Not Just a Place

Places are important, not particularly for their own sake, but for the things that happen there. Pause for a second and go back in time. Can you think of a place that brings a smile to your face? Maybe a specific memory is so real that as you close your eyes you feel transported in time. Maybe you remember a place for things that happened everyday like your breakfast routine or maybe a song your parents would sing that put you to sleep every day. Each moment we live - the grand events in life or the simple daily tasks- have the possibility of being a special memory we will cherish in the future.   

Memories happen in places, and researchers have been trying to figure out if there is a reason why we remember some places more than others. They are studying how the context in which memories are formed influences our ability to remember them later. This is known as the Contextual-binding theory. Remembering is affected by the context representation which includes external and internal elements. It is not only a place, but also the mental state we are in. How we feel will give that moment a contextual element. This reminds us of the importance of  mindfulness and its impact in our everyday life. Being in the moment needs to be our priority in everything we do because it benefits all the people involved in the process, starting with us. And it may impact in a positive way other people’s lives without us even noticing. Many times when we enter a room we don’t take a moment to look at the place, notice the details, and listen to the sounds around us. We are robbing ourselves of future memories by multitasking and rushing through moments. We believe productivity is getting more things done, but with that mentality we are sacrificing experiences. 

Think about the last place you were in before you read this. It may have been a different room in your home or the grocery store. Do you remember the feeling you had when you entered that place? Can you describe five objects you saw there? Were there people in the room? Did you look at the place as a whole? 

Being in the moment, as wonderful as it sounds, is difficult. It takes training, and there is no better time to get started than the present. Take note of the “moment thieves”, what is stealing your attention throughout the day? Are you trying to multitask? Are you rushing from one activity to another because you feel it is simply part of the daily routine and it is not worth your full attention?

Use your senses as you enter a new place, notice details, engage with the people there. It is up to you to fully absorb every moment, and give yourself the opportunity to continue making great memories in all the places you go. Is what’s robbing you from the moment really that important? Will it matter tomorrow? If not, then live the moment fully because today matters. 

Manuelita