We recently watched the second season of Nine Perfect Strangers, a drama/mystery about people going to a resort to work through their troubles. Instead of the sunny paradise of season one, Nicole Kidman’s character invites the new guests to the frigid cold of Bavaria, an interesting change in scenery.
The show focuses on the use of psychadelic drugs (mushrooms) to help people work through trauma. It treats the human brain as a memory bank that can be unlocked with the right tincture, allowing you to relive specific memories of your choice.
I haven’t done (nor do I plan to do) mushrooms, nor do I think they work exactly like this, but it’s an intriguing fictional premise: If something (organic, technological, etc) allowed you to safely revisit and relive past memories, would you?
I sometimes think back about sport highlights (my high school soccer days, intermural football and ultimate frisbee in college, etc)–I would enjoy experiencing them more than just in my mind’s eye. I’d also gladly relive quality time with my dad and Biddy. I wouldn’t want to neglect my current reality and get caught up in the past, but it would be really nice to be near those loved ones (and others) from time to time.
I’m not sure if there are any painful moments I’d like to relive, though. My brain dredges them up on occasion without the need for outside assistance, and that’s enough for me. I’d rather focus on happy memories, or perhaps things where I’m not sure I remember them correctly.
What do you think?