Interpreting Memories Truthfully

I am confident most sane humans in the world can agree on at least one notion: without memory, life would be drastically different. Making progress in academic classes would be near impossible, the joy we share with friends would be short lived, and relationships we make would be identical to the featured couple in “Fifty First Dates”. Basically, the joy of having depth in our lives would be wiped away.
For this short essay I will revisit a memory of mine that had loomed over me for two and a half years. This memory’s influence in my life was drastic.
During my final football game of my final season in high school, I had my first opportunity to score my first touchdown for the varsity team. While playing linebacker on defense, I had cut through the line and watched a teammate sack the opposing quarterback. As both guys hit the turf, so did the football: a fumble. I ran by and scooped up the ball on my way to hit the end-zone for a score. While only 10 yards away, I clumsily slipped on a strip of mud and tackled myself. No score.
This bone-head play caused a series of self inflicted punishment. The embarrassment I felt in the years after caused me to identify myself as someone who folds under pressure and a weakling. My identity of myself had drastically shifted. I allowed how I remembered myself on the football field to play out into other facets of life. As with many unfortunate events, humans must learn that memory is only a piece of the puzzle to our identity. What happens in our past and how we remember it may not always be the most truthful definition of our lives. Since my blunder on the grid iron I have allowed other sources speak into my life help define my self worth.
My memory of being a klutz was not necessarily the truth of who I am. Trusted friends and mentors offer a greater insight to how you define yourself than memories. Memories offer an insight to who you are, interpreting those experiences truthfully offer a better insight.