There’s a gentleman in the Guinness Book of World Records for memorizing 232 unrelated objects in 12 minutes. He also holds the record for the number of objects in one minute – over 130! It’s pretty impressive to me, since I have trouble remembering the one thing I said I was out of when standing at the open refrigerator in the three seconds it takes me to cross the room and pick up the grocery list.
A study completed in the late 2000’s found that the majority of American adults could list all 7 ingredients of a Big Mac (I think it has to do with that catchy song that came out in the 70’s – “two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, onions, pickles, on a sesame seed bun”). The same study said that that same majority could list all 6 Brady Bunch childrens’ names – and these were not included in the theme song. Sadly, that majority could only name about 4 of the 10 Commandments.
Possibly that’s because some of those in the study weren’t Christians. It’s also very likely that more would remember the 10 commandments if there was a catchy tune about them. (Let me digress to say that I’m working on one right now, to the tune of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.”)
Memory is a tricky thing, though. I find I can remember every character from the original Andy Griffith Show, but can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday. I can recall advertising slogans from my childhood (“see the U-S-A in your Chevrolet”), but can’t come up with what I walked into the room to tell my husband. And I can easily rattle off my childhood telephone number (which had letters in it, because I’m older than dirt), but don’t know how to delete a contact in my current phone – even though I’ve been shown this several times.
Short term recall is more difficult than long-term for adults. This is a fact, supported by research. Another fact is that childhood memories start to fade while we’re in childhood. That’s why many of us don’t remember the first day of school. Things that we say out loud tend to stay with us, though, which may be why I can remember school lunches. How many times must I have looked at the tray, sighed, and said, “Tator tots, again?”
Most fascinating to me is the Mandela effect – it’s the whole concept of “false memories.” These are things that we believe we remember, even though, in actual fact, they never happened. It’s called the Mandela effect because of the high number of people who “remember” that Nelson Mandela died in prison in the 1980’s. So many people recall this as a memory – and therefore a truth – that we named the concept after him. In fact, Nelson Mandela died in 2013 – years after he had served as a President of South Africa!
There are many common “memories” that are false. Here’s a test for you: What did the wicked stepmother say to the mirror in Snow White? The majority of people will answer “mirror, mirror on the wall.” We remember her saying that. But she didn’t – she said “Magic mirror on the wall.”
I have plenty of false memories. Like, I clearly remember being skinny. Of course, I was never skinny. That’s a more comparative thing.
In any event, the latest research out of Britain says you’re more likely to remember things if you say them out loud. That helps, I think, if you say “I’m locking the door” when you leave the house. The same study says memory improves if you’re a bit chilly.
So I’m headed outside this morning to say out loud, “What did I want to put on the grocery list?”
I’ll let you know if it works.
Okay, Susie, here’s a test for you. Now don’t go back and look this up, I want your honest answer. What two food items did you forget to buy for preparing a meal last Thanksgiving?
I know I forgot the evaporated milk, but honestly I don’t remember the other thing. Of course, there’s so much food at Thanksgiving, we wouldn’t really miss any one dish…but see, my memory is a tricky thing!
Your memory might be a little tricky, Susie, but we are thankful you remembered half of it! The other item was onions. No way would I have remembered that had I not written it on my calendar, November 23, 2022, to remind Sue to buy onions and evaporated milk. Yes, Thanksgiving tables are loaded with lots of wonderful tasting foods shared with family and friends. We Americans have so very much for which to be thankful. A great country blessed with freedom because of people who fought and died for all of us. Veterans Day! God Bless America!
Wishing in advance that you and all your loved ones have the best Thanksgiving ever!
Sue, I agree with John. Keep up the good thinking pieces for us. It really does help us to stay mentally alert. And he reminded himself to bring split top buns and cranberry sauce this year. tee hee He’s a keeper!
My brother’s birthday was the 9th and I sent him a card that read: “Brother, I just want you to know though you’re not perfect, I wouldn’t trade you for anything!” And inside: “Of course, no one’s made me an offer yet!” Happy Birthday
Yes, we do love our brothers!
sound like you have a great family – nothing beats that !!! keep up the great responses- hope it encourages Sue to put these out NATIONALLY _ I already sent a few copies to Readers Digest -with no response from them yet — maybe some other publications would do it!??
I really do have a great family and am so very grateful for them.
Hey, John! Maybe Susie just enjoys writing for you and me! Wouldn’t that be a wonderful blessing! (I know for sure that others read her Snippets, but are just too busy with their own lives to answer regularly.)
Sue has blessed my life for years! She has made me laugh, made me smile, made me think, made me learn things, and even at times, pulled me out of depression! Readers Digest has no idea what they are missing!!!
We love you, Susie! And will remember to be thankful for you on Thanksgiving Day!
Please keep writing!
Hilarious as usual – made me think of things I had NOT thought about in some time – to answer Bets question from here – last year I completely forgot those special split top rolls everyone loves to wolf down and of course cranberry sauce!!! But we ate like pigs anyway!!
My memory failed me so many times last year – must have been six or seven times I left without my keys and locked the stupid door – luckily neighbor Delbert had been given a spare key – we hold one for him in trade, just in case – he only needed it once, so far!! Also, several times got to where I intended to go and forgot my phone so could not call anyone about anything – actually, that was a pretty quiet time!!! Keep up the great thinking pieces for us – we need to keep our minds sharp as a tack!!!! ha! ha! HA!