What remains of your past if you didn't allow yourself to feel it when it happened? If you don't have your experiences in the moment, if you gloss them over with jokes or zoom past them, you end up with curiously dispassionate memories.
David Rakoff, in his book "Fraud: Essays," explores the notion of how we process our past experiences. He poses a thought-provoking question about what is left of our memories if we refuse to fully engage with our emotions while those moments unfold. If we continually sidestep genuine feelings—whether through humor or avoidance—we risk developing a detachment from our own history.
This detachment can lead to memories that lack depth and passion, leaving us with a collection of events that feel curiously hollow. Rakoff suggests that truly experiencing life's moments is essential to forming meaningful recollections. By acknowledging our emotions in real time, we can create richer, more connected memories that inform our identity.
