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Memory is an incredible place. You might not remember what you had for dinner last night, or where you left your glasses… but you do remember your kindergarten friend’s birthday, or hum a song you haven’t heard in over twenty years. You might forget someone’s name when you run into them on the street and they greet you with excitement, but you do remember the purse your grandma used to take to church on Sundays.
Memory is amazing, and no, it doesn’t always fade with age
. It just becomes more selective. Want to know how good your memory really is?
The proof your memory is better than you think
Some people believe aging brings forgetfulness, but the truth is a bit more complex. If you can remember the sound of a rotary phone ringing, the excitement of seeing color TV for the first time, or the exact price of gas in the 70s, your memory in old age is more active than many assume (and yes, you’ve been around for a while, too).
A list of seemingly simple moments from the past can show that your mind still holds on to details with a sharpness that surprises even younger generations. These kinds of memories aren’t just nostalgic. They also show strong mental connections, a solid emotional memory, and a power of recall well above average. How’s your brain doing?
When the milkman left bottles at your door
That scene that feels like something out of a movie still lives in many memories. The clinking of the glass, the metal carrier, the delivery man’s name… If all that rings a bell, you’re not just recalling an image, you’re triggering sensory and emotional memories that are still intact.
The first time you saw colour television
That moment was a before and after. Bonanza, Disney, or whatever show, it all changed the day the screen stopped being grey. Remembering who was with you or how you felt says much more than just a fact: it shows your visual and emotional memory is in excellent shape.
When phones had rotary dials and cords
No, we didn’t type, we weren’t hyperconnected, and to call someone you had to remember the last number you dialed (and whether you did it right). If you can still feel the weight of the receiver, remember the sound of the dial spinning back, or your parents’ home phone number, you’ve got a strong link to the past. And if you remember what a busy signal sounded like? Even better!
Developing film
Way before the selfie era and taking 48 shots of your coffee outfit, you only had 12 or 24 pictures. And you had to choose wisely where to “spend” them. And no, if someone blinked in a photo, you wouldn’t know for weeks.
If you remember going to the store to pick up the envelope of photos and seeing the negatives before the prints, then your memory holds something precious.
Your first record player
And the first album you bought! You probably saved for weeks to get one, and you still remember the artist or what it looked like. Some things just stay in the memory forever.
Watching the man walk on the Moon
No need to say much more. Where were you?
(I wasn’t even born yet!)
Gas was under a dollar a gallon
And you didn’t need a credit card or a digital screen. You rolled down the window, paid, and the attendant even cleaned your windshield.
Your handwritten grades and chalkboard erasers
Oh, sweet childhood! Long before your kid’s grades popped up on your phone, there was a report card! And how did that chalkboard eraser smell?
Green stamps
Collecting stamps to trade for kitchen or home gadgets. What a time!
Lining up for a Saturday matinee
Posters, the smell of popcorn, when it only cost a dollar and you hoped your favorite movie wouldn’t sell out. What memories!
Not everything is forgotten: what stays matters
An old photo, a song, a scent. If you can vividly relive scenes from decades ago, your memory in old age is working as an emotional and autobiographical archive. It’s not about remembering everything, but remembering what’s essential, what made us who we are.
Connecting with memories keeps you present
Instead of seeing it as a weakness, nostalgia can be a way to stay mentally active. Remembering the past with affection and detail helps strengthen your identity, self-esteem, and connection to who you once were.
