Not everyone adores the smell of tar, but for me it takes me back to happy days as a five-year-old playing on my scooter with friends while our road was being re-surfaced with tarmac. The smell of tar takes me right back there.
And it’s the same with pine needles as we would run in and out of the pine trees in our back garden. They were happy, carefree days long before the internet existed, when we would play outside until it was dark, or we were called in for dinner.
A powerful emotion
Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, one that transports us back in time, allowing us to relive moments that shaped us and comforted us.
It’s that warm feeling we get when we hear a song that defined our teenage years, catch a whiff of a scent that reminds us of home, or stumble upon an old Polaroid photo that revives a long-forgotten adventure.
Life in the 80s
For those of us who grew up on the eighties, it was shell suits, rara skirts, pinstripe jeans, neon mix-matched socks, and big hair.
It was cassette tapes, Walkman’s, roller discos, Rubik’s cubes, internet dial-up, Smash Hits magazine, and Just 17. It was VHS tapes, Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Transformers, Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears, and My Little Pony.
It’s recording the Top 40 on a Sunday evening, Swatch watches, Topcat, Roland Rat, and Bucks Fizz winning the Eurovision Song Contest. It was Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, the Live Aid Concert, and the fall of The Berlin Wall,
While nostalgia may seem like a yearning for a time that has passed, its true value lies in the joy it brings and the way it connects us to our past selves.
A Bridge to Simpler Times
In a world that constantly pushes us toward the next big thing, nostalgia offers a rare chance to pause and reflect. When life becomes hectic or overwhelming, revisiting cherished memories can provide a sense of stability. It’s like stepping into a time capsule, offering us a break from the pressures of the present.
These moments of reflection often transport us back to simpler times, when our biggest worries were whether our favourite cartoon was on, which compilation tape to create next, or if our friends would around after typing club.
A sense of safety and wonder
This return to a simpler mindset can be incredibly comforting. For many, childhood memories bring back a sense of safety and wonder that is often lost in adulthood.
The joy of nostalgia lies in that ability to momentarily reconnect with a time when life was filled with endless possibilities and the world seemed a bit brighter and more magical.
Shared Memories, Stronger Bonds
Nostalgia also has a unique way of bringing people together. When we share memories with others, we bond over those common experiences.
Reminiscing with friends about the music we used to listen to (Madonna, Wham!, Alison Moyet, and Tiffany), the games we played (marbles and elastics), or the places we used to hang out creates a shared sense of history that strengthens our connection.
It reminds you of the people we’ve been, the friends who were by our side, and the experiences that shaped our relationships.
Childhood television shows
Think of the happy memories that arise from conversations about childhood television shows Like Grange Hill, Danger Mouse, Knight Rider, The A Team, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Dallas, Dynasty, The Young Ones, and Blackadder.
And if parents allowed, there was the hilarious Kenny Everett Television Show, A Bit of Fry & Laurie, and Not the Nine O’clock News.
These shared experiences create a sense of belonging and remind us that we are not alone in our journeys through life.
Nostalgia, in this sense, becomes a collective experience, one that connects us to our peers, and our family, and to the times we’ve all lived through together.
Rediscovering What Once Made Us Happy
One of the joys of nostalgia is the opportunity to rediscover the things that once made us happy.
That favourite book we read over and over as a child (The Secret Seven by Edin Blyton), the video games we played with our siblings (on the ZX Spectrum 48), or even the snacks we used to beg our parents for (penny sweets from the local corner shop).
These memories often bring back a surge of joy when revisited. For many, revisiting these interests can become a form of self-care, a way of reconnecting with passions and hobbies that may have been left behind in the busyness of adulthood.
Movies and Music
There’s a special joy in revisiting a childhood movie (Back to the Future) or an album that was on repeat during our teenage years (Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette). These cultural touchstones often hold layers of meaning that we appreciate differently as adults.
What once was just a fun song may now carry deeper emotional resonance, reminding us of the specific people and places tied to it.
Nostalgia offers a chance to see how far we’ve come, yet also to cherish those constants that continue to bring us joy.
Nostalgia as a Source of Inspiration
While nostalgia often focuses on the past, it can also be a source of inspiration for the present. It reminds us of what we once valued, what made us feel alive, and what we may want to bring back into our current lives.
Sometimes, these reflections can motivate us to reconnect with old friends, revisit hobbies we’ve neglected, or find new ways to incorporate those lost joys into our routines.
For creative people, nostalgia can be a goldmine of inspiration. Artists, writers, and musicians often draw upon memories of their past to create new works that resonate deeply with others.
The sense of timelessness that comes with nostalgia allows us to see that even as times change, certain emotions and experiences remain universal. By revisiting the past, we can find the motivation to move forward with renewed purpose.
Embracing Nostalgia with Balance
Of course, nostalgia is most beneficial when embraced with balance. While it’s wonderful to reminisce, it’s important not to idealise the past at the expense of the present. Nostalgia should be a way to celebrate where we’ve come from, not a reason to avoid the here and now.
The joy of nostalgia lies in recognising the richness of our memories while also appreciating the new experiences and relationships that continue to shape our lives.
A collection of moments
In a way, nostalgia serves as a reminder that time is not linear but rather a collection of moments that coexist within us. It allows us to carry the best parts of our past into the future, adding depth and continuity to our stories.
And in that continuity lies a profound sense of joy – the joy of knowing that every memory, every smile, and every cherished moment remains a part of us, ready to be revisited whenever we need a little warmth, comfort, or inspiration.
