Ray’s Daily
March 22, 2021
To observe attentively is to remember distinctly.
Edgar Allan Poe
Many if us as we age sometimes find ourselves having difficulty remembering. It makes many of us wonder if our problem is normal age related or early stage dementia. Fortunately most of us just find that we are a little slower brining things back then when we were younger.
The good news is that we can sharpen our minds and improve our memories, Years ago I saved the following abridged article on how we can improve our memories. Now all I have to do is remember to do what it says.
Five Tools for Improving Your Memory
by Dr. Barry Gordon
Tool #1: Paying Attention – The first tool is paying attention – think of it as a flashlight that focuses on what you want to remember. The biggest problem in general that people have with their memory is not paying attention. Attention is the gateway to your memory.
Tool #2: Organization – Organizing memories involves putting them into meaningful categories. What’s most meaningful will depend not just on what you’re trying to learn, but also how you intend to use what you’ve learned. People you meet, for example, might be categorized by how you know them – from work, leisure, or family – or by their interests. Organization gives you a way to file memories as you’re learning them, and also a way to find them again when you need them.
Tool #3: Making Connections – The third tool is related to organization but has its own place in the toolbox. It’s making sure that there are the right connections or links between your memories. Connections are useful for three major reasons. One is that they simply make memories much stronger and more permanent. Any single memory by itself can fade or get isolated, and be forgotten. But when that memory is linked with others, the whole network becomes very much stronger, and much easier to navigate.
Tool #4: Sharpening Your Intelligent Memory – Even though Intelligent Memory is largely unconscious, automatic, and fast, you can sharpen it by thinking through what you have to do slowly and deliberately. It’s just like learning how to drive or play a game like golf. If you work on getting each step right, you’ll be rewarded with skilled, rapid, automatic driving or playing.
Tool # 5: Having a Plan – Sometimes the best way to remember something is not to have to remember it at all. If you can, write it down! The worst pen is still better than the best memory. Also, the simple act of writing something down helps engrave it in your memory, and having it written down will also boost your confidence. So when you write something down, you may find you remember it perfectly, and never have to look at your note!
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It takes one thought, one second, one moment or positive memory to act as a catalyst for the light to gradually seep in again.
Fearne Cotton
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TEACHER: Willie, name one important thing we have today that we didn’t have ten years ago.
WILLIE: Me!
~~~
** FATHERS OF 1900 and TODAY **
** In 1900, fathers prayed their children would learn English. Today, fathers pray their children will speak English.
** In 1900, if a father put a roof over his family’s head, he was a success. Today, it takes a roof, deck, pool, and 4-car garage. And that’s just the vacation home.
** In 1900, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived. Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and make sure film is in the video camera.
** In 1900, fathers passed on clothing to their sons. Today, kids wouldn’t touch Dad’s clothes if they were sliding naked down an icicle.
** In 1900, fathers could count on children to join the family business. Today, fathers pray their kids will soon come home from college long enough to teach them how to work the computer and set the VCR.
** In 1900, fathers pined for old country Romania, Italy, or Russia. Today, fathers pine for old country Hank Williams.
** In 1900, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, “Wake up, it’s time for school.” Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 4 a.m., shouting: “Wake up, it’s time for hockey practice.”
** In 1900, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table. Today, a father comes home to a note: “Jimmy’s at baseball, Cindy’s at gymnastics, I’m at gym, Pizza in fridge.”
** In 1900, fathers and sons would have heart-to-heart conversations while fishing in a stream. Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons’ ears and shout, “WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE..”
** In 1900, a father gave a pencil box for Christmas, and the kid was all smiles. Today, a father spends $800 at Toys ‘R’ Us, and the kid screams: “I wanted XBox!”
~~~
Avoid temptation… unless you just can’t resist!
~~~
Little Jenny walked into the kitchen one day and looked up at her mother, who was busy cooking dinner. “Mommy, how old are you?” she asked. “Now dear,” said her mother, “You should never ask a woman what her age is.” “Why not?” demanded Jenny. “Because it isn’t polite. You’ll understand better when you grow up.”
Jenny thought about it for a moment, then piped up, “Mommy, how much do you weigh?” “Jenny,” said her mother, “That’s not a question you ask people.” “Why not?” “Because it’s not polite to ask grown-ups about how much they weigh. You’ll understand some day.”
“Mommy,” Jenny asked, “Why did you and Daddy get divorced?” “Darling,” her mother replied with a sigh, “That’s something that’s still very painful for Mommy, and I really can’t talk about it now. I’ll explain when you are a little older.”
The next day, Jenny told a friend at school about the conversation with her mother. The other little girl explained to her, “All you have to do is get a look at your mom’s driver’s license. It has all the information about any grown-up you want on it.” So little Jenny sneaked a peek in her mother’s purse when she got home, and looked over her license, examining it carefully. That evening, she went back into the kitchen and announced, “I know how old you are, Mommy, you are 36!” Her mother looked down at her, surprised. “And I know how much you weigh said Jenny. “You weigh 135 pounds.” “Jenny, where did you learn this?” her mother asked. Jenny just smiled and continued, “And, I know why you and Daddy got a divorce.” Her mother just gasped and asked, “Why?” Jenny replied, “Because you got an F in sex!”
~~~
I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the car’s air bag works…
~~~
Carolyn asks:
Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
Why women can’t put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why don’t you ever see the headline “Psychic Wins Lottery”?
Why is “abbreviated” such a long word?
Why is it that doctors call what they do “practice”?
Why is it that to stop Windows, you have to click on “Start”?
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
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Show-off: A child who is more talented than yours
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Your memory is the glue that binds your life together; everything you are today is because of your amazing memory. You are a data collecting being, and your memory is where your life is lived.
Kevin Horsley
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Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
Ray’s Daily has been sent for more than twenty years to people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@comcast.net. Back issues are posted at http://rays-daily,com/ currently there are hundreds of readers from around the world.
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