However, when someone does remember, especially after a long time, or with one remarkable couple I know, after just one meeting with my entire family of 6 (they ran a school, and remembered EVERYONE’S names)… then I felt really special.

And maybe that’s what we’re really trying to do.. make someone else feel special… and feel a little disappointed when we can’t always do that.
.-= Gina´s last blog ..Carnival of Healing #223 – Grace in Gravity =-.

Best case scenario: Hopefully I’m with someone else when I see someone who’s name I should know. Instantly I ask my friend to find out their name for me! So much better for a person they don’t know to jump right in and ask their name.

Middle case: If there’s no time for that, I greet the person who’s name I’ve forgotten enthusiastically and introduce them to the friend who’s name I DO know and conveniently just don’t say the other person’s name. So then they just introduce themselves!

Worst case: It’s just the two of us. If they haven’t already said, “Hey Regina!” then I say something like, “hey! fun to see you! i’m not sure if you remember, but my name is Regina” and then hopefully they’ll say, “ya, mine is Susan”.

Worst of worst case: They know my name, I don’t know theirs. We’re alone in a dark alley. Time to just be humble and gentle with myself and admit I’ve spaced out their name immediately. I don’t care when people forget my name. Really, is anyone super offended when people don’t know YOUR name? Let’s just trust that other people are just as gracious and overwhelmed with info as we are.

Fun topic, Jen! Amazing how many things we feel so guilty and bad about that seriously do not matter. My husband just announces right from the get go that he doesn’t remember names and never feels bad at ALL!!
.-= Regina´s last blog ..Valentine’s Day “Loved One” Mini Portrait Special =-.

Remembering names during introductions is my own nightmare. I was once introducing someone to the five or six people standing with me, and doing brilliantly until I came to my own brother—whose name I couldn’t recall. Luckily, he appreciates the absurd.

After I got in the car from my conversation with them, I pulled out a notebook I carry with me & wrote down as many details as I could remember from our conversation: names, what we talked about, where we were, etc.

Since my brain is mostly visual, writing it down helps me see their names, rather than just hear them. If I get a business card, I attach that to the page in my notebook along with my details.

I also try to use photos in my address book (computer) as much as possible.

When all else fails, I admit “I know your face, but your name escapes me!” =)

If I’m in a room with people I’ve just met, I mentally go around it and see how many names I can remember. If there’s someone I’m not sure of, I discreetly (or overtly) ask someone.

I think most people struggle to remember names and respect it when you make an effort to remember.

What’s worse than not knowing someone’s name? Not knowing you are supposed to know them. There are a few people I meet for the “first” time again and again. Talk about embarrassing.

I finally figured out how to deal with it. You know when you meet someone new, you sort of register all kinds of things about them? Hair color, facial features, stuff like that, right? I have trained myself to also ask: “Is this guy Tom Eston?”

It’s the weirdest darn thing, but it works. I’ve stopped insulting Tom (and a few other people) on a continuing basis and life is so much better.

And I am ashamed to say, that while I made sure to remember the names of my 8 class participants ahead of time, once they arrived, I forgot who they belonged to! And I just didn’t have the time to converse with them individually to get to know them.

Gah.
.-= Gina´s last blog ..everything and nothing =-.