Hi David,
Hope you are still celebrating your birthday week. :)
Yes, it is all just story, all taking you out of what's happening right now. You ask what is left without the stories. Take a look -- what do you find? Anything other that life unfolding right now?
Just a hotel room. Sounds, sights, smells, thoughts. Physical sensations. Nope that's all there is.
Exactly. These stories are fluid, but not only that, but they only make sense to what's happening right now. Try this: think about a friend or someone else you know very well. Think about the first time you met them. Go back to that first meeting in your head. Is it possible to think of that person as you did back then, as a stranger, or is the memory coloured by everything you know of them since?
OK. I'm thinking of a friend. When we met he was yea, yes, completely different in my head than the way I see him now. Not just because I didn't know his stories I don't think, but also because of his own transformation. I guess this isn't really the idea example.
I'm thinking of another friend whom I've only known for a little over a month. When I met her, I know I didn't see her the same way I do now. Wait, no I don't know that. I can't remember how I saw her.
AhhH! Haha. Let me think of someone else.
OK, I've just rattled off a lot of people in my head and I can't get a clear picture of how I saw anyone when I met them. So I can't compare it to now.
I can see that with people though, over time the way I perceive them does change. My best girlfriend is so beautiful and warm and kind. Giving, generous. But at the beginning of our friendship, I felt she was strange, and unpredictable. I felt awkward and intimidated and felt a need to impress her. Now, I don't seem to hold anything back with her. I don't know how and if she's changed, (I'm sure she has, we all have in 15 years) But I do know that my view of her has gone through many changes over the years.
Is it even possible to relate to that person as you did in the past in the memory you have of them right now?
I see what your saying. Its impossible to look through the eyes of the past. You can try to emulate it, recreate it, but its going to be different, because of experiences between then and now. I can't be who I was at 10, 20, last year and 30. Does that mean I'm not relating the same way to people? Hah. I always kind of assumed it was everyone else that was changing, changing in the way they relate to me. It only stands to reason that with every new experience, things are altered, reformed, views are coloured as you say by it. So I'm also changing and changing my ways of seeing and relating to people.
I don't think I'm really seeing the crux of all this though. Feel like I'm missing something.
Then think about when you were little. Recall memories from as far back as you can. Can you relate to these memories as you did back then as a young girl, or do you see the past with the attitude of a grown woman?
One of the earliest memories I've picked up was a social gathering at this park by the ocean in summer, all I can remember was getting on this playground equipment, standing face to face with this other little girl with black hair I'd never met before and after a moment of silent staring saying, "My names Zoe." She said "My names _____" (Can't remember) And that was it. We were mates, and off and running and giggling. It would never happen now. Haha! How good would it be if it did though. :)
Having told this story, I'm trying to look at the memory and now I can't remember if her hair actually was black. I can't remember if we did go play. Wow I can't actually even be sure if it happened, or if it were a story that someone told. My parents at a party or something. I feel like I'm dreaming. It feels like a dream. The past that far back. It feels like that happened to me but I really just don't know. Have carried that little story round in the recesses of my mind for over half a century but I just don't even know if it really happened. Thinking of other childhood stories now. Its so weird. Like even the more recent memories, that feel solid and real. When I look at them closely, theres always some thread that I can pull that makes it seem questionable. Today I walked along the river front in Kuching. Looking at the memory of it as if I am a third person, watching me. I can't remember how it felt to be there.
Damn. Massive tangent sorry. Got caught up there.
So your original question was can I relate to memories now as "Zoe" the same way I could as a small child. HELL no. Though I wish I could meet everyone with fresh unclouded non judgemental eyes and just be immediate friends. Life has created attitudes and beliefs, fears and worries that prevent that. Also the assumption that it wouldn't be socially acceptable.
Oh wait Gawd, I think I misread the WHOLLLE thing. You're asking if I can relate to the MEMORIES the same way now as I did when I was a child. Sorry, sorry. Hmmm.
Yes it does change. Was a real stretch to try to recall an instance where I could look at how I related to a memory in the past. Found one though and its changed unquestionably.
My head is still spinning. Spinning spinning. The memories. They might not be real. The old ones, I just can't tell.
Are all memories like this?
Yes the perception is always shifting.
Spinning spinning. But now I don't know what I'm spinning on.
Do they only make sense to how you are right now? And if that's true, what is the implication for a self built on those stories?
A self. Built on stories, built on memories. Memories I can't be sure are accurate. The playground. I'm questioning if it even happened. ......................... Really feel strange . Mind says stop being weird. That I'm being melodramatic. OK OK, Need to look at this clearly.
A self, built on shifting changing memories of a past, these memories.. SHIT. Its like theres something on the tip of my tongue that I can't spit out, but the edge of my mind that I can't reach.
A self built open stories that are only a certain way right now, a self built on stories that could be a completely different viewpoint another time. Hahah! Its a fake!!!
Its a fake thing.