20 + 5Cl2

Memory fails with the passage of time where information is rapidly forgotten. To quote MT Cicero “ The Life of the Dead is placed in the Memory of the Living”. We can not forget some incidents but we can only forgive. A healed memory is certainly not a deleted memory.To quote Hellen Killer “ As long as the memory of certain beloved friends live in the heart, the Life is good”.  No doubt Time and Memory move in opposite directions.

Memory failure due to lack of attention is ‘absent mindedness’.  Alzheimers disease causes memory loss which becomes a key concern in old age for some.

Committed to memory in short is memorizing or learning by heart.  We commit to memory mantras like Vishnu or Lalitha Sahasra Namam and recite them regularly during prayers. Children and students memorize rules, theorems, poetries, grammar by memorizing without perhaps a clear understanding which is termed as Rote memory.

Shruthi (Vedas) in Sanskrit is expanded like this :- “Shruyathe ithi Shruthi:” - Hearing and Listening is Shruthi. Memory plays a vital role in learning and reciting the Vedas as there were no texts in the beginning. It is because Veda is said to have existed in the mind of Deity even before beginning of Time. Shruthi is one of the main sources for Dharma and is of Divine Origin and is preserved as a whole instead of verse by verse.

In computers, committed memory is the number of bytes that has been associated with a reserved address and is therefore not available for other processes. For example :- 32 byte maximum RAM is 4GB  (If you put upto 8GB RAM, it still have 4GB RAM in System Properties because it can not access from 4GB to above.) - A Memory Card or Flash card is an electronic flash memory data storage device used to store digital information.

Memory Alpha is a collaborative project to create the most definitive, accurate and accessible encyclopedia reference for everything related to ‘Star Trek’

Salient causes for memory loss has already been mentioned. It is but natural to wield interest in knowing how to improve memory. Aerobic exercises like running, swimming, cycling and light physical movements of the body have effects on the brain. Neurotransmitter levels are improved, improved oxygen, nutrient delivery and increased neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

In old people aerobics help to retain mental stability as well as ability. In growing children it improves academic performances. Doing Sudoku,solving Cross Word puzzles, learning a new language or music all help in maintaining an active brain. Stress reduction will improve and enable for an active memory. HEALTHY EATING  will be another way.  Broccoli and such Cruciferous vegetables, green and Leafy vegetables, avocados, oranges, beets, sweet tomatoes, Ladies finger - to list a few, boost energy and memory.

Staying intellectually by learning and reading goes a long way to improve one’s memory. Fear of a particular event makes the memory vibrant - for example the memory what happened at Hiroshima gives a sense of fear how terrible it was and the world is safe from the bomb since WWII (World War II - 1945 ). Memorization helps to remember by ‘Spacing effect’ - that is where rehearsals are spaced over a period of time in contrast to cramming - an intensive memorization in a short period of time.

Association of ideas or themes help in remembrance. A ten digit telephone number 123 456 7890 can be remembered by associating the first three numbers as area code and next three as region and last three as special numbers. You can remember the secret code numbers to open say a garage lock by say 19 (dob of your son ) and 43 ( dob of your spouse.) - simply press 1943 in the lock and the garage door swings open to enter into your house without touching the main door which can always be kept locked. The key factor lies in memorizing the secret code of your choice.

Memory plays a vital part in success of operations during a life period of an individual.

I wish to share here what my Science Teacher wrote in 1958 when I asked for an autograph after the S.S.L.C. exam - I recall it here, as it is very much relevant to the current topic ;-

(i) “Remembrance is the golden chain that links our hearts together. Even if we fail to meet each other, let us not forget each other”. . ...

(ii) “ The best of friends can always meet along the way of MEMORY SWEET “.

I also wish to bring to the memory of learned readers the melodious song from ‘VAZHKAI’ - a 1950s tamil movie -

the song begins in praise of memory. You may like to hum the tune as you read the lines which MSR sings.

From my memory the song goes out thus:

" எண்ணி எண்ணி பார்க்கும் மனம் இன்பம் கொண்டாடுதே

என்னை அறியாமல் மனம் துள்ளிவிளையாடுதே ( Enni Enni Parkum Manam Inbam Kondaaduthe; ennai ariyamale manam thullivilaiyaduthe " ( As my old associated thoughts spread in mind more and more, my joy swells no bounds voluntarily without my knowing  ...) 

The Mind Can Heal the Body - the power of positive thinking lies in seeing the opportunity in every difficulty. Believe in none of what you hear and half of what you see. To think is to improve the power of Memory.

pn

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