HOW TO REMEMBER ALL THOSE NAMES AND FACES YOU KEEP FORGETTING (2)

(new addition to blog each Monday and Thursday) *This is second installement in thiis series.
This next suggestion is a little more complicated since it has two parts; it puts your powers of observation to work and requires you to remember to make notes later on. To whatever degree you are comfortable, notice the outstanding features of the new face in front of you. Are the eyes small and hidden behind heavy lids? Do they sparkle or seem half asleep? Are they big and blue, deep and brown, almost hazy? We all have something rather distinctive about our features: square jaws or high forwards or big or thin lips. We have wavy or straight hair, or thick hair or no hair. We have bushy eyebrows or eyebrows so pale they are almost non-existent. Large noses or small noses. Big ears or small ears. Don’t stare, obviously. But also don’t fail to focus.

I realize that during this moment in time you are trying to keep up your end of a conversation but that is what memory is all about. And the more you use it, the better you’ll get at it. Soon you’ll be good enough to be able to describe the burglar who just robbed you to your local constable.

Now for part two; as soon as you can, take out the pen and little notebook you have decided to always now carry with you, write down the name and the outstanding characteristics of this person. We’re back to repetition again and your obvious desire to remember rather than make excuses. And, yes, pull out that notebook for name refreshment. It isn’t cheating, it’s reinvigorating.

Start a file in your computer with a list of places you’ve been and under each place keep adding new names with all the above suggestions to clarify them in your head. Then before you go to church, or a meeting or at work to see again the new employee check the name or names out. It’s extra work but it’s worth it. You really will be appreciated and loved for this new found ability.

Will it work? To a greater or lesser degree. But then if you remember twice as many names as normal isn’t it worth the effort?