It’s so weird, just about every year when October 17th rolls around, I remember that it’s the anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. And I did it again about an hour ago. Then I realized, “Hey, it’s been 20 years since that earthquake happened!!” [Holy cow, i'm old]…You know, that crazy earthquake that happened in the San Francisco Bay Area, right?! The one that collapsed the Oakland Bridge? Well I totally remember what I was doing when it happened. I was playing JV volleyball at an ‘away’ game over in Orinda, about 20 miles east of San Francisco. I was standing outside of the gym (getting a snack I think) when all of a sudden the entire gym started swaying. People started pouring out of that gym, yelling and screaming. We all started running toward the middle of an empty field. The ground felt like a roller coaster! After it was over (which felt like an eternity) I remember that all the phone lines were down and we couldn’t call our parents to let them know we were ok. But we were ok, thank God.
Although that earthquake wasn’t as disastrous or terrible as the Sept 11 attacks back in 2001, I still remember October 17, 1989 vividly, just like I remember all the details about the morning of 9-11. It’s amazing how the human brain just opens up and soaks it all in when something earth-shattering takes place. My parents and others in their generation remember the details about where they were and what they were doing when President Kennedy was assassinated. My husband and I both remember what we were doing when the Challenger exploded mid-air. What is it about such experiences that presses the “record” button in our brain, so that we can repeat living in that particular moment over and over again?
I’m sure there is a terrific scientific answer to the question of trauma and repeating vivid memories out in our minds. But even with the science out there, we still cling to traumatic memories. Repeating them over & over daily, annually, or whatever. We have shared experiences of world-changing events and can exchange stories with others about them. (“What were you doing with the recession of 2008 hit?”) And then there are those personal memories that float around in the recesses of our minds… sometimes haunting us. I know even the most difficult experiences help shape who we are today. But I also know we respond to those situations is even more important.
Oftentimes we handle memories the wrong way. We’re convinced that history WILL repeat itself. Any viable historian will tell you that is not true. Sure, there are similar events that may happen on a time line, but no event is ever exactly repeated. The variables change. People change. The weather changes… But sometimes with ‘bad’ memories we think we’re trapped. “It’s going to happen again. The SAME thing will happen and there is nothing I can do but suffer.” And we worry and we fret. And we give up and give in to feeling hopeless or bitterness, anger or whatever. This has been the case in my life far too many times. It’s GROSS, and so life-killing. Know what I mean?
Hopefully ‘bad’ memories evolve into reminders of how far we’ve come and how much stronger we are as people today. This should be true of this great American experiment many of us are entangled in. With every passing decade, we can look back and thank the Lord for keeping our feet on the ground, surrounding us with good people, and great change. I think it begins on a personal level. We can personally find the benefits in what we’ve experienced, good and bad. In the book of James in the Bible, we’re urged to consider all sorts of ‘trials’ with joy. Lord help me to get to that point.
REMINDER… Go out and create some new, awesome memories this week with people you love, respect, or maybe event don’t have anything in common with. And when events happen to you that are out of your sphere of control, remind yourself that this event can become part of your arsenal of memories that will be a reflection on your personal (or our corporate) growth.
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I like the insight. And the history plug. I remember just having left the bay area 6 months earlier and thinking…whoa…just in time. I was watching the ballgame here in AZ when the broadcast was disrupted. It seemed kinda crazy to me, as I was a bit younger then. It’s true what you said about the tough times and how they can frequently be pointed out quite easily. We really do need to appreciate the here and now a little more, too.
: )
Hey Michelle, I miss seeing you! My family lived in Sunnyvale during the earthquake, but I was away at college in Canada. My memories involve them calling me to say that everything was going to be ok…… “from what?”
Also, the part of your brain that remembers important information is called the reticular activator… or RAS (with system on the end). It programs your memory when things are stressful, funny, shocking, etc. Like when you buy a new car that you’ve never seen on the road…. and then you start seeing them EVERYWHERE. It’s because the car wasn’t in your RAS until you bought one. Amazing God!
I know!! I miss seeing you too Linda. I saw your husband and kids about 8 days ago. You were in New Mexico. Bummer. I’d love to hang out sometime. I know you’re busy, busy though. :0)
Glad you enjoyed the history plug there John. Ha ha!
I haven’t checked out your blog for quite some time. I really enjoyed reading this one. You are an awesome writer, Michelle. One day, perhaps, your book will be entitle Splendid Things! Yep, you could write a book!
Love to you.
MOM
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