Permanent Compartmentalization
Hyperthymesia is a condition where individuals possess an extremely detailed autobiography memory. People with hyperthymesia remember a ridiculously large number of their life experiences and spend an excessive amount of time thinking and ‘living in’ the past. When I mentioned this particular disorder to an employee, he said that he thought it would be a great thing to have. He was tired of forgetting everything. (by the way, this is the same guy who came up with the title of my last speech – “I have no recollection of those events, Madam Senator”. What does that say about him?). I told him he was crazy for wanting to remember EVERYTHING. Personally, I think one of God’s greatest gifts to humans (especially aging humans) is diminishing memories. (the other one is diminishing eyesight – ladies, I’m sorry but although the 100X magnifying mirrors are helpful, they also make me realize exactly why I need younger friends to tell me I need to put on more moisturizer and carry a tweezer more regularly). So, think about it – Individuals with hyperthymesia can recall almost every day of their lives in near perfect detail, as well as public events that hold some personal significance to them. When they encounter a date, they “see” a vivid depiction of that day in their heads. The first person diagnosed with hyperthymesia described her memory as “non-stop, uncontrollable and totally exhausting” and as “a burden”. She essentially is permanently living in the past. I don’t know what[…]