Almost every person pursues a meaningful life. Such individuals seek to enjoy positive feelings complemented by constructive emotions that characterize happy lives. While some people may associate useful lives with memorable moments, others believe that the experience does not require thoughts of past events. Nevertheless, extraordinary circumstances act as a way of inspiration to people, giving them reasons to live more. The big question is whether a meaningful life requires memory. This essay seeks to analyze reasons which support the claim that memory of the past is an integral part of a person's life, highlighting the experience’s benefits towards the realization of a meaningful life.
The analysis presented by a physician and neurologist Oliver Sacks is right mainly based on its association of a meaningful life with positive memories. Even though Sacks notes that “a man does not consist of memory alone” (Sacks 38), and that sensibility and moral being are vital, he goes on to recognize that the word moral is too narrow. This reaction demonstrates that a meaningful life encompasses numerous experiences that exceed feelings. Besides, Sacks indicate that Jimmie G would fall apart immediately he accomplishes specific tasks or puzzles and that Jimmie could end up experiencing nothingness (Sacks 38). On the other hand, the author maintains that positive memories such as those concerning mass in chapel could enlighten Jimmie G's mood which could then last for a while. The author concludes that particular memories may bring positive feelings to an individual, confirming the benefits of memorizing past events.
Sack's strategy is the best way to account for Jimmie G's occasional sense of deep connection as well as improved mood because it helps confirm that poor memory might be the most horrifying event in a person's life. Notably, Sacks recounts of an episode whereby a highly intelligent man lost all his memory regarding his wife and children (Sacks 40). In such a situation, the author admits that the incident means that the person lost thirty years of his life. With this kind of analysis, it is evident that losing memory, even just for some hours as narrated by Sacks, amounts to a loss of entire life. This case is equally related to that of Jimmie G whose amnesia causes him frequent memory losses subjecting him to a life of meaningless experiences. In this case, the author concludes that memory seems to be an integral part of a person's life.
Going to mass and gardening entail meaningful activities for Jimmie G as they give him "a pensiveness and peace we rarely, if ever, saw during the rest of his life at the home" (Sacks 39). The practice means that these two activities help Jimmie G develop deep connection leading to his desire to engage in them. Following the case of amnesia that has devastated Jimmie for several years, Sacks concedes that going to the chapel saved Jimmie G from boredom and restlessness. Instead, attending the event made him attentive towards the beauty of the world. If going to chapel could help improve Jimmie G's spiritual enlightenment, it means the experience provided him with value in life. The author believes that the knowledge of chapel and gardening offers numerous benefits and reasons that demonstrate positive familiarities. Consequently, since these two activities carry strong memories, it is rational to believe that they bring meaning to Jimmie's life.
Jimmie finds some meaning and sense of continuity in going to chapel and gardening because they are simple tasks that do not require memory, which he lacks. Gardening exposes Jimmie to the beautiful nature which enlightens his feelings by giving him a sense of purpose, whereas, as noted by Sacks (39), chapel experience may lead to a feeling of connection, possibly due to undiminished possibilities and a sense of touching a human heart. Therefore, the chapel brings inspiration and thoughts of continuity whereas gardening presents a calm environment away from the chaotic world, which is synonymous with other experiences. Therefore, going to chapel and gardening bring a feeling of continuity to Jimmie G.
Memorization may help an individual remember positive events that occurred in the past and feel relieved especially when the current situation seems troublesome. Oliver Sacks recounts how Jimmie G talked passionately about the past, particularly concerning his date of birth, old school days, his hometown in Connecticut, and friends. Despite the current situation which is riddled with amnesia, the thought of history brings joy and happiness to both Oliver Sacks and Jimmie G. This contentment which Jimmie G further demonstrates by drawing a map of the place where he was born is an indication of how memories may help create delight once such moments are gone (Sack 24). The account of Jimmie G's previous life makes the two forget about the current medical challenge that distresses Jimmie G. The conversation is a validation of the kind of life that these two individuals aspire, signifying the benefits of memory in the creation of a meaningful life.
Even though memory may benefit people by helping them remember positive events and creating a meaningful life, it is also possible that memorizing adverse events that occurred in the past could lead to undesired thoughts that might cause anxiety and stress to an individual. For example, Sacks says that Jimmie G suffered from an extreme and extraordinary loss of recent memory (27). Memory loss may prove valuable when referring to hostile conditions such as what happened when Jimmie G was in the army. People always want to forget matters such as wars and deaths because such occurrences might lead to post-traumatic stress disorders. In such circumstances, a powerful memory may act as an impediment to an individual’s happiness in the future. Consequently, memory loss may equally contribute to a meaningful life to a person. However, the author primarily focuses on the negative consequences of memory loss. This objection challenges the inference developed by the author which tends to mean that memory loss is generally a negative phenomenon. Nevertheless, some readers might differ with this objection since in most cases, it is only positive memories that matter when developing meaningful lives.
Excellent memory is a crucial factor that may help in the development of friendships. Even though Jimmie G seems cheerful when meeting people for the first time, his forgetfulness undermines chances of creating a strong and lasting relationship with other people. This behavior has been caused by Jimmie G’s poor health condition which may be attributed to amnesia. Sacks remembers how Jimmie G was jubilant during their first meeting and his readiness to take part in conversations (Sacks 24). Unfortunately, Jimmie G’s change of tone and his reference to the present instead of the past puzzled Sacks who could see the adverse effects of amnesia in his friend. This experience demonstrates how negative health impacts can adversely affect a person’s memory, leading to a life that is full of absent-mindedness and irrelevance.
Memory has a profound impact on an individual's life. In most cases, people's thoughts regarding the past play crucial roles in developing healthy relationships and creating positive connections that make life significant. Unfortunately, recalling negative situations such as poor health may impede an individual's experience of a beautiful past, leading to hopelessness. Nevertheless, a meaningful life still requires memory. The discussion raises a question which seeks to establish the extent to which unfavorable events in people’s past lives could influence their future. Readers should understand that memory is an essential part of a person’s life.
Work Cited
Sacks, Oliver. “The Lost Mariner.” The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Summit Brooks,
1985, pp. 23-42.
