This was a really big realization for me as well. Other's who like to take advantage of me remind me of how 'bad' my memory is, but in fact i have a great memory. For most things. And i know what those things are, so if someone tries to say 'hey you don't remember stuff remember?' i have a firm grasp on whether that is reality or a manipulation.That maybe it's not that I have a bad memory, but just that it's fragmented because of dissociation. That this is why I have a very good memory sometimes, but not other times.
i almost always can't remember faces (people) who i have met in one place and see in another place. i at times have not remembered a person that i have had interactions with - at all. Sometimes if I have the person back in the original set and setting i recall. But always recall if someone reminds me of something we spoke about. internesting how it works.
i am so glad you have been able to experience compassion for yourself rather than self loathing crap. now that gives you the feeling to work towards. (sorry about the capital letter issues - my caps key is having a bit of a spaz attack)