The Importance of Remembering Your Phone Number: A Personal Reflection
Numbers can have a peculiar way of sticking with us, perhaps due to their repeated use or cognitive significance. For many of us, certain phone numbers have a special place in our memory banks, especially those associated with family, work, and home addresses. I, for one, tend to remember a surprising array of numbers, from my childhood phone number to my current credit cards. Let's delve into this interesting phenomenon and explore why remembering your phone number is crucial.
Numbers That Stick: My Personal Story
As someone with a near-obsessive interest in number sequences, I can confidently say that I remember my phone number. I also recall the phone numbers of my family members, my MCP card, my Newfoundland health card, and even my hospital file number for central Newfoundland. Back in the day, when I was just four years old, I even remembered all the addresses I had lived at, including the postal codes. Over the years, I have retained the numbers of my Social Security Number (SSN) and Canadian SIN, as well as my various credit and debit card details, including expiration dates and CVV numbers. In fact, if I come across a number in a sequence, it usually gets stored away in my mental Rolodex, where it lingers till it finds its place.
So, to answer the question, "Do you remember your own phone number?" My response is a resounding yes. Assuming I don't suffer some sort of unfortunate amnesia, a calamity, or a health condition that impairs my memory, I would hope to retain my phone numbers for the entirety of my life. Life is unpredictable, and there may come a time when I need to call an emergency contact, and I don't want such a simple task to be a source of frustration or delay.
A Personal Anecdote
My mom's phone number from the 1960s still pops into my head, even though it has been decades since we moved away. It's astonishing to think about how easily I can recall information that might seem trivial to others. For instance, the two VoIP numbers at my current home (formerly traditional land lines), my cell phone, and my work number (which is also a cell phone) – all of these numbers are ingrained in my memory.
A Change in Perspective
On the other hand, I recently talked to a friend who has a notoriously bad memory. Despite having had the same phone number for about 5-6 years, they only started to remember it when they had to provide it for sign-ups and other formalities. This friend is now worried that they might forget the number and be unable to secure a new one. Interestingly, in today's digital age with smartphones and cloud services, perhaps it is becoming less critical for individuals to know their phone numbers as thoroughly as it was before.
Concluding Thoughts
No matter how technology advances or how our lives change, it is always a good idea to remember your own phone number. It could be a valuable tool in an emergency or even in a routine situation. My memories of the past underscore the significance of retaining such details and may even serve to remind me of significant moments in my life. After all, if you can't remember your own phone number, it might mean an opportunity passed, or worse, it could even mean life or death someday. At 58, and without any signs of Alzheimer's, I still remember the old telephone number I shared with my parents when I was a teenager. So, make a point to remember your phone number, and keep it secure in your mind.