A woman named Rebecca Sharrock possesses a memory so extraordinary that it sets her apart from nearly everyone else on the planet. She can recall almost every detail of her life, including moments after her birth. She is part of a minuscule fraction of the population that has been diagnosed with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM).

Rebecca’s journey with this rare condition began in 2013, when she received her official diagnosis. The condition, often referred to as Hyperthymesia, allows individuals to recall almost every event from their past with incredible precision.

She described her first memories to BBC News, recalling the warmth and color of a blanket she had as a newborn. Her ability to remember isn’t just about recalling images; it includes sensory experiences and emotions as well.

When she was younger, Rebecca assumed everyone had the same ability to remember things as vividly as she did. It was only later, after watching a TV program discussing people with exceptional memories, that she realized her gift was unique.

Rebecca’s parents were fascinated and encouraged her to explore her unusual talent, leading to her diagnosis two years later. As of 2019, she was the only person in Australia known to have this ability, a fact shared by 60 Minutes Australia.

This unique form of memory isn’t always a blessing. Rebecca finds that reliving stressful or painful moments can bring back the intense emotions she felt at the time. She explained that although she is emotionally reliving these situations, her mind is aware that those events are in the past.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2022, Rebecca talked about how people often misunderstand her condition, assuming she is unwilling to let go of negative experiences or focusing too much on the past. However, for her, such a memory feels natural and unavoidable.

The challenges of living with HSAM include coping with the emotional burden of past traumas, which can be difficult to mitigate given the rarity of the condition and the lack of targeted treatments.

Rebecca finds comfort in the fact that she can remember the positive experiences in her life just as vividly, cherishing the full spectrum of moments as they are a significant part of her identity. It’s a powerful reminder that while memory is a cornerstone of who we are, how we manage our memories can shape our present.

Rebecca’s story invites us all to reflect on our own memories and recognize the beauty in both the extraordinary and everyday experiences of life.