Memory Markers

Every night when Greg and I walk we look forward to our neighbor's holiday decorations. Recently as we passed her yard the physical images of her pumpkins and ghosts immediately took me back to my first grade classroom. I immediately saw in my minds eye a memograph page with 5 little pumpkins and cute ghosts drawn on it. I then started singing this song, 

"Five little pumpkins sitting on a fence. 

The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late. 

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

The third one said, "I really don't care."

The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."

The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun."

Then woosh went the wind and out went the lights. The five little pumpkins rolled out of sight."

I am blown away how the simple memory image of the shapes brought back this entire song from when I was only 6 years old. I cannot remember my teachers face, name, or even the set up of the classroom. But what I do remember is the song, it was fun to sing, and the shapes are as real as if I coukd draw it today. Also, I know that when we did this song I felt happy and was having fun. I do remember the teacher leaning in and being quite dramatic with the woosh of the wind.

This moment is a profound reminder of why I do what I do. If I can teach a story with joy and find the memory marker for a person, it will help them recall the story years later when all they have is the memory marker for recall. 

I also want to point out the power of emotion. If I can provide a happy or joyful approach as I tell a story then that emotion will be attached to the memory and the recall. This is huge and critical because if all I do is tell the story bound to rules, restrictions, or seriousness the memory recall will not be joyful. How I teach, tell, and share a story will carry an emotional memory marker. We must keep this in mind as we teach. 

Last night as Greg and I watched a RomCom that had a historian, I said, "I think I would like to grow up to be a story teller!" I immediately started laughing as I realized, "I did! I am God's Bible story teller! The most important history lesson we could ever hear! 

Shalom! Shalom y'all!