Memories are like a pack of cards; some are colourful while others are dark and grey but there is a joker peeping out of this pack, bringing a smile to our face. To a great extent, our memories determine character traits in us. Generally, the human brain associates a particular thing or place or people with the past; either good or bad. Our mind categorises past events and so when we come across a person or a place from the past, it triggers fond or not so fond memories.

I have fond memories of my first day of school, when my father walked me to school and I hugged him saying, ‘Dad, I like my school’ or the time I spent with my school friends, waiting for the bus to take us home, the tiffs we had, the dragon flies we caught or simply slurping ice-candy on lazy, sunny afternoons.

Later I began my college life, graduating to new friends. I still remember how we bunked classes and went to Eros (a theatre in South Mumbai) to watch Pretty Woman, canvassed for college elections, spent hours in the canteen eating wada pav, gossiping in the ladies room and rushing in-between classes for a quick bite of that yummy samosa pav, which Shiva served in the ladies canteen.

Nostalgia is the essential booster shot we need to keep us up and about. All these memories cheer me up when I am feeling low. It is said that we humans love to dwell on our past. Our memories occupy a major chunk of our brain. When we come across a long lost friend or acquaintance, our brain immediately starts recollecting data – name, place and associated events and we react accordingly. It’s like connecting to a virtual computer. If we have happy memories, it gladdens our heart and if we have unpleasant memories, we make small talk and wish the person disappears soon.

Also vibes, frequencies which could be negative or positive constitutes a major chunk of our memories. The human body frequency can easily identify the negativity or positivity of a person we come in contact with. We are always happy and relaxed in the company of a person we like and look forward to meeting her/him for they exude positive vibes and spread cheer. The opposite can be said for a person having a negative aura. I steer clear of such people as it affects me deeply.

Why do we see people penning their memoirs? It is one way of staying connected with their past. When they actually work on the process, they relive a major part of their lives and days gone by, wondering if things were done differently, then it would have turned out entirely differently. More than the name and the fame, they enjoy the entire process where they can come and go as they please.

I still have my diary from my college days in which I diligently noted down the day’s events. Now when I go through the pages, I smile and some even make me cry. Many a times I feel that I should get my hands on a time machine, which could transport me those carefree days and maybe right a few wrongs. If wishes were horses... But somewhere deep down in my heart, I know that my thoughts aren’t right. I am not doing any justice to my present. I am afraid when I sit down to pen my memoirs, I will draw a blank for I won’t have anything left to share with the world.

Here I would like to quote noted literati, Late Vijay Tendulkar, who was of the opinion, ‘do not indulge in daydreaming and the past’. He is absolutely right. Tomorrow we might repent for whiling away our time doing nothing constructive. Although memories play an important part and give us happiness, it is up to us to create a lot of happy memories, which we can look back on proudly and leave as a legacy for our kids. If we always live in the past, when will we live our present and create a future? Memories are to be cherished, and should be something to enable and not handicap us.