Blog by Tracy Stock, CSP

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking in Orlando, Florida as the opening keynote speaker for a conference. I flew down early the day before as I usually do, and had almost a full day to experience the Sunshine State. Given the city I was in, I decided to enjoy a walk down memory lane at Walt Disney World—Magic Kingdom, specifically.

As a young child, there was only one feeling that described the awe I felt upon entering the park — sheer happiness. Being with my family in the “Happiest Place on Earth” was truly exhilarating! One of my fondest memories was catching a glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle for the first time and saying in amazement, “Wow! A real castle!”

Memories play a crucial role in shaping our identities and help us understand who we are and where we came from. They shape our life stories, beliefs, values and personality traits. They give us a glimpse into our history and allow us to understand and appreciate our journey. Whether it’s our first kiss, graduation, or a family vacation [to Disney World], our memories give us insight into the defining moments in our lives.

Five key—or magical—points about memories include:

1. They help us learn from our experiences. When we reflect on memories, we can recognize the successes and failures of our past actions and make adjustments to improve our current and future choices. For example, remembering a mistake we made in a previous job can lead to better performance in an existing role.
2. Memories are influenced by our biases, emotions, and interpretations of events. Two people may experience the same event, but their memories may differ because of these factors. For example, a family dinner may be remembered by one person as a warm and joyful event but by another as stressful and uncomfortable. These differences in how we process and recall memories contribute to our unique experiences and perspectives.
3. Reminiscing about happy memories can help us cultivate gratitude and appreciate the good things in our lives. Focusing on what we have experienced and accomplished can divert our attention from negative experiences and develop a more positive outlook. This, in turn, can help us find happiness in the present, as we are more likely to appreciate and savor the positive experiences we have.
4. Memories promote self-awareness. Memories can lead to better self-awareness and understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses. Whether through keeping a journal, reminiscing with friends and family, or simply reflecting on past events, engaging with our memories can help us better understand who we are and what drives us.
5. Memories strengthen our resilience. Memories can be a source of comfort and encouragement in the present, helping us face new challenges with greater confidence and determination. Whether it’s a personal accomplishment or a difficult situation we’ve overcome, memories remind us of our past triumphs. This can help us become more resilient in the face of new challenges.  

Whether your memory involves meeting your best friend (or your favorite character), experiencing a spectacular event (like watching the sky light up with Happily Ever After fireworks) or seeing something unbelievable for the first time (like Cinderella’s Castle), creating magical moments and then reflecting on those memories help us to feel close to those we’ve lost, treasure those who are still with us, and look forward to meeting those who we haven’t yet had the pleasure of encountering.

Blog by Tracy Stock, CSP

Do you ever arrive at a location and wonder how you got there? I realize you know you drove there; however, you don’t actually remember yourself physically driving your vehicle from point A to point B. This may happen because the driving route is so habitual or it may occur because you frequently operate in a half-awake zone—as if on autopilot. Sadly, when you trudge through life without being present or choosing to live in the moment, you miss out on everyday amazing experiences.

But when someone says, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” we stop, become present, and pay attention to that moment. Why? Because the four undeniably powerful words of “once-in-a-lifetime” is an idiom that relates to something that is very rare; an opportunity that comes along only once in a lifetime. After all, this is how creating a bucket list became so important—to make time for those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you definitely want to see/do before you kick the bucket (AKA die).

But is there a way to learn how to be more present, live in the moment and experience the feeling—or leverage the advantages—of once-in-a-lifetime experiences in everyday, common situations? There definitely is!

Smartphones, for example, are huge daily distractions. They continuously tempt us to look away and divert our attention from the person in front of us. But if you resist that temptation and put your phone away when others speak to you, you send a powerful message: that you value what they have to say and you want to give them your full attention. It also provides you the opportunity to learn something from that interaction. This opportunity—even if it is one you’ve seen before, the result of it will likely differ, which then becomes essentially a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So the lesson here is that every moment you encounter is unique and has value. And when you recognize that, you can take time to reflect on each key experience as you have it, and afterwards, too. Allow yourself to become absorbed in the moment and then take time to reflect on what it meant to you. Doing so helps to etch the experience in your mind, allowing you to draw on it in the future, reflect, and learn from past events.

A few examples include: Hearing a loved one crack up over a side-splitting video on YouTube; or me tripping over a power cord after presenting to a group and losing all power to the room—oops!; or walking in the kitchen to find my dog feverishly devouring a tiered cupcake tower I was planning to surprise a friend with for her birthday; or in the midst of our family eating Thanksgiving dinner a young boy (who will remain nameless) says, “Today I found Riley (his dog) licking this turkey on the floor—but don’t worry, I picked it up and put it back on the plate to finish thawing out.”

Clearly, not all experiences are positive. This is true. But even if you view an experience as negative, the memory can still prove valuable. It can help you to remember people, places, and situations you want to avoid, or strategies and techniques to help you persevere through tough experiences.

So, today, tomorrow, and in the days to come, I encourage you to remember those four powerful words. If you do, you’ll move toward appreciating each moment more fully, whether good or bad, for what it is—an opportunity to be present. A unique moment in time, rarely repeated. And most of all, an opportunity to learn. Allow yourself to experience more precious moments every day Choose to notice and appreciate them for what they are: Once-in-a-lifetime.