Exploring our Core Memories
Last weekend, I took my daughters to London to see the P!NK concert. It was a super quick weekend - in and out, specifically for this show. I’d seen P!NK perform a couple times before with my sister, and I knew it was an experience I wanted to share with my three girls when the time was right.
To cut to the chase, let me just say that the weekend was above and beyond what I could have ever imagined or hoped for. From working together to get packed and through the airport, to strategically mapping out our measly 36 hours in London, to the overlying anticipation for this show - including shopping for outfits, of course.
Yup - the whole weekend was perfection, but standing in that stadium with my arms wrapped around my daughters; All of us clumped tightly together as we smiled and danced and belted out every word, whether we knew it or not. Feeling the London breeze and watching as the sun set and the concert lights took its place. Listening to this musical idol of my generation demonstrating proudly what it looks like to be true to yourself. Finally getting to have this experience that we’ve all been excited for…
My heart felt so ridiculously full in that moment. I wanted to freeze time and just stretch those couple hours out into days. Weeks. Months.
And then, just like that it was over. We sat in the stadium well after she left the stage, letting it all soak in. We got teary eyed on the Tube back to our hotel - feeling the full adrenaline of the show rushing through us. We philosophized over 1am SmashBurgers all about how a big part of what makes something special is knowing that it’s finite. (You guys… can I just interject to say how much I’m LOVING this phase of parenting that includes concerts and philosophizing with my children at 1am over burgers in London??)
As I continue trying to hold onto the feeling of that moment, and in light of the new Inside Out being released, I keep thinking about the idea of “Core Memories.” Those snippets throughout our lives that stick with us for whatever reason. Sometimes, they make perfect sense - like this P!NK concert that I’m certain we’ll all hold onto in our storage banks. Other times, our core memories are completely random and seemingly nonsensical. Aren’t our brains funny like that?
It’s gotten me curious about my own core memories. What ones come quickly to mind, and for what reason? Why does my brain hold onto that two minute play of “The Billy Goat’s Gruff” I did back in preschool? Hell, I wasn’t even a lead part!
And so, this week I invite you to get curious about your core memories, too. When you think back on your life, what comes easily to mind? Note the word “easy.” Conjuring up core memories shouldn’t feel like a challenge in the least.
Write down some of those core memories. Can you pinpoint why your brain has marked them important? Or maybe it’s your heart marking them? Do you remember the full event? A short conversation? Something sensory? You can jump as deep or as shallow as you’d like on this. Just let your core memories take over. Get nostalgic.
Because our brains and hearts and bodies are holding onto those memories for some reason, right? Maybe to remind us of all the pieces that have been put together to get us exactly where we are right now. Or maybe it’s not that deep. Maybe it’s just for entertainment purposes. Like watching old reruns.
Either way, it’s your reruns, which in and of itself provides all the magic you need.