LongJohnSilver wrote:
Like many of you, I have long delays in my brain. My least favorite types of brain delays are name recognition, interrupt faults and temporal disconnects.
Name Recognition. If I go to someone's house, I generally know who I will find there, so I remember people's names right away, as soon as I see them. But if we meet in a grocery store or other location where I don't expect to see them, I will be standing there the entire time we are visiting trying to figure out, "I know I have seen this person before. He or she lives at that house, he does this kind of work for a living, etc. But what is his or her name?!" Two minutes after we have parted ways, it suddenly occurs to me: "Oh, yeah, that's his or her name ..."
Interrupt Faults. If I am carrying on a conversation or doing a project, and am interrupted by someone else talking, or someone accidentally bumps me, or I drop my pen, or anything else that requires my attention, by the time I get back to the conversation or project, I have completely lost track of what I was saying or doing at the time I was interrupted. I have to hope that someone else remembers what I was talking about or what task I was in the middle of, or I have to sit down and think about it for long minutes at a time. If someone reminds me what I was saying or doing, my brain immediately slips back into gear, and it is as if the interruption never took place. Indeed, if you were to ask me what just happened to interrupt my train of thought, I would look at you in complete confusion ...
It is also fun when I get to my car and realize I forgot something in my house. I forget a lot of things, which is why I always wheel a suitcase around wherever I go with copies of the most common items I forget. On my way back to get Item A, I realize I also forgot Item B. I get inside, retrieve Item B, and get halfway back to my car before I realize that Item A is still inside my house. I go back inside my house, set Item B down, retrieve Item A, and get back to my car, then realize I just set Item B down inside again. Completely resigned to my extreme tardiness at my intended destination, I head back to the house again, and as I get to the door I realize I also forgot Item C ...
Temporal Disconnects. I can remember what happened in the past with exceptional clarity, and I can remember upcoming events weeks in advance. But I cannot remember things I am supposed to do in the here-and-now. Even written schedules don't help much, because I don't remember anything that might be coming up, so I don't even think to check the schedules.
My favorite (or should I say least favorite) event I didn't remember occured several years ago. Now I remember the day like it happened five minutes ago. My presence was requested at a formal event, and certain talents that only I possessed were required at the event. I planned it out weeks in advance. On the night before the event, I packed everything I needed into a box and set the box down next to the front door so I would have to move the box to open it. I put notes all over the house on every surface I commonly used to remind myself of this important event.
On the day of the event I woke up, completely oblivious to the fact that I was supposed to be somewhere at a certain time that day. I passed by every reminder note, read an half dozen e-mails about the event or the talents that would be required there, and after breakfast I moved the box away from the front door to go out and do what I normally did on that day. I went through the entire day and went to bed that night not realizing I was supposed to be somewhere else that day. The next morning, I sat bolt upright in bed ... - LJS
Thanks for putting that into words. I'm almost exactly like that, but I never would have been able to describe it in words.
I put things that I'm going to need the next day into my shoes.....to make sure I wont forget them. (Things that I don't use everyday & am prone to forget)
I have a routine that I follow to make sure I get everything I need. I leave everything in my pants.....my wallet, keys, money, comb, knife, flashlight, phone etc etc. I keep it all in my pockets or attached to my belt. When I get up the next morning, I transfer everything from my "old" pants to my "new" pants. The "pants swap" is part of my morning routine. My girlfriend doesn't understand it.....but if I don't do my "pants swap" then I will forget essential items. (Like my wallet)
When I need to remember something I will write a note or leave the item "in my path" for when I need it. An example would be writing a note & sticking it to the door. So when the door opens it will fall & I'll pick it up & read it......the problem occurs when I occasionally have to break routine....for example, leaving out the back door instead of the front. I've identified most of my "forgetfulness" flaws & I've taken steps to compensate. Doesn't always work, but it helps. I've also found that setting an "event" on my smartphone calender so an alarm goes off to help remind me.....but if I don't do it right then I'll forget again. The Item "A", "B", & "C" thing hit really close to home with me. I've done that so many times.....but I've never thought about it until I saw your post.
I wonder if this is related to my strange driving habits? I sometimes forget where my destination is. Like, I remember what the place looks like, and what the area around it looks like.....but I forget where it's at. I have to think real hard for a minute or two before I remember. I have a driving "routine" too. I drive the same path to and from work every day. It's almost like I have a pre-determined path for everywhere I go. 99% of the time, it's simply the shortest distance to my target. When I go somewhere new, or have to take an unusual path (Like instead of going from "work-to-home", say I'll need to go "work-to-a-friend's-house"), I'll be thrown for a loop for a minute or two while I figure out the shortest distance & the most efficient path. It's kinda like the little GPS devices....when you mis a turn it says "calculating" for a few seconds while it reroutes you. My brain does that, but it can take up to several minutes.
Monday I had to renew my auto insurance. I've only been to the building once prior. I knew the street it was on, and I knew which plaza area it was in......but I didn't remember where on that street the plaza was. So while I was trying to figure it out I auto-piloted down the street into a plaza that I was familiar with. When I arrived, I was like "wait, this isn't right".
12 Jul 2011, 2:01 am
. I honestly don't know what people think of me if I'm slow or I'm humble. Most of the time I'll just ask a question and occasionally it wont even be related to whats being talked about.
