Lost Saturn High Scores

[phase3]

I went into the game room the other morning to get a quick session in before work, so I fire up Batsugun to find that my Saturn battery has died. I have a memory device, however, irritatingly I only rarely would back up my score saves because I misunderstood how a memory device actually functions. (I know now, though, that's for sure.)
Fortunately, I took pictures of some of my better scores but, naturally, not all of them.

I dont necessarily think that most of the scores I had achieved over the past few years would be impossible to reclaim or exceed, but I've run into a slight problem.
Knowing that I've lost the ability to see my progress and challenge myself and friends conveniently with the high score function, I find myself less confident in my ability and have been playing shoddier as a result. Whenever I go into the game room for a session, I find myself turning to other games and genres only after one or two rounds of a beloved shmup. I feel as though this one tiny niggle has potentially damaged the way I play some of my favorite games.

Have any of you lot run into a thing like this? Do you have any similar experiences you could share? Any tips for "getting over it?"
Obviously I'm over thinking it, but that isn't to say it hasn't considerably bummed me out and hampered some of the fun I have with these games.

[CStarFlare]

should've used restart syndrome :3

But seriously - if I'm at all happy with my scores, I post them somewhere so this kind of thing doesn't happen. I can sympathise, though. Maybe try focusing on a shmup you have a clean slate with - with no prior history to pine over you shouldn't feel the same sense of loss.

[phase3]

Thanks for the advice. I've been playing more on the Genesis and Pc Engine lately, as they don't save scores either way and it's not quite as upsetting.
I had every intention of eventually posting my high scores on many of the available high score databases when I felt as though they were good enough. Of course, hindsight reveals I should have just submitted them anyways.

[ACSeraph]

A record of the mountains you once stood atop of is nice and all, but at the end of the day, your current performance ability is the only thing that really matters. You should strive to reclaim that level of skill if you really value the scores you once had. I recently played a round of Caladrius after a long absence to see my performance has dropped to a fraction of what it was. The score record remains unchallenged, but I can't help but be dissatisfied knowing I couldn't come close to doing it again if I were to play right now.

Don't get caught up with trophy's and records, focus on maintaining or rebuilding your skill. Even if the numbers were still there, your ability still is what it is right now.

[BIL]

A record of the mountains you once stood atop of is nice and all, but at the end of the day, your current performance ability is the only thing that really matters. You should strive to reclaim that level of skill if you really value the scores you once had.

Superb post. As in life, so in shump.

Regarding friendly competition, a simple leaderboard will work wonders for anything involving numbers. ;3 Nothing fancy, just a whiteboard etc will do.