Everyone loves a callback...

There's nothing in this world more amusing to me than a running gag. Exactly how long can we keep this one going before there's no one left in the audience still laughing? If I were a bolder man I'd probably just copy and paste the post I made 3 months ago saying how sorry I was for taking a 3 month break from writing.

Few things in this world bring me as much joy as writing. It feels so good to me when I can look inside my mind and, through language, take a snapshot of my internal processes. Every few months I take a little trip inside my head and look at all the thoughts and shapes and colors floating around. This process tends to be very chaotic and can be difficult at times, but with every experience I learn a little more about myself and how I am effected by things.

In a class on interpersonal relationships a few semesters ago, I was introduced to the notion that relationships are managed best by two individuals who are very aware of their own strengths and weaknesses, their own limits and their typical mindsets. I feel that, through occasional deep introspection, I am better able to gauge myself; I am more capable of knowing how I will react to certain stresses.

I guess my ultimate goal is communication. Not just between me and another person, but an open conversation, involving several people, all bringing their own ideas to the table. What will we talk about? It doesn't matter, as long as it's open, and honest, and real. I want a place where I don't have to feel like what I say is scrutinized or graded, and I want to offer that space to others.

The current education system teaches us to write, not as a means of communication or expression, but as a test of our abilities to regurgitate facts and information. This would be amazing if our brain was like an unfinished puzzle, with empty holes that need to be filled with facts and knowledge. Unfortunately, that is not how our brain works at all. As the old man, Socrates (Nick Nolte) put it in the film Peaceful Warrior, "The mind is a reflex organ, it reacts to everything. It fills with millions of random thoughts per day and not one of these will reveal anymore about you than a hair on the top of your head." As a side note, those of you who have not seen this movie should immediately go out and buy 2 copies, invite someone over to watch it, and then give them your extra copy to show to one of their other friends.

As it turns out, our mind is quite efficient at storing memories, especially those that have deep personal meaning. This is because when the brain is presented with something it immediately generates a response to it. This response is a surge of chemicals which causes certain synapses to fire, and you are reminded of other times when these same synapses were firing. This new incoming information is stored alongside memories you were reminded of as a result of having this experience. Thus, the more you are able to relate new experiences to those you remember from the past, the easier it will be to recall that experience as well as all of the experiences you compare it to.

Most people don't need or care to know the process by which we catalog information. However, I find it interesting to know that, simply by going out and doing and seeing more in this world, I can maintain, and even improve my memories of the past. Doing the same thing over and over again every single day actually causes things to run together; you begin to remember only that there is a routine to follow, and other memories fade.

So get out there! Experience new things, remember old times, and then come back and we can get our conversation on!

Until next time kiddies,
<3 me