a confused stick person standing above the text: I came, I saw, I forgot what I was doing.

2 Reasons Forgetfulness Deserves a Little More Grace

April 28, 2025

One of my favorite shirts from the Stick Person series says it plain and simple: “I came, I saw, I forgot what I was doing.”I’d like to say I don't relate to that… but I'd be lying. Truth is, forgetfulness visits all of us now and then—sometimes like a soft breeze you laugh off, and sometimes like a stiff wind that knocks your whole day sideways.

I’ve had my fair share of “what was I doing?” moments. Hunger can do it to me—especially when the smell of a fresh pie hits the air. But more often than not, it’s because I’ve got too many thoughts bouncing around up there. It's like rubber balls in a clothes dryer.

One second I’m heading to the shed for a screwdriver. Next second I’m staring into the fridge, holding a jar of pickles, wondering how I got there. Life’s like that sometimes. And while it can be frustrating, annoying, or downright comedic, it's also just part of life. Or at least, that is what II’ve come to believe.

Here’s why I think it deserves a little more grace.

1. Forgetfulness is a sign you're living, not just memorizing.

It’s easy to get down on yourself when you forget something—a chore, a name, where you put your keys (or in my case, my sandwich).

But a wandering mind isn’t always a broken one. Sometimes it’s a sign you’re engaged in the world, juggling real things, real hopes, real plans. Life pulls you in a hundred directions. If you forget the hammer on the workbench now and again, it’s probably because you’re busy building something bigger than just a to-do list.

[This article on memory lapses] reminds us that normal forgetfulness is part of how our brains prioritize. It’s not a flaw—it’s your mind trying to sift through what matters most.

So if you find yourself mid-task, staring into the middle distance, wondering why you’re holding a roll of duct tape in one hand and a tomato in the other… you’re not alone. Welcome to the club.

2. A little patience makes room for everybody.

I’ll be honest—being on the receiving end of someone else’s forgetfulness can be a test of patience. (Just ask my cousin Shelly. I once left her waiting at the bait shop because I got sidetracked fixing the porch swing.)

But we’ve all been there. A little patience—both for ourselves and for each other—goes a long way. Life’s too short to get mad over a missed turn or a forgotten grocery item. Laugh, shrug it off, and move on. Because chances are, your turn at forgetfulness is just around the corner.

Give your self (and others) a little space.

Forgetfulness can be frustrating. It can be annoying. Sometimes it can even be funny enough to earn a good story told over coffee for years to come. But what it should never be is something we beat ourselves—or each other—up over.

So the next time you lose track, get distracted, or forget what you came into the room for, just remember: You came. You saw. You forgot what you were doing. And that's alright.