I'm sure I've written about memory before, I think about it a lot! Maybe that is a reflection of my work in aging, memory is often the subject of research. Maybe it is a reflection of my experiences with individuals with Alzheimer's. Maybe it is a reflection of my own consideration of my memories.
I was listening to a program about memory and spirituality the other day on the NPR program Speaking of Faith (another one of my regular podcast downloads. I don't think of myself as a religious person, but someone who is interested in spirituality and the way in which we make sense of the world.) So, this program was asking "Is memory essential for a person's identity?" The interviews focused on using writing groups for people with early onset AD. (See my last entry for a tie-in!) Part of the discussion focused on the preservation of memory. Participants saw this as an opportunity to give their memories away, to pass them on to someone else for safekeeping. It is an interesting way to think about memory, that memories can be thought of as not having meaning if they are not shared and that they can live on after you through other people.
The other interesting ideas were that memory is a creative process. Recalling a memory means that different parts of the brain have to be activated. We remember words, sights, smells. In the recollection all of these are reconstituted to make "the memory." That is partly why we aren't very good reporters of events. Each reconstruction changes the memory slightly. The other interesting idea was that writing activates different parts of the brain, so that memories that are written are different from memories that are relayed verbally.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Stories
I just returned from the annual Brookdale Foundation Leadership in Aging retreat. It is always a fascinating 24 hours filled with new information and new ideas. A theme the last few years has been the idea of storytelling. There are a couple of different researchers working on storytelling with older adults in one way or another. So, here are some random thoughts about stories and personal narratives....
One presentation was about the use of the Odyssey to elicit stories from nursing home residents. The narrative focuses on Penelope, particularly her waiting. She waited 20 years for Odyseus to return, and then wasn't sure she recognized him when he did. Are there parallels to older adults--do we recognize them when they look different? are they the same person when they have lost their physical or mental abilities? are they in nursing homes waiting? for what, waiting to die? We talked about the difficulty we have in waiting in our culture now. There is a need for immediacy and quick response. I know that I can get impatient with someone who is slow to respond or react. On the other hand, I don't get too impatient waiting in a line or waiting for an event. What's the difference? I guess in one case I feel there is a lack of effort and in the other the waiting is beyond almost anyone's control.
Second idea: journey stories. If we think about the Odyssey and the journeys that Odyseus and Penelope make, Odyseus travels out into the world, he is on a quest. Men in journey stories overcome physical obstacles and leave home. In contrast, Penelope's journey is internal. She never leaves Ithaca. Her struggles are at home and within herself. I thought it was an interesting contrast of gender roles.
Third idea: self-stories. In a writing group older adults are asked to write stories that illustrate key memories in their lives. What was interesting was that these stories were most often stories of everyday events, not notable celebrations or life transitions. People would write about a picnic or vacation, rather than about their wedding or graduation. People focused on everyday experiences. I've thought about this before in my own memories. I barely remember attending my high school graduation, for instance. But, I have vivid memories of hiking with my dad and his habit of bringing along some fruit or candy to be doled out halfway through the trip. It makes me feel better when I think about my sons and their memories.
So, those are just some random ideas about stories, narratives, and the power of memory.
One presentation was about the use of the Odyssey to elicit stories from nursing home residents. The narrative focuses on Penelope, particularly her waiting. She waited 20 years for Odyseus to return, and then wasn't sure she recognized him when he did. Are there parallels to older adults--do we recognize them when they look different? are they the same person when they have lost their physical or mental abilities? are they in nursing homes waiting? for what, waiting to die? We talked about the difficulty we have in waiting in our culture now. There is a need for immediacy and quick response. I know that I can get impatient with someone who is slow to respond or react. On the other hand, I don't get too impatient waiting in a line or waiting for an event. What's the difference? I guess in one case I feel there is a lack of effort and in the other the waiting is beyond almost anyone's control.
Second idea: journey stories. If we think about the Odyssey and the journeys that Odyseus and Penelope make, Odyseus travels out into the world, he is on a quest. Men in journey stories overcome physical obstacles and leave home. In contrast, Penelope's journey is internal. She never leaves Ithaca. Her struggles are at home and within herself. I thought it was an interesting contrast of gender roles.
Third idea: self-stories. In a writing group older adults are asked to write stories that illustrate key memories in their lives. What was interesting was that these stories were most often stories of everyday events, not notable celebrations or life transitions. People would write about a picnic or vacation, rather than about their wedding or graduation. People focused on everyday experiences. I've thought about this before in my own memories. I barely remember attending my high school graduation, for instance. But, I have vivid memories of hiking with my dad and his habit of bringing along some fruit or candy to be doled out halfway through the trip. It makes me feel better when I think about my sons and their memories.
So, those are just some random ideas about stories, narratives, and the power of memory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)