Working Memory

Releasing a turtle Serangan Beach Bali. July 2015

As I have written before , parenthood is a role I am most proud of. A beautiful moment  last night. Kirsten and I had both, individually,  had a really busy day in Sydney. I had faced investment analysts and media regarding the annual results and the challenges related to the NZ Earthquake recovery and Kirsten had been at a conference for Working Memory. Before heading home for the evening we decided to grab a meal at a Thai restaurant in Sydney. I was exhausted both mentally and physically but knew Kirsten loves every opportunity to catch up. So do I. Sitting together Kirsten was very animated about the conference she had attended on Working Memory and how the conference had helped her think through how to make a difference in engaging with children, teachers and parents. I reflected with her that the learnings she had gained were pertinent to so many situations. Apparently we can only pay attention fully for an average time of 8.25 seconds! it explains a lot about what people remember from meetings! 
We were so engrossed in our conversation together we didn't notice the lady sitting next to us eating her dinner. As I was paying for  the meal the lady that had been sitting next to us pulled me aside and asked whether we were mother and daughter. I answered yes, wondering where the conversation was going. She explained that she was a Teacher and a Psychologist and had found our conversation fascinating and informative. However what was most wonderful is she went on to say that she had watched us with fascination as she had never seen a mother and daughter out for diner together really listening and actively engaging like we were and that she had noticed we didn't check our phones or appear distracted from each other. As I meditated this morning I started to wonder if the distractions we face in the modern world has resulted in a lower ability to concentrate and really be in the moment. Does it make us chase what we don't have , missing out on what we have right in front of us? Driving us to make poorly informed and poorly judged decisions?  
Working memory is an essential cognitive function for us staying focused, blocking distractions and staying the course with an activity or goal. 
If you think about it innately many species can do this. When we were recently in Bali on our family holiday we visited the Turtle Conservation and Research Centre . The centre is bringing together science, tourism, conservation and education to help the endangered  turtles . Turtles are still laying eggs along the beaches despite the eggs being taken before the turtles hatch. This is where the habit that has been formed is to the detriment of the species. The turtle population is in serious decline. The locals are being encouraged to collect them not to eat or use for other purposes but to bring them to the centre so the turtles can hatch and be raised until released into the ocean. Kirsten adopted a turtle  and released it into the ocean. We just hope the little turtle had good working memory so it concentrated for more than 8.25 seconds to safely get out to sea!

Serangan TCEC