THE MEMORY ACCOUNT

for the little things that matter...

“THE LITTLE THINGS? THE LITTLE MOMENTS? - THEY AREN’T LITTLE.”

— JOHN ZABAT-ZINN 

Last week, news came in that the iconic double decker buses that served Mumbai city for eight decades, had bid farewell to the streets of Mumbai. The news triggered childhood memories of my brother and me tearing into the double decker bus and rushing up to catch the top-front window seat. That feeling of joy and delight that came from occupying that seat was so empowering, like literally feeling on top of the world! The ride around old Bombay from this vantage point was probably my first tryst at falling in love with the city’s heritage. 

As Dr Suess has rightly said, "Sometimes we don't know the value of a moment till it becomes a memory."

Art by Arpan Bhowmick

Source: https://rhythmartgallery.com/product-tag/double-decker-bus/

A ride in the double decker bus was a weekend ritual for our family during my growing up years. The day out also included a movie at the cinema (Sterling, Eros or Regal Cinema), a masala dosa meal at a simple restaurant followed by sandwich ice-cream at K Rustoms. At that point, it was just another family outing, another weekend. Today, it took just a news article to revive this hidden memory from a corner of my mind and stir so many emotions of a joyous childhood. 

Life is a series of moments strung together like beads on the thread of time.

Most of these moments are spent doing small everyday stuff–waking up, commuting, going to work, managing finances, doing household chores and so on. The more significant moments where we have fun and build memories–birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, festivals, academic milestones, promotions at work–are scattered along intermittently. 

Let's flip this around. 

What if we saw the everyday, routine stuff as reasons to rejoice? What if we did these little things, with a heightened sense of awareness? What if we collected these little moments that form our lives and preserved them? How could we make this happen? It's pretty simple actually… 

In that part of your mind where love and happiness reside, build a ‘Memory Account’.

Keep it large and spacious to make room for all the wonderful memories we unconsciously gather everyday–A shared meal, a shared laugh. Gently falling rain, fluffy white clouds. The shrill birdsong breaking through the sounds of the city. Sea breeze, that lone fishing boat, a ride in a double decker bus, the sky melting into an fiery fuchsia sunset. A falling leaf, that neighborhood cat. Hugs, a glass of cool water quenching your thirst. A friend's arm on your shoulder saying "It's ok!" Store these memories with love and care, for they reflect your sensory  association to your environment. 

A childhood memory of a quiet weekend with family and friends. The flavour of ‘idli chutney’ steeped in mummy’s love and affection still lingers

Create a special place for the ordinary stuff - reading out a bedtime story, having tea with your mom while you tell her about your day, watering a plant, reading the newspaper to your grandpa, a moment of solitude before the day begins, a smile from a stranger, a compliment from your spouse… Hold on to the ordinary, for over time they will transform into the most extraordinary experiences of your lives. 

Collect these fleeting moments, as they fade out into time and space! Gather them as they fly into the unknown, dissipate into nothingness, dislodged by the breath of unnecessary information and clutter. Hold on because they matter and because when life takes a new turn, revisiting these moments will be the finest, most fulfilling gifts of life. Deposit them ever so gently in your Memory Account. 

Visit this corner of your mind often. Surrender to its warmth and magic. Withdraw the memory you need at that moment. Let it heal you, enrich you and place it back in the memory vault, grateful for how wealthy it makes your life. 

For a moment, forget the bank account. Start a Memory Account!

A bicycle ride with Daddy and bhai. Daddy continues to care for us whilst balancing life’s challenges.

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