The true art of memory is the art of attention.
It has happened to all of us: We read a paragraph or two of a book or article only to look away and realize, “I have no idea what I just read.” Perhaps we let our mind wander or began thinking of something else we needed to do, so we re-read the section, determined to pay more attention this time. Many, sadly, meander through their lives in such a state of detached aloofness. Memory is a function of attention, and attention is a function of alacrity. We must have something that draws us in and animates our spirit in order to have a happy and fulfilled life. When we do have—or find—this element within our life, our energy increases, our attention becomes more focused, and our memory suddenly improves.
—Mike Hazell
