Remember Yourself

We are what we remember.

This guitar, moved from the bedroom so that the carpets can be cleaned, now sits prominently against the wall in the living room. It provides the tiniest pop of color beside the large black hole of a t.v., draws attention that would otherwise be 100% turned to Netflix.

It says nothing, it sits quietly. Yet its mere presence is a loud call.

Play me, practice with me, listen to me, remember me. Remember how this music feels. Don't forget.

I think that it shall stay in that place even after the carpets have dried.

***

We are what we remember.

We are how we carry ourselves, what we carry, how we dress….

My kids recently accompanied me to an all-ages party. I had asked my son to change out of sweatpants before we went, to “dress just a bit nicer”. He went all out and chose a suit and tie. He became that dapper gentleman throughout the party, mingling with the adults and carrying himself in a manner befitting of a businessman letting go after a long day of work.

My daughter brought her crochet work. A natural introvert, she carried it with her even as she engaged with others. Eventually, she found this chair to the side of the room and used it as her sanctuary.

People engaged more easily with my son, who wanted to be engaged with, and who dressed the part, inviting people to play along. My daughter, on the other hand, preferred a quiet night. She equally “dressed the part”, and invited people to play along.

These are both their personalities, neither more right nor wrong than the other. As they went out into the world, they reminded themselves - and visually, reminded others - of who they wanted to be. Others saw that, treated them as such, and in turn, reminded the kids of who they had asked to be. A self-fulfilling circle.

Consider this: Who are you asking others to remind you to be?

***

We are what we remember.

With every thought, we re-member ourselves - we re-create and re-organize the parts of ourselves.

Each time you think, “this weather is horrible”, each time you think, “I don’t want to be doing this”, each time you think, “I wish I was skinnier / taller / younger / braver / more creative / etc”, you design a mind that primes itself for the next thought.

If you think the weather is bad, the next raindrop that lands on your nose could infuriate you. If you haven’t judged the weather one way or another, the raindrop might be a surprise that still feels as cold and wet … but gives you a giggle instead of an angry stomach ache. That tiny change in mood will influence how you act in the next moment.

Becoming aware of and engaging with your own thoughts isn’t easy. But it is where everything begins. Every action starts as a thought, every collective movement, with one person.

In designing the world in which you want to live, the life you want to be living, ….

remember this.