Since the beginning of time, man has accumulated information. Historical finds have documented this fact with discoveries in art, writing, the printed word, and song. Due to limited literacy, most societies have relied at least somewhat on oral tradition and memorization to capture and retain the important things. With the advent of the Internet, handheld computers, and cloud-based storage, the result has been the “outsourcing” of memory. We now load pertinent knowledge to external sources for retrieval on demand. Because of this ability to quickly and easily access almost anything online, it seems logical to ask what—if anything—is worth memorizing?
Obviously, it is unrealistic to memorize everything. However, there are times when having the ability to easily pull a fact from memory is both quicker and more productive than looking something up. In addition, in the unexpected event of restricted access to stored information, (e.g. theft, power failure, hard-drive damage, loss of a phone, hacked account, etc.), there are certain pieces of data that it would be helpful to know.
Whether for convenience, preparedness, or pleasure, here is a list of things that are worth committing to memory.
Things Worth Memorizing
BLUE = for my students
Important Numbers
Social Security number
A major credit card number, CCV (security code) and expiration date
Debit card number and pin
Your license plate number
Passwords you frequently use/change
Combination for locker/bicycle lock/garage door
Alarm code
Home and cell phone numbers for yourself and key family members
Nearby pharmacy number
Your attorney’s phone number
Passport number
Driver’s license number
Wifi password for your home and office
Basic Facts
1 inch = 2.54 cm
32 degrees F = 0 degrees Celsius
5280 feet = 1 mile (think of the phrase ‘5 Tomatoes’)
4 quarts in a gallon, 2 pints in a quart
Multiplication table
About You
Your address and those of close family members
Address of key locations
Family birthdays
Anniversary date
Your blood type (and that of your spouse & children)
Current medications and dosages
Citizenship
Your rights (e.g. Miranda Rights, Bill of Rights)
Words to your national anthem (e.g. The Star Spangled Banner)
Names of your country’s leaders, both current & historical (e.g. US Presidents)
Inspiration
Meaningful scripture verses
Favorite poems
A good joke
A guy walks into a bar and asks the bartender, “What’s the quickest way to get to Chicago?”
The Bartender says, “Are you walking or driving?”
The guy says, “I’m driving.”
The Bartender says, “That’s the quickest way.” ~ Milt Abel
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Mnemonic devices are key to helping us with memorization. Music, rhymes and acronyms are all helpful. Find your best memory devices and go for it!
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