I used to have a great memory. Never had to write anything down. Could remember what we talked about, what music was on, what you wore, where we were at, what we ate, how you smelled. Not anymore. On a good day, I might get one of things on the list right. My memory is completely shot. Virtually nothing sticks. Doesn’t matter the topic, deep and meaningful to the mundane. It slides right off me. If you tell me this is all part of getting older, I’m going to refuse to accept that. This isn’t about age….

Memories, the kind that take root and attach themselves are the ones where you are fully present, alive, tuned in, nerve endings tingling all the way to the surface, feeling and feeling. These are the snippets of life that when close your eyes to recall them you are instantly right back in that moment. The memories sinking deeper into your life fabric each and every time you share the story.

So, what happened? We’ve replaced living with recording. We interrupt every moment. Snap picture, text, post, like, comment, tweet, rinse, repeat…. Our memories don’t have a chance. Before they can even grab hold we systematically reduce them to a fleeting string of letters, hashtags and emoticons. Here and gone. Here and gone.

And if we aren’t interrupting our own living with all of this recording then we are letting the recording of our 473 social media friends and followers do this on our behalf. Meaningful glances are being broken, conversation are being aborted and tiny moments are quietly walking away unnoticed. Here and gone. Here and gone. What’s worse if that If we aren’t looking at our screens then we are thinking about looking. Wondering who tweeted what, did Facebook friend number 382 like my photo? Why didn’t they like my photo? WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO LIKE MY PHOTO????!!!!????

Our memories are being further undone because we’ve stopped story telling. We post so many things on social media that by the time we actually get a chance to have a real conversation there is nothing to talk about. We already “know” because we saw it on line. We read it, re-tweeted liked and hashtagged. Here and gone.

As for me? Guilty as charged. Even as I sit here writing this, I’ve checked my phone at least 10 times. It’s barely 6:00 a.m. NOTHING is happening, and yet…..

As for me? I’m going to try to get back to some living. HERE AND HERE.