Mind, Mood, and Memory

Among the usual daily dozen of unrequested marketing mailings that I find stuffed in my mailbox, I recently came across a poochy, padded envelope. Upon opening it, I found a general form letter of introduction, a logo-laden “2021” wall calendar; a large sheet of tiny return address stickers with my (often misspelled) name on each, and finally a stack of mass-mailed sales material offering me and many a $1-a-month subscription, titled, “Mind, Mood, & Memory” 

Initially quizzical about its purpose, I soon discovered that — even with it reflecting rather dense marketing approaches aimed to impress — its central content was sourced from Massachusetts General Hospital — rated tops in the field of aging and general health. 

“Mind, Mood, & Memory” aims to emphasize a healthy balance in one’s state of mind. This sustains physical energy and vitality, while reducing (or at least postponing) effects of aging.

Mind — Providing the means by which one centers one’s “world” via conscious, uplifting intent;
Mood — Noting temporary (often momentary) reactions that influence subconscious emotions;
Memory — Honing faculties for rehearsing, processing, then storing experiences from the past.

How opportune this reminder was!: Because, just a day before, I had rediscovered a rationale that I originally developed and taught to college music students years ago. And, for decades since, I have found it to be useful in my own meditations and other personal growth processes.

As an approach to releasing memories of personal challenges in the past, it provides a matrix for using literary sources as present-day templates to help retrain mindset, mood, and memory.

Here’s a good example of a text (song lyrics, in this case) that specifically presents this model: An aria here, from the modern pop opera, “Les Miserables”, begins with warm reminiscences of “times gone by” and then suddenly turns toward forlorn feelings of grief and anger, as follows: 

“I dreamed a dream in times gone by, When hope was high and life worth living.
I dreamed that Love would never die, I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Then I was young and unafraid; And dreams were made, and used, and wasted.
There was no ransom to be paid — No song unsung, no wine untasted.

“But the tigers come at night, with their voices soft as thunder.
As they tear your hope apart as they turn your dream to shame.
I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I’m living,
So different now from what it seemed; Life killed the dream I dreamed.”

Now, if this were a narrative of one of my own real-life experiences (albeit poetic), I would address the first four lines only, and change that text from past to future. Doing so would be worded as something like what follows herein below:

“I’ll Dream my Dream as Time goes by, While Hope is Nigh and Life IS Living.
I Know that Love will Never Die, I Know that God Gives Vast Abundance.

“Now I am Sage and Made Aware that We are Here for One Great Purpose,
And our Greatness shows by day, And our Voice Bespeaks Sheer Wonder.  

“There is No Contest to be Won, for there is Only Life Eternal.
And the Dream Here Now is Done. Love Abides Forevermore.” 

So, I ongoingly nurture my own writing style to focus and sustain a pure, positive expression of Love, Truth, and Life. In addition, I give keen attention to ranges of literary and other artistic sources (those from all eras and genres) that provide Inspiration and Life-sustainability for All.   

Your Generous & Gracious Input is Gratefully Received Anytime. as always …
— PenDell 

Listen to I Dreamed a Dream sung by Susan Boyle  — (Skip ads)