Have you ever walked into the kitchen with full confidence you were on a mission, only to stand there staring at the counter wondering why you were in the kitchen?

I do that more than I care to admit.

Now here’s the funny part: I may not remember why I walked into the kitchen, but I can remember every single word of a favorite song from the 1960’s. Don’t ask me where my keys are, but if any of the golden oldies start playing, I am singing along and pushing my grocery cart with a little bit more motion.

It really is something, isn’t it? How our minds work.

The Great Mystery of Memory

Memory is strange and kind of wonderful. One minute your brain is misplacing a simple thought like, “I came in here for a spoon,” and the next minute it’s pulling out song lyrics from decades ago like it stored them in a labeled file folder.

And the funniest part is—we all store different things.

I have a friend whose memory amazes me. She remembers all the kids her children went to school with—their names, their spouses’ names, and even their kids’ names. I’m not even sure I remember what I had for lunch yesterday, but she could probably tell you who sat next to who in third grade and what they’re doing now.

Meanwhile, my mind has chosen a different specialty.

My Brain: “Important information? No. Classic music? Yes.”

If you grew up with the music of the 60s and 70s, you know what I mean. Those songs weren’t just background noise; they were part of life. They came through car radios, kitchen radios, and living room speakers while people cooked, cleaned, and lived ordinary lives. I still listen to and enjoy the music from my childhood.

It’s attached to memories we don’t always realize we’re keeping—road trips, summer evenings, dancing in the living room, laughter with friends, or the comfort of hearing a familiar tune when life felt uncertain.

So maybe it’s not so strange that the song stays even when the grocery list disappears. I personally call my grocery list, my to do list and any other list my brains.

A Little Grace for the Forgetful Among Us

If you’re the one who can’t remember why you walked into the kitchen, Welcome, you’re in good company.

Sometimes I think our brains are like junk drawers. They don’t always organize things the way we’d prefer, but they’re full of surprising treasures. A melody. A face. A moment. A lyric you didn’t even know you still knew.

And honestly? There’s grace in that.

Grace for the woman… or man… who forgets the reason they came into the kitchen, but can remember every word of a song from their childhood. Grace for the one who misplaces the glasses that are on their head. Grace for the one who can’t recall a name but can recall a chorus instantly.

Maybe it’s a reminder that we’re human and that we don’t have to be perfect to be valuable.

Closing Thought

So if you find yourself standing in the kitchen wondering what you came in for, don’t be too hard on yourself. Take a breath. Laugh a little. And if it helps hum a tune from the good old days while you’re at it. Dance a little and enjoy the memories.

After all, if our minds insist on holding onto something, I’m not mad that mine picked the music.

Now… what did I come in here for?

What song can you still sing word-for-word, even if you can’t remember why you walked into the kitchen