Week 9: 3/21-27 Question 3

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading, that has not already been discussed during this discussion week, that you found useful or interesting, and discuss it.

The memory is the concept that I have found useful and interesting in the discussion. Harris and Sherblom say, “Everyone in good mental health has both short-term memory and long-term memory” (pp.140). I absolutely agree with the authors’ illustration because they enlighten all of us to understand our memories are derived by the good mental health. In order to keep our memories lasting for long time, we should know the healthy and functional brain is the main concern to support our memories. For example, a good and fitted pair of shoes can protect and keep our feet comfortable.

In terms of the memories, the short-term and long-terms memories are the two memories that let us to remember the things in our mind. Harris and Sherblom say, “Short term memory is our working memory. It lasts from 1 to 60 seconds and decides which incoming messages should be preserved” (pp.140). In the authors’ statement, I understand the short-term memory means the momentary memory that can only keep in our mind maxium in 60 seconds. In order to make use of this short-term memory, we try to remember the simple stuff, such as your home address and the driver license numbers that related to daily lives.

Beside the short-term memory, the long-term memory is the key to store our memories in our mind. Harris and Sherblom say, “If we are stimulated to process and store particular bits of information, those bits gain access to our long-term memory. Although this part of our memory is relatively unlimited in its capacity, the message must first gain entry” (pp.141). In these sentences, we understand the long-term memory can store in the unlimited capacity in our mind. In my previous blogs, I have mentioned that speaking English is my second language. In order to memorize the stuff in the lecture, I always take notes and high-light all important points in the book that might strengthen the long-term memory in my mind. In addition, I always use the different colour stickers to identify the chapters in the text book that let me to flip and look for the chapters easily. More importantly, these attractive color stickers can gain the first entry in my mind and keep my memories properly.

Undoubtedly, the memories will fade out depending on the age that is the usual practice in our body structure and health. In order to keep the short-term and long-term memories properly and longer, I suggest taking pictures and notes, writing the dairy and blogs, and recording the videos to strengthen our memories as well as the images in our minds.