There is this interesting theory going around called the "Mandela Effect." Now, I first discovered this theory while I was hanging with a couple of friends, and when this topic was brought to my attention, I thought they were crazy.

Of course, I was intrigued. What in the world is the Mandela Effect?

The Mandela Effect can be many things. It is interpreted to be an alternate reality but much more odd than what you would think. Why? Because people actually remember certain things in the past that are changed today. This is what happens when someone has a clear memory of something that never happened in this reality. Many people remember several of the exact same events with the exact same details. However, our memories are different from what’s in history books, newspaper archives, and so on.

Some say that it is a conspiracy: some people going into the future or past and changing things.

• Many people speculate that parallel realities exist, and we’ve been “sliding” between them without realizing it.
  • it is considered that maybe even people have been sliding into our reality with no memory or recollection of doing so because our lines are so inter-crossed and intertwined with each other, we cannot tell which reality is true, or ours.
• Others favor the idea that history is simply changing itself.
• Or, “fake news,” “alternative facts,” “confabulation,” or “false memories.”

It’s about real, alternate history — recalled with astonishingly similar details and points of reference — and possible explanations for this phenomenon.

Personally, when I first heard about this theory, I just considered people were changing their logos. That makes sense doesn't it? But it is deeper than that.

Here are some examples of the Mandela Effect:

• The confusion over whether there are 51 or 52 states in the USA
• A book series for children that either had the name Berenstein Bears or Berenstain Bears
• Confusion in reference to Star Wars.
• The actual death of Nelson Mandela
• Logos and logo colors for popular brands are remembered differently (e.g. Pepsi, Kit Kat, Chevron)
• Major changes with regards to geographical locations

Better examples?

Everyone has heard the quote "Mirror, mirror on the wall," in Disney's first princess movie, right? It is even repeated in the most recent movie, Snow white and the Huntsman, so why does the evil queen not say those words... [anymore]? Many people have repeated the words, yet, the correct line is "Magic, mirror on the wall," did we hear her wrong all this time. Some people also remember the second part of that quote being “Who is the fairest of them all?” but apparently it’s “Who is the fairest one of all?”

Weird.

Okay, something else?

How many of you all remember the movie Forrest Gump? It seems that the majority of people confidently remember Forrest Gump stating that his mama always said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” Well, it turns out that he actually said, "life was like a box of chocolates," even I always thought he mentioned his "momma!"

Let's try another more famous one.

Star Wars? “Luke, I am your father” is one of the most famous phrases from film, but many are discovering that it’s not what Darth Vader said. He actually says, “No, I am your father." I distinctly remembering making jokes about that part in the movie when I was younger. Some of us even reenacted multiple fighting scenes while outside at recess, so now that line was never there? Where did it come from?

The most mind boggling one that I cannot shake is the fact that some people remember Nelson Mandela's death back in 1993, some say that he died in his jail cell, but others (like myself) remember his most recent passing away in 2013. Weird, right?

It is crazy to start learning about these theories and comparing them to our reality. To think of an alternate universe colliding with ours, or even considering the idea that our favorite past times have been manipulated, is a bit thrilling, inviting, and all the more scary.

There are many more theories and examples on the Mandela Effect.

Just a little insight.