Researchers now distinguish between working memory , episodic memory , and semantic memory . Lynd intuitively understood that a cluttered episodic memory (remembering every embarrassing moment) damages mental health. Modern studies on "memory suppression" and "motivated forgetting" prove Lynd was ahead of his time.
Conversely, Lynd points out that while we easily forget the location of our keys, we are almost incapable of forgetting things that hurt us. He posits that the mind acts as a storehouse of misery. We remember insults, slights, and embarrassments with high-definition clarity. We cannot "forget" a grievance the way we "forget" a train schedule. forgetting robert lynd pdf
The essay is a gentle ramble through the psychology of his own faulty memory. He contrasts the "terrible burden" of a perfect memory (citing historical figures who went mad from remembering too much) with the "cheerful chaos" of the ordinary mind. He concludes, with typical Lyndian wit, that forgetting is nature’s way of making life endurable. We forget not because we are lazy, but because we are merciful. Conversely, Lynd points out that while we easily
Lynd argues that people are remarkably efficient at forgetting things they ought to remember. He cites examples that remain timeless: the returning traveler who forgets to post letters, the man who forgets his umbrella, and the friend who forgets a promise. He notes that our brains seem to have a "sieve-like" quality when it comes to mundane duties. The modern reader downloading the "forgetting robert lynd pdf" likely relates to this more than ever; in an age of notifications and reminders, we still forget to call people back or charge our devices. We cannot "forget" a grievance the way we