Back in Cincinnati for a wedding, I am constantly reminded of my past as we travel about the city. Born and raised here, I finally left after graduating from medical school and returned for only a few years when our kids were young.
Nevertheless, memories are powerful products of the human brain, often triggered by sensory stimuli such as sights, sounds and smells. Of course, my home town is loaded with sights that unleash memories, including certain roads, buildings, neighborhoods and natural landscapes. Most of these memories might be classified as pleasant nostalgia but some exhume painful or tragic events.
While dwelling on our past is generally unproductive, the connections provided by memory lend perspective to our lives and offer insight into how we became who we are. A trip down memory lane (or through a memory-laden city) can be both enjoyable and enlightening.
Nevertheless, memories are powerful products of the human brain, often triggered by sensory stimuli such as sights, sounds and smells. Of course, my home town is loaded with sights that unleash memories, including certain roads, buildings, neighborhoods and natural landscapes. Most of these memories might be classified as pleasant nostalgia but some exhume painful or tragic events.
While dwelling on our past is generally unproductive, the connections provided by memory lend perspective to our lives and offer insight into how we became who we are. A trip down memory lane (or through a memory-laden city) can be both enjoyable and enlightening.
