Memory and Memories

Memory is a funny thing. It’s diffused, ever-shifting and emotional. I’ve come to think of memory in three flavors: (1) what really happened (2) what you remember, and (3) what you choose to share.

Since I started helping people write their memoirs, I’ve learned that people tend toward Part 3, the Pravda as it were. They apply different lenses depending on their state of mind. Some people share what they wish were true. Others revise history. Still others omit the inconvenient and uncomfortable parts.

The books I ghostwrite now include a note saying that the accuracy of the content is based on the memory of the author. Yes, I fact check things and sometimes they don’t exactly add up. Sometimes people have told a story so many times that they believe it is true. That’s okay by me. After all, it’s their story, not mine.

Each of us knows some incredible storytellers, people who can easily entertain a crowd. I’m here to tell you that there is a good story in almost every situation. I spend a lot of time listening so trust me on this one. Where exactly the truth lies is up for debate. We cannot forget the line Mark Twain is often credited with, “Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.” Also, have you ever noticed how many sayings are attributed to Mark Twain? His mother would be proud.

I captured this image on a fancy schmancy camera in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve. This is how I remember the cheetah looking, aided by Adobe Photoshop and the best photo editor I know, my dad.