Psychology says people who still remember exactly where they were when JFK was shot or 9/11 happened aren't clinging to a date on the calendar - they're carrying the exact coordinates of the moment their understanding of the world was permanently rewritten, and the reason those details never fade is because your brain wasn't recording the tragedy, it was recording the last version of you that existed before you knew the world could break like that - Silicon Canals

"Flashbulb memories are memories that are affected by our emotional state. Your brain takes a snapshot when the ground shifts under your feet, and that snapshot includes everything—the smell of coffee going cold in your cup holder, the static on the radio, the way your hands suddenly felt too heavy."

"I can barely remember what I had for lunch last week, but I can tell you exactly where I was standing when the second plane hit. That moment sits in my mind like a photograph someone nailed to the wall."

"My father came home that night and didn't say a word about it. Just sat in his chair and watched the news. But I saw something in his face I'd never seen before—like he was recalculating everything, trying to figure out what kind of world his kids were growing up in now."

Flashbulb memories are deeply ingrained recollections formed during significant emotional events. They capture not only the event itself but also sensory details surrounding it. The author recalls moments from 9/11 and the assassination of JFK, emphasizing how these memories remain vivid and impactful. The emotional weight of these experiences shapes perceptions of the world, as seen in the reactions of those around during such events. Unlike ordinary memories, flashbulb memories do not fade, preserving the details of the moment in a unique way.

Read at Silicon Canals