Diary – Do I remember?

July 21st 2025

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Do i remember the places i have been or are photos my memory?

Most of us will have shared little moments on social media, like a meal, a flower, a place, or a very special event .

Are we relying more on photos to remember our experiences than our own memory.

Smartphone make it so easy to capture anything these days, as we scroll through our camera rolls which are filled with thousands of images, I question…Do I really remember the details of each and every moment, or am I simply relying on my photos as visual cues to trigger my memory?

It’s a fascinating really, how i have become to have a relationship with my photos. They really do serve as powerful reminders of my past experiences, they can allow me to revisit and relive moments that may have otherwise faded from my memory.

A simple glance at a photo has the power to transport me back in time to the place or whoever I was with.

When you live with dementia like I do, having a camera or smartphone gives you the ability to savour that moment again and again.

I don’t use my camera or phone to create the perfect shot, I don’t use effects, take out trees, change colours, add things. I want my photos to be what I see at that precise moment, because that is my true memory…It’s no good changing anything, that wouldn’t be my genuine memory.

I suppose now I remember more through my photos, even though some of my memories through a photograph are leaving me…Yes I do rely on my photos quite a lot, I can’t rely on my own memory, my sidekick plays games with that!

I can still cherish the real moments as they happen and I do create lots of meaningful connections with the world around me, especially nature.

Next time you reach for your camera or smartphone to capture a special moment…Just take a pause and ask yourself…Are you truly experiencing the moment, nothings perfect keep things real, because that photo will be your genuine memory.