I think I was about 6 years old and it was Christmas. It was the first time my sister and I tried to stay up to catch Santa Claus. We even hid behind the couch in sleeping bags to try to trick him as he came out of the chimney and around the couch to the tree. I think the fact that I was so excited and so sure that I was going to catch Santa Claus is the reason I remember this specific experience. (Just so you know, we slept through the entire night and didnt even catch a glimpse of Santa.)
I have a hard time identifying with myself at that age. I dont think there is much continuity in my personality compared to now. There are a few things that have always been true about me and Im sure they were relevant then but I cant think of anything specific. Who I am now, my goals, desires, and much of my personality have changed as a result of growing up and having new experiences. I think thats why it is hard to relate. Maybe I am more similar to the younger me than I realize, but its just hard to imagine.
This is a very cute memory. For it to be your first, you must have really enjoyed that night. Christmas also must be a very important holiday for you. I think most people can't relate to their child selves. Thinking back to our earliest memories feels like you're watching it again like a video but not actually refeeling or reliving the experience. But these memories do bring a great sense of nostalgia and humor.
Our earliest memories are quite different, but I can sort of relate to the happiness and excitement involved to your memory. Although I was probably not as "excited" as you were during this Santa Claus experience, I was still excited to eat the juicy part of the tangerines that my mom was peeling for my grandather I think I agree with you on the fact that it's hard to identify the child-me and the person I am now, bit I can still say that I recognize some aspects of my personality now in the four-year-old me.
I agree with your statement about being much more like the younger you than you realize. I thought about how I have changed over the years with my charisma, and I realized that there was a gap in my lifetime where I became shy. I think this deals with freudian theory and the stages of childhood where we are "oblivious" to the world around us and therefore have no inhibitions about how we should act, but then we realize how we need to "please society" and we become more self conscious. And then personally, I think that some people at a later point in life realize that they should not fear what others think about themselves and their "true child" comes out. yea.....
