Ritisha Saxena- Week 15- The words we remember

 Birthdays, old phone numbers, the delicious food we had for dinner last week- amidst all of that some things stick with us longer than others- more specifically some words stay with us longer. Sometimes positive, sometimes negative. It could be a compliment from a teacher, an insult from a classmate, or a whispered apology. 

And you might be wondering why certain words stick with us while others disappear? And this is usually because of the emotional impact they leave us with. Events like winning an award, losing a friend, or moving stick with us because they’ve changed our life in some way. Another reason words can stick with us is simply because they’re rare to hear, and they mean something to you. 


Interestingly enough, it’s not necessarily the word’s meanings that determine whether they stick with you but the circumstances revolving around those particular words. I remember when I started playing the piano, my piano teacher was very strict and we were preparing for an ABRSM exam and no matter how much I practiced at most she would call it “okay.” Then after I took my exam (which she was present for), I got up and collected my books and as I was about to leave the room she said “good job” and this wasn’t my first time hearing these words, but they were special because it was the first time I had heard her say them. These words motivate me to this day to keep practicing and do the best that I can in piano. 






Comments

  1. Yumi LiuApril 30, 2025 at 11:38 AM

    Hi Ritisha, your blog was so heartwarming! I really like how you describe the power of language with something so relatable to daily life. I feel that it is so true that it is not what is being said that matters the most but the intentions and the situation around it. I was recently introduced to a family friend, and in Chinese culture we usually refer to older people that are not married with the term “older sister/ older brother” at the end. It was not my first time being called “older sister” by a younger girl, but what stood out to me was that the last time I saw her was that she was still a baby. I had the full opportunity to tell them that I held them as a baby before, but they don’t remember me. That day really stuck with me because it has made me realize how much I have grown and the people around me.

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  2. abdul_muhaiminApril 30, 2025 at 9:55 PM

    Hello Ritisha, This message has struck deep to me because I am moving again, I am doing Ohlone Connections. I have moved so many times in my life, that no place really does feel like home. I have changed schools or homes 3 times in the last 4 years, and therefore in my life at least, change is the only constant. I always stay just long enough to develop a great network of friends and connections, just for them to disappear as soon as we become “great friends.” And therefore as you described, I have a plethora of “certain words” and a myriad of memories that are close to my heart. I loved reading the impact of these emotionally charged instances and how they shape our character; giving us the will and courage to take tough decisions in our lives. Yet, I think you blog failed to outline the danger of these certain words, which destroy your life; leaving you a husk of your former self meant to haunt the world before the day of your death.

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  3. Michelle LiMay 1, 2025 at 5:08 PM

    Hi Ritisha! I completely agree that some memories stick with us more than others. I liked that you mentioned emotional impact as a deciding factor for which words our brain chooses to remember. I’d also like to bring up human bias towards negativity; we tend to remember things that made us feel embarrassed, sad, or another negative emotion. This bias evolved for human survival; remembering negative and life-threatening experiences helped ancient humans remedy their mistakes and avoid the same situations. But in the modern day, this bias alters our perception of important memories and makes us lie awake at night, thinking about our most humiliating moments.

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