Story Telling – an art to preserve memories

In the tapestry of human experience, memories are the threads that weave our past into the fabric of our present and future. They are not mere recollections; they are vivid, emotional, and powerful narratives that shape our identity, our connections, and our perception of the world. Positive memories, be it the laughter shared with a friend or the pride of a personal achievement, serve as anchors in turbulent times and gives us the strength to overcome life’s challenges. Today we will look at the significance of making memories, how we remember our memories through storytelling and how important this is for our wellbeing.

The emotions of our past

A chuckle always escapes my lips when I remember the day my wonderful mother taught me how to unblock a sink.  We didn’t actually have a blocked sink, it was just in theory just in case I needed to know one day.  She expertly explained how to clear all the items in the cupboard from underneath the sink and to have a bucket ready to catch any liquid that may be in the pipes.  She then showed me how to unscrew the s-bend and carefully it out and pour the liquid into the bucket.  We then checked the waste pipes in and out to find the hypothetical blockage.  The bucket with liquid in it had been sitting just by the sink and was getting in our way, so to make space my mother picked it up and emptied the liquid into the sink, quite forgetting that we hadn’t reattached the s-bend.  (ooops).

Our memories are often filled with a spectrum of emotions. The laughter that follows the recollection of a comical mishap like my story above, or a past adventure where everyone was scared but got through the situation without mishap are solid memories that are as real in the retelling of the story as they were in the moment. Memories help us relate to others and give our lives meaning, they give us courage and a reason to keep going, they help us evolve and learn.

The Joy of Shared Memories: “Remember When ….”

There is an unmistakable magic in the words “Remember when…”.  In our family we have a particular “Remember when” story.  For my husband and I’s wedding anniversary one year I decided we should celebrate by doing an adventure activity and our two young daughters aged six and eight could join us. I chose a zipline 😊 It was the first time the girls had done this type of activity, and they were scared. The first part of the activity required us to climb up into the trees and make our way to the zipline platform via numerous high ropes bridges.  When we arrived at the platform with shaking legs my husband went down the zip line first, it was a long zipline of approximately 400m.  Our youngest daughter went next, the instructor who was clipping us safely to the wire explained to her that it doesn’t matter if she lets go of the steel bar because she’s attached at the waist.  My daughter heard “Don’t let go of the steel bar or you’ll fall”.  Down she went and my husband was at the bottom ready to catch her.  She was so scared and had hung on so tightly that she couldn’t let go and he had to peel each finger off the bar one by one to get her hands off.  Our other daughter also quite scared but put on a brave face and went through the motions like she was in a trance.  Then it was my turn! I had been so confident until the moment when I needed to step off the platform – it was then that I realised how high up in the trees we were, and it was a little bit scary.  I took a breath and then stepped off the platform and started my very fast decent down.  I couldn’t help myself and let out the loudest scream! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh – the zipline was so long that I had to take a breath, so my family heard a wee pause in the scream while I filled my lungs with air and then carried on screaming. The girls thought it was hilarious and forgot all about their own feelings of being scared. Whenever we share this story it connects us again to a memory of a good time, a memory when the girls overcame their fear and a memory of much laughter. Our memories become like portals to our past reminding us of who we are and who we belong to.

Story-telling – the art

Storytelling is an art and a primal form of communication that has been around for centuries. It is a way of sharing knowledge, values, and experiences that has been central to human existence and has taken place in every known culture in the world (Rutledge, 2022). We only need to look at cave paintings to see how long stories and memories have been recorded.  From a psychological perspective, stories are powerful because they activate our brains in a way that simple facts and figures cannot. When we hear a story, our brains release oxytocin, a hormone that is associated with empathy and trust. The makes us more receptive to the message being conveyed and more likely to remember it, the reason we tell stories to young children with a moral to it. They create a visual and emotional experience that helps us remember information better and make us more receptive to the message being conveyed.

In a previous post I discussed the importance of knowing who we are and knowing our identity. Stories passed down through the centuries helps with this connection. Stories from our ancestors connect us to a larger self and shared truths of humanity and provide order to our lives. They help us to understand our place in the world and define and teach social values. 

Preserving our Memories

We are lucky that we have been able to find paintings on cave walls which tell stories of history.  During this time oral story telling was a form of preserving history and ensuring each younger generation remembered where they had come from. It gave them a sense of identity and continuity. They imparted values, celebrated heritage and instilled confidence and pride in the young people.

Nowadays we are fortunate to have technology to help us preserve our memories easily.  This could be in the form of a written journal or a short video, photos or an object that holds sentimental value. A ticket stub from a concert, a shell from a beach vacation, or a family heirloom passed down through generations. Each carries a story, an emotional imprint of a time and place. These items are anchors, holding our memories in the physical world, offering a tangible connection to moments that might otherwise be lost in the recesses of our mind.

The art of making and remembering memories is a celebration of life itself. These memories provide comfort, shape our identity, impart wisdom, and connect us with others. As we continue to weave the tapestry of our lives, let us remember to pause, to cherish, and to create new memories, knowing that in each, lies a treasure trove of immeasurable value.

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