I've always been fascinated by memory and dreams because they are

Here is an ancient-style reflection on Lois Lowry’s quote:

The Sacred Solitude of Memory and Dream

When Lois Lowry said, “I’ve always been fascinated by memory and dreams because they are both completely our own. No one else has the same memories. No one has the same dreams,” she spoke to one of the most mysterious and divine truths of human existence — that within each of us lies an inner world, vast and unrepeatable, a landscape known only to the soul that inhabits it. Her words shimmer like a quiet flame in the darkness, reminding us that though we walk together in the outer world, each of us carries within the secret universe of our mind, known to no one else in its fullness.

The meaning of her words lies in this revelation: that memory and dream are the twin mirrors of the self — one reflecting what has been, the other reflecting what might yet be. In memory, the past breathes again; in dreams, the future whispers its possibilities. And though the world may share its roads and its skies, no two souls share the same path through the corridors of thought and imagination. Even those who have lived the same event remember it differently, for memory is not a record but a reflection, shaped by emotion, perception, and longing.

The origin of Lowry’s wisdom flows from her lifelong meditation on individuality and the power of remembrance. In her work, particularly in The Giver, she imagines a world where memory is stripped from the people — and in doing so, she shows that without memory and dreams, humanity itself is hollowed out. For our private visions, our recollections of joy and pain, are what make us truly alive. To remember is to possess the soul’s inheritance; to dream is to create new worlds from that inheritance. The uniqueness of both is the foundation of freedom — the sacred right to think, feel, and imagine as only we can.

The ancients, too, knew that dreams and memory are sacred gifts. They believed dreams were messages from the gods — visions sent to guide, warn, or bless the dreamer. Consider the story of Joseph in the old scriptures, who rose from bondage to greatness through the power of dreams. His ability to understand them was his salvation, for through dreams he discerned truth that others could not see. Yet even Joseph’s gift was personal — he could interpret another’s dream, but he could never share their experience of it. The dream, like memory, belongs to the individual alone, a flame burning within the temple of one’s own mind.

There is a profound beauty in this solitude. In an age when the world clamors for shared experience, where voices merge and identities blur in the noise of crowds, Lowry’s insight reminds us that our truest essence cannot be copied or consumed. Each person’s memory is a sacred archive — every sorrow, every triumph a unique thread in the fabric of being. Likewise, each dream is an act of creation — a glimpse into what the soul desires beyond the bounds of reason. To honor our memories and dreams, therefore, is to honor the divine spark within ourselves.

But there is also a gentle warning in her words. Because no one can truly see into our dreams or walk through our memories, we must learn to share compassion without assumption. We cannot know the full weight of another’s sorrow, nor the radiance of their joy, for their memories are not ours. Thus, empathy — the bridge between souls — must be built through imagination, the very power born of dreaming. To imagine what another has felt is the beginning of understanding; to dismiss their inner world is to live as though only our own light matters.

Therefore, O listener, take this wisdom as your guide: cherish the memories that have shaped you and the dreams that call you forward. Guard them, but do not hoard them — let them teach you humility and empathy. Reflect upon your past with gratitude, for it is the soil from which your strength has grown. Nurture your dreams with courage, for they are the stars that guide your becoming. And remember always: no one can dream your dreams for you, and no one can carry your memories as you do. In this solitude lies your greatest power — the power to know yourself, to create, and to love deeply.

For though the world may be vast and filled with countless voices, only one consciousness — your own — can weave the story that is yours. That is the miracle of existence, the eternal individuality of the soul. And as Lois Lowry reminds us, in that individuality lies both mystery and meaning — for memory and dream are not just fragments of our lives, but the music of eternity playing through the instrument of the self.