The second of the three new years resolutions I made this year — the first to be more punctual and the third to stop trying to change people's minds — is to be better with names. It's hugely upsetting to me that I even have to make this resolution. Allow me to explain.

I've always had a very good memory. It's something I pride myself on. I'm the kind of person who can remember the details of something you told me ages ago — something you don't even remember having mentioned, like who took you to get your ears pierced (Aunt Judy), what you called your childhood stuffed animal (Zippy the monkey) or the name and occupation of your high school ex-girlfriend's ex-boyfriend (Doug; frozen yogurt).

"I can't believe you remember that! How do you remember that? I barely remember that!" People are always saying.

I don't know, I just do. It's like a parlor trick. If you tell it to me I will remember it. I won't remember streets or directions or where I put my keys, but I will remember trivial details about things that have zero impact on our daily lives. It's just my gift.

Except lately it isn't.

Lately I go to pull a name and the wrong one comes out. "Oh, yes, Steve!" I'll announce. "Or Mark? Wait, no, Frank?" It's dispiriting. And sadly it's been happening with increasing frequency. It's as if my brain is an overstuffed bookshelf, and I can't grab a book without a few extras tumbling out. I'm losing my edge.

And don't even get me started on the shame I felt when I tried to make a reference to the actress who played Pippa on "The Facts of Life" — Sherrie Krenn (now Sherrie Austin) — and what came out was Sherilyn Fenn. It's inexcusable!

But perhaps the worst part of all this is that lately when someone tells me his or her name, it doesn't even go in. My brain doesn't even try to store that info. I will meet a group of people, shake their hands and hear their names but it's as if they're on mute. As if I've been slipped a long acting roofie that only kicks in when I hear a name.

And a second later, when someone asks me the name of that person, because I am so good with names, I literally have no idea. I didn't hear it the first time. And because I'm now aware that I've quickly gone from great with names to terrible with names, I'm afraid to use anyone's name for fear of getting burned. Even when I'm pretty sure I know — because the person just told me or because I actually know this person and have met him or her repeatedly — I still try to avoid it because I just don't trust myself anymore. It may sound like nothing but it feels like something and it's awful.

I know there are all sorts of tricks to remembering people's names. Mnemonic devices and picturing their name written on their forehead and the like. Not only do I have trouble remembering names, I have trouble remembering to remember names. I should write it on my hand.

The part that's so upsetting is I know how important a person's name is to that person. When someone forgets your name or calls you by the wrong name it feels like a betrayal. Like perhaps you'd misjudged them, or misjudged how they saw you — because it turns out they didn't see you at all.

Except I do see you, I just don't know what to call you. Suddenly those nametags that I always rolled my eyes at don't seem like such a bad idea after all.

Hear more from Alison Rosen on her podcast, "Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend" or on the immensely popular "Adam Carolla Show" podcast. Follow her on Twitter @alisonrosen or visit her website at www.alisonrosen.com.