"زمانی که مردم را تغییر می‌دهد تصویر آنها را که در ذهن ما باقی مانده تغییر نمی‌دهد"

When we think about our friends from high school or our childhood crushes, we often picture them exactly as they were back then, don't we? Their faces remain untouched by the years in our minds, even though we know they've grown older, just like us. This idea is at the heart of the quote. Our memories freeze people in a specific moment, capturing how they were when we last saw them or when they made a strong impression on us. Time might change the real person, but our internal snapshot of them remains the same.

This concept is especially poignant when we consider significant reunions. Take, for instance, a high school reunion after 20 years. You walk into the room expecting to see the same faces from the yearbook. Instead, you find a room full of adults with graying hair, a few extra pounds, and lines that tell the stories of their lives. Yet, as soon as someone speaks or laughs, you might be taken back to a moment from years ago. Their essence, captured in your memory, remains unaltered despite the passage of time.

Think about it in the context of social media. You might reconnect with an old friend on Facebook. You haven't seen them in years, but you still envision them as the person from your fifth-grade class photo. Then you see their profile picture: they've got kids, a career, maybe even a few more wrinkles. It's a jarring moment of realizing that while they've evolved and grown, you're still holding onto an old version of them.

So how can we apply this wisdom? First off, it reminds us to be open-minded. When reconnecting with people from our past, we should try to meet them as they are now, not as the versions we've kept stored in our memories. It means asking questions, showing genuine interest in their current lives and experiences, and not making assumptions based on who they used to be.

Imagine this scenario: You run into an old college buddy at a coffee shop. The last time you saw him, he was all about his music band, playing gigs every weekend. Now, he's an accountant with three kids. Instead of diving headfirst into reminiscing about those wild band days, you might start by asking, "So, what's life like for you these days?" You'd be amazed at the rich, complex stories people carry with them that don't fit into the neat boxes we've put them in from our memories.

We all do this, and it's so human. It's a kind of mental shortcut. But recognizing this tendency gives us the chance to break the pattern. We can consciously choose to see people anew, embracing who they've become. It's about balancing the nostalgia of the past with an appreciation for the present.

Next time you catch yourself thinking of someone as they were years ago, take a moment. Ask yourself, "What might be different about them now?" Reach out, reconnect, and be ready to learn about the new chapters in their lives. You might find that the updated version of them is even more fascinating than the one you remember.