I recently stumbled across a newspaper article in the LA Times about false memory and reality. I soon found it very intriguing once I realized I was guilty of the examples used to describe how false memory can confuse one’s life. Countless times I have told a friend a piece of information, such as “pick me up for the game tonight” or “the party starts at 7,” but realized I only played that conversation out in my mind, not reality. The confused expressions on my friend’s face confirm the fact I never told them any information about the game or the party in the first place.
An example the article used was about someone that spent the entire weekend watching the U.S. Open and suddenly, they thought they had the skills to pound a powerful serve across the tennis court against Roger Federer. Unfortunately, life does not work that way. No matter how hard and intensely I stare at ‘The Starry Night’ painting, I will not magically acquire ANY of Vincent Van Gogh’s painting ability. No matter how long I watch Michael Jordan play basketball on television, I will not suddenly be able to slam dunk fully spread eagle. No matter how much I think I know how hot the stove is, I will not truly know until my finger tips touch the stove, and the important synapses in my brain pulls my hand away.
Maybe the lesson of this article is also mirroring a fact of life. Perhaps humans are nothing more than the living delusions they have manufactured themselves. Maybe people do not know why they believe the things they do, and are living up to false standards society placed upon them. Living is almost all observation. We can never truly learn a new lesson or new skill unless we first observe the lesson or skill in action. Whether we realize it or not, we are always observing, and as a result, forming our own conclusions and opinions about life. Collectively, we are able to form our likes, dislikes, opinions, values, and beliefs. With that said, we have to first know WHY we have these beliefs, instead of just believing them. You cannot suddenly slam dunk a basketball without first learning to jump, hold the ball, have your timing down pact, and have the coordination to perform such a feat. I find great pride in learning the basics and growing off of that solid foundation to master knew things. Children these days would rather play a football video game, instead of playing real football in the backyard. Maybe if they put the controller down, one day a kid would play them in a video game.
This Lesson can even carry over into the social networking wasteland. The average teenage girl can spend hours upon hours on Facebook, twitter, their cell phone, myspace, etc. She can be talking to her “friends” and updating her status every hour. She truly believes she has real friends and a healthy, interesting life. In reality, she sits in her room all day virtually communicating. Ironically, this girl is lacking vital communication skills that are necessary to become a successful and positive member of society. False reality. We think we know, but we really have no idea.
I hope for the day when people can turn off the computer and actually take a step out into a world where status updates cease to exist. I know.. that’s wishful thinking and probably will not happen anytime soon. In a more realistic sense, I want people to understand why they are the way they are, and take pride in the gifts they posses. I want people to learn life lessons while climbing the mountain of life, and not take the view for granted. I want people to be able to back their beliefs up with personal experience and have open minds about other’s beliefs. Above all, I do not want people living out a false reality. There is a very real reality out there for everybody.
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