Mind games

Out of sight, out of mind

Meaning
The idea that something is easily forgotten or dismissed as unimportant if it is not in our direct view.

Yes, a very common phrase and a very common phenomenon, me thinks. But recently an event occurred that showed me just how badly entrenched I have become in this process.
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A dear friend of mine that lives many miles away in Singapore. A dear friend who always has the time to lend a sympathetic ear to my woes and rants. A dear friend who makes time despite her busy schedule, a day job and a baby. Ok ok, I will get on with this tale.

I heard the shrill jangling of the phone at midnight just as I'd sunk into blissful slumber. I scramble about ready to pounce on the said caller and give the person a piece of my angry mind. As soon as my angry mind recognizes the voice on the other end, the anger drains and a wintry mix of embarassment, guilt and shame sets in. Its dear friend, having finished her chores she absent mindedly decided to call and find out how I was doing and totally forgot about this very important factor called time difference.

When she hears my groggy voice, she apologizes and persists in telling me to go right back to bed. But my guilt has woken my senses and I am all set to have a long chat. And the reason for this guilt was because I realised I had "literally" forgotten about her for god-knows-how-long (probably after her last call, which again happened "god-knows-when"). Yes, I had managed to totally wipe out all thoughts and memories- I had sent no emails asking about her well-being, no calls to find out how her baby was doing. Worse yet, I'd forgotten to send wishes to the beautiful baby that had turned one. And so I had a long chat and caught up on all the news. As she talked and I listened I realised how important it is to have familiar voices and faces around us to feel safe and wanted(for lack of a better word). A voice from faraway land definitely makes one feel at home in one's mind despite the distance that separates the bodies.

Hence I vow to do a better job next time. A belated baby gift hamper is on its way and certainly, "out of sight, out of mind" is all in the mind.