when it all comes flooding back

Across the Bored was trying to recall the details of certain past events the other day and was surprised that, despite their importance, some had faded into near-nothingness. It’s not that they weren’t there, or had not been documented in many different ways, it was that they didn’t seem to rank particularly high without some sort of prompt to bring them back into focus. Recollection can be an odd lot, with some images and feelings so vivid that no matter how old they are they stay right in the front of the crammed filing cabinet of our memory – others, sadly, wind up jammed beneath the drawers and only surface when we do a good cleaning.

Conversations with three very different and unconnected people reminded us of this; that our memories, and in turn our perceptions of each day, are very much dependent on where we are on the curve. Our circles of influence rely much on what is floating in and out, which faces take on more significance, whose words drop into the bucket of our consciousness, even which melody informs our mood. As young adults, our lives were filled with an exotic newness and they played out against a changing soundtrack – we said sad goodbyes to the Woodstock era but still rebelled against the mainstream with a vengeance and were then hit in the face with an alternative 80s wake-up call that, yes indeed, the electricity needed to be paid and it was us holding the bill. A word, slogan or song had much impact on the direction we took, be it for that day or the coming years and so has prompted this fortnight’s Big 5 Challenge that asks:

“Who did you listen to?” – Parents or peers, punk or piano, the beat of your heart or steps in the street, politicians, revolutionaries, strangers that you’d meet…

We would love to know who influenced your youth.

For all those who are new readers to Across the Bored, here are some guidelines for the challenge: HOW DOES THIS WORK?

1.  I will post some commentary such as the above on one of the five Ws (WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN or WHY and sometimes HOW) and then ask you to respond on the same.
2. Your point of view on the current week’s challenge can take any form: a reply in the comment box, in a new post with a quote, a motto or saying, an essay, poem or opinion of yours or attributed to someone else, a piece of music, a song, a video, a work of art, photograph, graffiti, drawing or scribble – but it has to be about the topic!
3. Challenge yourself to dig deep for an answer.
4. The Challenge will be open for 14 days (there will be a reminder post at the 7 day mark) after which I will post another.
5. ENJOY, have FUN and TELL your friends and fellow bloggers.

SO – Create your Big 5 Challenge post

1. Then add a link to your blog in my comment box.
2. To make it easy for others to check out your post, title your blog post “The Big 5 Challenge” and add the same as a tag.
3. If you would like your reader to see what others are presenting for the same challenge, add a link to the “Big 5” challenge on your own blog.
4. Feel free to pick up your badge on The Big 5 Challenge page.
5. Remember to Follow to get your weekly (hopefully) reminders.