I have a very weird skill of remembering exact dates of events. For example, when Steven says “when did we go skiing in Colorado?” I start to think of significant dates nearby and instantly remember that it was on Valentine’s Day/President’s Day weekend in February of 2009.
It works that way with any other event – I remember significant* dates around it and picture a calendar in my head until I figure it out.
Steven, however, is not very good at remembering dates, so I am in charge of birthdays/anniversaries/etc. I just read an interesting article about a very small study that showed people remember birthdays closest to their own. This is an example of the “self-reference effect” in memory, which makes memories you relate to easier to remember.
I think this might be true for Steven. He always seems to remember his friend’s/family’s birthdays in months around his (as well as remembering the one friend who has a birthday on Halloween).
Are you good at remembering dates (birthdays, events, etc.)? Do you think you are more likely to remember those closest to your own? Do you think this skill even matters?
Seriously, I do like being able to recall things, but having so much on information on my website, I can look up almost anything there too! And you can see most of your friends’ birthdays on Facebook… so… is there even a point in remembering things?
Speaking of remembering things, today is my nephew’s 6th birthday and my parent’s 31st wedding anniversary! Happy Birthday Nicholas (Nicky)! Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!
Here’s a picture of Steven with our nephew Nicky. Aww, isn’t Steven great with kids? (???)
And my parents…
Alright mom and dad, new goal – take more photos of you two! Where one of you, ahem, is not making faces. Most of the photos I have of you two look like this:
or this:
*I usually use “significant” dates of holidays, birthday and our engagement as milestones.
I am a date person. For some reason I can remember dates we did stuff/birthdays/anniversaries pretty easily. I can also usually remembers dates I made certain purchases like my car, laptop, camera, etc.
Joey on the other hand doesn’t even know what month it is most of the time. hehe.
I can remember dates of purchases too! We’re weird 😉
I’m pretty terrible with dates – I absolutely have to keep a calendar to remember anything. If I make an effort (and I do), I can memorize close friends’ and family members’ birthdays. Anniversaries though – forget about it! I actually also have a weird thing where if a person’s birthday is in the 20’s, I have more trouble remembering which exact day it is on (i.e. 28th, etc).
That’s interesting! I wonder what it is about the 20s…
I’m not the best with dates. And the longer I go between the event or celebrating a birthday regularly the more likely I am to forget! I’m impressed with your ability to remember things like that. Of course, you’re right, Facebook and having a blog certainly do help!
Oh, my gosh… I remember dates way more than I want to!! For example, I don’t really care to know that it’s my ex’s birthday, but every year, I can’t help but remember. The fact that it’s smack between my dad’s and my oldest niece’s birthdays doesn’t help…
<3 <3
I remember significant dates for people that are no longer in my life too. Lame.
I am good at remembering dates, just at the last minute like for example, my brother’s birthday is Saturday and I forgot to send him a card. But I will send him something!
“Alright mom and dad, new goal – take more photos of you two” Good luck with that! That is my best side you know. I did notice the last two were taken on cloudy/later evening times to keep the glare down.
I am going to try! You will regret it someday when you don’t have more pics 🙂
Maybe I can get one of those fancy cameras that diffuses glare for all the other shots though.
I Am really good at remembering dates. I was in school for seven years so before I would just think of what semester I was in (ie, second year of law school, first semester) and I could pin down a date. Now that I’ve been working for three years I just think about the major events that were happening. It isn’t as easy though! But yes, I am definitely the “date keeper” in my marriage, haha.
Ha! That is totally how I do it too (was in Architecture school for five years). I remember when we got engaged because it was the semester before we traveled to NYC. Weird how our memories work!
My mom is just like you. She is forever saying, “10 years ago today we….” or something similar.
I, however, have an extremely crappy memory. Period.
I am really good with dates and people say that I have a freakishly good memory in general. My aunt and I joke that I am the “Melephant” (As in, “an elephant never forgets”, and my first name is “Melissa”)…haha
For significant events I can also often remember what I was wearing (even when there is not documented proof of the outfit). For example, when I was running through Disney Studios this weekend we came up on the “New York” backdrop, I actually had the thought “I remember this back drop from when we came here when I was 10. And I remember wearing black shorts and a Mickey t-shirt and Mickey “stick on” earrings b/c my ears weren’t pierced yet…” Freakishly weird!
Oh wow! You can remember what you were wearing Melephant? (LOL) That is too cool!
I have a very uncanny ability to remember dates. I remember birthdays for friends I haven’t seen in ten years. I remember all sorts of weird things. Sometimes, I’m not even conscious of the memory, but when the day comes, it occurs to me that it is something “important” and then it clicks. Very odd.
I always remember ex’s birthdays. Lame!
I am a date person, too. I remember dates exactly the way you do, but sometimes, there are just certain birthdays or anniversaries that I just can’t get to stick in my head. No idea why!
I am pretty good at remembering dates. The one that always eludes me is my stepfather-in-law’s … I don’t know why, but October 9 never pops out at me. Thank goodness for calendars!
I do the same thing as you mentioned in the first paragraph of this post. It’s getting a little harder, though, as I get older. There’s a lot more stuff to remember! And we go places fairly frequently because (1) I like to vacation and (2) our families are spread out all over the place. So, I can remember if something happened at Christmas or Thanksgiving and where we were, for example, but I can’t always tell you what year it happened. 🙂
I’m good with dates but most of my life I’ve been surrounded by people who aren’t. Used to bother me but not so much now. Also slowly untraining myself from remembering dates I prefer not to recall.
Thanks for the Happy Anniversary. I wish you had a better picture of us, maybe one with some more clothes on. We are such big goobers.
Ha. That is what I am saying mom – we need to take more pics!
I never forget a birthday, anniversary or death. My mom says its like Rainman with me!
I’m pretty good at remembering dates– birthdays, anniversaries, phone numbers (although my phone does a good job these days, haha!)