We Haunt the Past

I recently watched Reminiscence and it made me wonder about the importance of memories.

How often do we go over and over certain memories again as if they’re real and happening right now… even though they only exist in the past?

How many of them are filled with happiness and some magical moments, and perhaps include people who are no longer in our lives.

And others are so sad, yet we struggle letting them go and so we relive them over and over again. But do you ever wonder why?

A lot of memories hold a strong emotional charge and yet if that charge gets released, that memory won’t appear the same way anymore.

Isn’t it actually fascinating how memory works? And who would you be without your memories?

As Hugh Jackman’s character (Nick Bannister) so beautifully expressed in the movie, ‘The past can’t haunt a man. That’s what they say. The past is just a series of moments. Each one perfect. Complete. A bead on the necklace of time. The past doesn’t haunt us. Wouldn’t even recognise us. If there are ghosts to be found, it’s us who haunt the past.’