What Mel Did
What Mel Did - Wouldn't take nothing for my journey now - Happisburgh beach

Wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now

Apparently, a team of brain zappers in Toronto are able to isolate cells that carry fear-based memories. Tested on lab mice, the rodents could recall everything except a targeted fear memory.

New research claims that erasing painful memories may be possible. Published on my birthday, ironically, online magazine Civilised asks:

“What if, instead of spending big bucks on therapy and medication to help you get over a traumatic incident, you could simply have the painful memory zapped right out of your brain?”

Apparently, a team of brain zappers in Toronto are able to isolate cells that carry fear-based memories. Tested on lab mice, the rodents could recall everything except a targeted fear memory.

I reflected all week on the question. If I could erase every painful memory – some of which still dig deep – would I?

And what of the ethical considerations of such erasure, albeit I’m a little fuzzy right now as to what human right(s) it might contravene.

But were such a treatment free of inconvenient rights and ethical issues, there are situations where I could possibly see the benefit. Children born into a life of early abuse, maybe, where their situation may go on to inform a dysfunctional adulthood. Dysfunction which may later harm innocent others…

Looking back on some of the shite that happened in my own life, a memory zapping taser would have come in mighty handy at times, thank you very much.

That said, these painful memories have gone on to inform me about people, situations and, for good or ill, has made me who I am today.

Let’s take people. I have met (on the face of it) some wonderful human beings. However, a deep memory will sometimes advise caution because it recognises some ill-fated signs from the past. If I erase my painful memories, where be my helpful signposting to spot the gits that walk among us?

So, in the words of Maya Angelou, I probably “Wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.” Meaning, taking no inducement to have had a different life journey.

I’ll forgo the brain zapping, then, and not erase those things which made me who I am… and the memory of how I got there.

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