I really like to experiment with myself. I always wonder if there are ways to know our own physiology deeply, so that we can know ourselves more, and also know how and when to fool the brain.

It was very early in my life that I realized songs have a deep place in the memory, somewhere.

There were some songs I used to listen to, at , or around, a very particular event in my life. Later, after several years, when I heard the same song, I could revisit the moment, and live even the fine details of the event.

So when I was in 10 standard, I decided to create a music diary of my life. Whenever a song used to remind me of some specific moment, I used to write it off in my cloud, and never listened to the song again.

If the memory encoded in the song was bad or scary, I’d keep it safe for the coming good times.

Now coming to the interesting part. When I was in 11 class, I was a huge fan of an undiscovered singer, And used to love his songs and lyrics. I used those songs as stress busters and listened to them in my breaks and think how lucky I’d be, If I get what I’m aiming for.

Later, I had to leave my home and go to kota. I listened to that song, While leaving my home for the first time. I was unsure, Unhappy and scared. Some lines of that one favourite song got encoded as a memory of unsure,unhappy, underachieving heart.

After the exams, I would listen to that song, Unsure about my future. I listened to it over and over again, so many times, that It had a video of me, Being pretty sure about me being unlucky, and unsure about my future.

After the results, things happened in a chaotic and fast way, And it felt like a split of a second that I was in my dream college.

I got too busy. Didn’t have time to touch my phone or music devices.

It was later one day when I was a little sad. Over trivial issues. call it accidentally, but I opened my music. Looking at that song made me so nostalgic.

Plugged in the earphone. And Oh My God.

That day, I realized the power of music. I revisited my entire days of struggle in 3 minutes and 54 seconds. I could recall the small sacrifices I made, me leaving my home. I could even see the person sitting next to me while I was leaving.

It was as if I had transcended to past. I opened my eyes, still unsure and unclear about my future.

Only to find that I was sitting where I always wanted to sit. Having everything I’d always dreamt of.

I’ve saved that song now, for the times I feel tired, or sad, Or like an underachiever.

There are several other songs that I have used to encode memories. They include a range of memories, from something as small as some annual festival, to my university exams. But that One song, till date, remains the kryptonite to my sadness!

I’m currently working on creating encoded revision lessons in songs, while reading the original text and listening to some song!

I’d recommend you too, to encode your bad times, and keep it safe, for songs last, but bad times don’