The Wellsprings of Memory

David Albert and Joyce Reed's "What Really Matters" column, published in Natural Life Magazine's March/April 2009 issue is entitled The Wellsprings of Memory. David investigates how the experiences of youth – both positive and negative – about life and learning create who we are as adults. Then, David and Joyce list some "wellsprings of memory" that they hope their life learning children carry with them into adulthood. He also asks readers to contribute theirs. Here are David's and Joyce's wellsprings, as well as those contributed by readers. After you've read the column, you can add yours to this page by emailing the editor.

David Albert:

• That with the advantages of our birth and upbringing comes a responsibility to others who lacked similar advantages;

• That we can tackle any task placed before us without fear of failure and that, more often than not, time, energy and effort can get us where we want to go;

• That we can learn from the example and experience of others and rejoice in the experience of others unlike ourselves;

• That we can experience joy in activities and pursuits at which we are not particularly “gifted” or which are not likely to be highly valued by many others;

• That love and learning go hand-in-hand.