Why is memory useful?

Memory is what allows you to learn from past experiences. 

If you didn’t have any memory abilities, then you would have no way to get better at tasks. Every time that you picked up your pencil, it would feel strange to you, and you would not know its purpose.

You also wouldn’t be able to remember what had happened to you previously: You wouldn’t know what you wore yesterday, or what happened on your last birthday.

The world would be a confusing place without memory: you might look in the refrigerator for your clothes and in your closet for a snack!

Without memory, you also would not be able to think about the future!

Imagine picking out an outfit to wear tomorrow. You have to remember where to find your clothes. You need to know what season it is, and the usual temperature of that season, so you choose an outfit that will keep you comfortable. You may recall your weekly class schedule and realize you need to wear gym shoes tomorrow. Specific memories may be helpful as well: Perhaps you select a shirt and then remember that the last time you wore it, it felt uncomfortably itchy. This memory may cause you to select a different shirt to wear. 

Or, imagine how you want to celebrate your upcoming birthday. Notice the ways you are using your memory. Perhaps you recall the date of your birthday and what the weather is typically like that time of year. Maybe you think of people you’ve enjoyed spending time with in the past. Perhaps you recall past birthday celebrations and want to repeat some of what you found most enjoyable about the day. It is by using your memory in all these different ways that you can make a plan for your upcoming birthday. 

So, memory is useful not just because it helps us remember what’s happened in the past. That knowledge also helps us to make sense of the current moment and to plan for the future!