I hear people say they can\u2019t remember names all the time. It\u2019s not just old coots either; it\u2019s folks of all ages. I\u2019ve finally figured it out; we\u2019ve got too many names to deal with these days, and too many variations and different spellings. <\/p>\n
When I was a kid in grade school (elementary school to you younger folks) there might have been a couple dozen names in common use for boys and girls. Names like Tommy and Bobby, Jimmy, Kay, Judy, Betty, at least on the playground. Once inside the classroom they became Thomas, Robert, James, Kathleen, Judith and Elizabeth; basic names, whether in or out of the classroom. <\/p>\n
Not any longer. There are hundreds more today with variations that go on forever. A simple name like Alice, which is hardly used any more, has been replaced with Alyce, Alicia, Alisha, Allie, to name just a few. Take every common name from my generation and pull out a dozen or two variations and you have a tsunami of name choices. I have enough trouble remembering if the guy I\u2019m talking to is Greg or Craig; two different, yet somewhat common, names that sound the same to me. <\/p>\n
A few years back I solved my problem with men\u2019s names. When I meet one for the first time, they say their name; it immediately flies out of my head. So I say, \u201cHi, nice to meet you, do you mind if I call you Tim.\u201d Most of the time they look at me funny for a minute, but often say, \u201cOkay; I guess.\u201d <\/p>\n
Toms are Tims; Roberts are Tims, everyone else too. Unless they are a Mike. For some reason I can remember men named Mike and can quickly recall it when I see them. Thankfully, there are a lot of Mikes out there. That, plus the Tims I rename, makes my life a lot easier.<\/p>\n
So, if you are worried that your mind is failing because you can\u2019t quickly pull someone\u2019s name out of the cobwebs in your head, not to worry! You\u2019re probably okay. There are just too many names to deal with these days. <\/p>\n