Just “Bumpin’ Around”

I recently read a blog from my friend Dana at Dana at Regular Girl Devos that struck a chord with me. It was something that I could totally relate to. She was talking about seeing the film The Way We Were with Robert Redford and how when she hears the theme song, it still makes her tear up. She went on to expand on this with the following:

Reminiscing happens frequently as we age, and it is not unusual for older people to remember with clarity things that happened in their formative years.

This is called the Reminiscence Bump. A study I found in the National Library of Medicine defines it as, “a tendency for middle-aged and elderly people to access more personal memories from approximately 10–30 years of age.” In other words, our memories tend to focus on our formative years, mainly because we experience a lot of “firsts” that form who we are.

Researchers also found that reminiscing is helpful for our mental health as we get older. According to an article by Caring Senior Service, there are nine benefits:

1. Preserves family history
2. Helps improve coping skills
3. Reduces symptoms of depression
4. Promotes physical health
5. Works through unresolved conflicts
6. Eliminates boredom
7. Improves communication skills
8. Reduces stress
9. Enhances self-esteem

Importantly, the articles I read emphasized keeping a positive focus and not dwelling on regrets.

Many psychologists have also developed reminiscence therapy. Indeed, over the past few years, I have used reminiscing as a tool to help me deal with childhood issues. It wasn’t always fun or easy, but sorting through my memories has helped me:

• Put things in perspective,
• Appreciate the strengths I gained through life in survival mode,
• Realize what I have learned and how I have grown.
• Allowed me to focus on the good and
• Release the bad.
• Learn my history was for a purpose.

Appreciate your walks down memory lane and all the experiences that have made you, you!

When I was in college, I took a couple psychology classes. Honestly, I do not recall studying anything about the Reminiscence Bump. The only thing we studied about memories was how the sense of smell is so closely associated with memory.

As I read Dana’s blog, I thought about my own. It is obvious to me that my Reminiscence Bump plays a huge factor in the topics I write about. (1) I have written about my first date, my first job, and plenty of other ‘firsts.” (2) Many of my blogs also focus on times when I was between 10-30 years old. (3) I connected immediately Dana’s final thoughts.

When I began this blog, I was going through some major life changes. By writing, and through therapy, I also was able to put things into perspective. I was also able to focus on the good and release the bad. I was also reminded of how all of the things in the past make us who we are today (another thought I have shared here in the past.)

While I don’t “live in the past,” as some may suggest, I often remind myself of the lessons learned from past experiences. Those experiences can be used to keep me pressing toward the mark. It is similar to the ending of A Christmas Carol when Scrooge states that the events he has experienced will remain in his heart and influence his behavior as he moved forward.

If those memories and lessons can help me as I continue in life, then I will continue to “reminisce.”

My thanks to Dana for allowing me to share her thoughts and offer up my own. If you don’t already, follow her blog by clicking the link in the beginning of this one.