I believe that real memories come from direct, personal experience. Memories that did not have a virtual source, but had a tangible, environmental component to them.
It’s different from the experience we have when watching a movie, browsing the internet, playing a game, or reading. Those can bring enjoyment, and bring awareness and knowledge to us, but they lack the kind of interaction we could only experience when we’re in an environment.
Real memories are the ones that we return to–often think about from our past. They are unique in that they cannot be recreated. They can be memories of a vacation we went on, a gathering with friends 10 or 20 years ago, or a conversation we had with someone that broadened our perspective and wisdom. It could even be something we saw in nature, such as the way the sun lit the waters, or the view from a mountain top.
Fallton Havenstonne 