I’ve just finished watching the brilliant Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I’m a big Jim Carrey fan and he’s constantly reminding me why in films like this. It’s definitely one of those movies that leaves you thinking about all sorts of things, and if you haven’t seen it, you should. But, if you’re going to, I would certainly suggest maybe not reading this for fear of a spoiling it for you.
It centres around a young man and woman that each clear their memories of each other because of her unhappiness and his anger that she did hers. All is well until he’s going through each memory before it’s erased and he realises that he doesn’t want them erased, and this got me thinking – Why would anyone want to erase a memory like that… Or any memory at all?
A memory can be found in several ways. It can hit you when you’re least expecting, by even just the smallest sense being touched. And our past, is our past. For the all the hurt and pain, there is also happiness and ecstasy. And most importantly, it makes us who we are. We learn from our mistakes, and we grow. And, I can’t help but think that without these memories we’d be bland drones, all on auto-pilot.
One of the many noteworthy quotes was this: “I wish I had stayed too. NOW I wish I had stayed. I wish I had done a lot of things. I wish I had… I wish I had stayed. I do.” I know how he feels. I know that ‘I wish’ feeling well. Regret offers many issues, and along with it, you’ll want to either go back, or erase it. But doesn’t enough regret force you to stop wanting to feel it again?
How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
- “Eloisa to Abelard” Alexander Pope
I dunno. Maybe it’s just me, but I could never erase a memory. And there can’t be a double standard of “only erasing the bad ones” because we will always need the comparison of the two. Both sides of the coin. The contrast. All just there to be able to show you how good the good really was without forgetting the bad that got you to the good in the first place.
The movie showed the two main characters finding each other again, after each memory had already gone. They fell in love all over again. You can erase the memory, but if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. Perhaps it was their second chance at fate? So, even though the movie left me a little melancholy, maybe it showed that despite it all, you can always go back to square one and try it all over again…
i dunno – i have a few memories i’d like to be able to erase.
perhaps you can only say that you’d never erase something, if you’ve never experienced something really, really, really painful?
I have memories i would like to erase… funnily enough i think they would make me a less neurotic person
@ExMi, DP – Maybe you’re both right. So, if any good came of these bad situations, you’d rather not have them both?
@DP – you’re not neurotic
Very interesting theory – I haven’t seen the movie but now methinks I should…
The movie only amplified my view, but like it’s been said here, it’s only my view.
I defs have a couple of bad memories that I wouldn’t wish away.. its the uphills that make the downhills so much fun or rather the lows that make the highs seem so high, but there is also a memory or two that I would love to kick out of my head, they will not be missed.
My best thing about memories is the way they are triggered, a song or a smell or the way the sun hits you on a winters day, its amazing how these things can completely relax you or make you sad or happy or both at the same time… nice
Exactly does, did you read the corresponding link? http://blindcripple.co.za/2009/06/a-little-something-about-senses-and-memories/
I did indeed, and appreciated all the soggy bits at the end.
There is a smell that I encounter when I go visit the “in-laws” and it reminds me of something but I just don’t know what. Its a good memory or at least I think it is. It always makes me feel nostalgic and mellow but I don’t know why.. It’s so frustrating, but good, I kinda feel that if I figure out what the memory is it won’t be as good anymorw, almost like the mystery enhances the mellow feeling. weird..
@ExMi & @ Dirtypurple, we all learn from our experiences; both bad & good. They make us the people we are today. We learn from our mistakes, if you erase those memories you’ll be erasing the teachings… So as hard as they are to endure, all memories are vital. Would you want to change the person you are today?
@Lance do you really think we learn from EVERY experience? cos there are some things in my life that I am struggling to find the lesson in? I would still be me if they didnt happen, I’d probably be a better me without them actually..
@Tazzipoo Yes, I do think we learn from every experience. There may not be a lesson as such but there will be a slight change in you the next time you see yourself doing something similar or heading into a familiar situation.