My dad always told me to have a short memory, whether things are

Host:
The sound of the rain outside had softened, its rhythm against the windows providing a gentle backdrop to the quiet hum of the café. Inside, the atmosphere was calm and inviting, the soft glow of the lamps casting warm light across the tables. Jack sat with his coffee cup cradled in his hands, his gaze fixed on the surface of his drink, lost in thought. Across from him, Jeeny watched him quietly, sensing that something had caught his attention.

Finally, Jack spoke, his voice reflective, almost contemplative.

Jack:
"I came across this quote today by Carey Price. He said, ‘My dad always told me to have a short memory, whether things are going good or bad.’” He paused, his eyes lifting to meet hers. "It made me think about how often we dwell on things, both the good and the bad. Whether it’s a mistake we made or a success we’ve had, we tend to hold on to it. But what if the key to moving forward is just to let go, to not let the past define us? To have a short memory, as Carey’s dad suggests? What do you think about that?"

Jeeny:
Her eyes softened, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her tea cup. "I think that’s powerful advice, Jack. It’s so easy to get stuck in the past, whether we’re replaying a mistake or basking in past success. We carry it with us, and it weighs us down. But having a short memory means not letting those things, good or bad, define how we move forward. It’s like letting go of the emotional baggage that doesn’t serve us anymore, allowing ourselves the space to grow and be present."

Jack:
He nodded, his expression becoming more thoughtful as he processed her words. "Yeah, but I guess the challenge is not getting lost in that either, right? It’s easy to say, ‘I’ll forget the bad things,’ but sometimes it feels like we need to remember the lessons, especially from the mistakes. If we forget too much, do we risk repeating them?" He paused, his eyes drifting to the window as the rain continued its soft drumming. "It’s tricky — balancing memory and moving on."

Host:
The world outside continued to move with its usual rhythm, but the conversation between Jack and Jeeny had entered a quieter, more reflective space. The café, with its soft lighting and peaceful atmosphere, felt like the perfect place to explore the complexities of memory and how it shapes the way we approach life.

Jeeny:
Her gaze was steady, her voice calm but firm. "I think it’s about perspective, Jack. It’s not about forgetting everything, but about choosing what to carry with us. The good and the bad — we can choose how they shape us. If we hold on too tightly to either, we lose the ability to live fully in the present. A short memory doesn’t mean we erase everything; it just means we don’t let the past control us. We let it inform us, but we don’t let it define us." She smiled softly, as if offering a simple truth. "We learn from the past, but we don’t live in it. The only moment we truly have is now."

Jack:
He exhaled, his expression softening as he took in her words. "So, it's not about forgetting everything, but about letting go of what doesn’t help us. Taking the lessons and leaving behind the emotional baggage that holds us back." He smiled slightly, a quiet understanding settling in. "It’s about moving forward with a clean slate, without letting the past — good or bad — weigh us down."

Jeeny:
Her eyes warmed, and she nodded, her smile gentle but full of conviction. "Exactly, Jack. The beauty of having a short memory is that we free ourselves to be who we are now, to live fully in this moment, without the burden of yesterday’s mistakes or yesterday’s triumphs. We make room for today."

Host:
The rain outside had almost stopped, leaving the world in a quiet stillness. Inside, Jack and Jeeny had found a shared understanding — that holding on to the past, whether it’s failure or success, can prevent us from fully embracing the present. By practicing a "short memory," we give ourselves permission to move forward, to live in the now, and to shape our future with the freedom of not being weighed down by what has already passed.

As the evening continued, they both understood that growth and peace come not from forgetting, but from choosing what to carry with us and what to release. And in that release, we create the space to live fully in each new moment.