How to Capture a Memory Before It Slips Away
Have you ever had a memory pop into your head, clear as day, and then poof, it’s gone? Of course you have. I mean, I’m at the age where I forget why I walked into the kitchen at least twice a day.
But let’s think about the memories for a minute. Maybe it’s a flash of a conversation Or the smell of a certain soap that instantly takes you back to your grandmother’s house. Or a moment you hadn’t thought about in years that suddenly feels so vivid. And then, just as quickly, it fades.
Well, you don’t have to lose those moments. You just need a few simple tools to help you grab them before they disappear.
Here’s how I’ve done it, and I hope it can help you.
1. Write it down immediately.
Yes, I know. Obvious. But most people don’t do it. The easiest way I’ve found is to just open the Notes app on my phone, since we always seem to have them nearby.
You don’t the perfect sentence… just get the bones of it down. When you look at it later, it will pop right back into your head.
If possible, include:
Where you were
What you felt
What triggered the memory (a song, a smell, a phrase?)
The core moment or image
You can clean it up later. The goal is to catch it while it’s alive.
2. Use your voice (literally).
If you’re out walking the dog or driving and a memory hits you, just open your voice memo app and talk. You don’t have to narrate beautifully. Just talk like you’re telling a friend:
“Okay, I just remembered this time when I was six and I got lost in the grocery store and thought I’d been abandoned forever…”
That’s gold. That’s raw material. And it’s you, exactly as you sound.
Later, you can transcribe it, revisit it, or hand it to someone like me who can help shape it into a beautiful story.
3. Let photos and objects do the prompting.
If memories don’t come to you easily, just grab an old photo album or your phone’s camera roll, or open a drawer of keepsakes. Then sit with it for a few minutes. Nine times out of ten, something will rise to the surface:
“Oh wow, I forgot I used to wear that coat all the time in college…”
“That was the day we moved into our first house. I was terrified and pretending to be fine.”
When the memory stirs, write a few lines. Or again, just speak it into your phone.
Sometimes, the memory is in your body before it’s in your mind. Give it a way to surface.
4. Create a “memory inbox.”
This is one of my favorite tricks. Set up a running list somewhere—a Notes app, a journal, a Google Doc—where you can jot down memories as they come.
Don’t worry about writing the full story. Just write a line or two:
“That summer I lived on peanut butter sandwiches and fell in love with someone who made me laugh.”
“Mom’s perfume on Easter Sunday.”
“The sound of screen doors slamming shut at the lake cabin.”
Later, you can go back and choose which ones to explore more deeply. But at least they won’t vanish. I do this all the time with my own work, and it’s super helpful.
5. Keep a “memory box.”
No, not metaphorically. A real one. Toss in old letters, receipts, photos, postcards, ticket stubs... these objects can be surprisingly powerful story starters.
Then once a month (or whenever you feel like it), set a timer for 10 minutes, pull something out, and ask yourself:
Where did this come from?
What season of life does it belong to?
What’s the story behind it?
You don’t need to write an essay. Just reconnect. Let it lead you.
The point isn’t perfection. It’s presence.
You don’t have to get every memory right. You don’t even have to get every detail right. What matters is that you’re catching the feeling, the heartbeat, the truth of the moment.
Because that’s the magic of storytelling. It brings you back to yourself.
And if you ever want help turning those little sparks into something lasting, I’d be honored to help you shape them.
