The Way We Were

When I heard Robert Redford had died last year, my mind filled with a vivid memory.

In the fall of 1973, three 15-year-old girls were going to the movies to see The Way We Were. Mainly to take in the gorgeousness of Robert Redford! As we were getting into the car after the movie, we were sobbing so much my mom was worried something horrible had happened. Nope. Unless beginning to learn about the complicated beauty and heartbreak of love is something horrible, which it kind of is! To this day, whenever I hear that song, I still cry.

Reminiscing happens frequently as we age, and it is not unusual for older people to remember with clarity things that happened in their formative years.

This is called the “Reminiscence Bump.” A study I found in the National Library of Medicine defines it as, “a tendency for middle-aged and elderly people to access more personal memories from approximately 10–30 years of age.” In other words, our memories tend to focus on our formative years, mainly because we experience a lot of “firsts” that form who we are.

Researchers also found that reminiscing is helpful for our mental health as we get older. According to an article by Caring Senior Service, there are nine benefits:

1. Preserves family history
2. Helps improve coping skills
3. Reduces symptoms of depression
4. Promotes physical health
5. Works through unresolved conflicts
6. Eliminates boredom
7. Improves communication skills
8. Reduces stress
9. Enhances self-esteem

Importantly, the articles I read emphasized keeping a positive focus and not dwelling on regrets.

Many psychologists have also developed reminiscence therapy. Indeed, over the past few years, I have used reminiscing as a tool to help me deal with childhood issues. It wasn’t always fun or easy, but sorting through my memories has helped me:

• Put things in perspective,
• Appreciate the strengths I gained through life in survival mode,
• Realize what I have learned and how I have grown.
• Allowed me to focus on the good and
• Release the bad.
• Learn my history was for a purpose.

Appreciate your walks down memory lane and all the experiences that have made you, you!

Fun Facts about The Way We Were from Wikipedia:
“A box-office success, the film was nominated for several awards and won the Academy Awards for Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Original Song for the theme song “The Way We Were”. It ranked at number six on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Passions survey of the top 100 greatest love stories in American cinema. The Way We Were is considered one of the great romantic films.”

Here is the ending scene of the movie—keep some tissues handy! 😭

“I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.” Psalm 143:5