Chicken Soup for the 20 Something

Nostalgia, we love her, we hate her, but most importantly she makes us think about the Good Old Days.

Nostalgia is something I have been thinking about for a while now. I remember my first instance of nostalgia when I was 13, and told my mom I was depressed because I always thought about the past and looked back a lot. She told me that it wasn’t necessarily depression, but nostalgia. I researched everything I could because this was an entirely new concept for me. This was my first instance, but it would most certainly not be the last.

As time has passed, nostalgia for me has gotten stronger despite me living in the moment and living a well-lived life. I can’t tell if it’s a longing for more time, or if it’s just me reflecting. Whatever it may be, it’s definitely something that has been on my mind.

The good news is I know I’m not the only one who experiences such nostalgia. There are so many songs I have heard that have perfectly encapsulated what I am feeling. Specifically, “Ribs” by Lorde and “Cough it Out” by The Front Bottoms, have really had me thinking about the past. Music when I get stuck feeling this way is chicken soup for my soul, because it acknowledges my feelings, and helps me understand we can all feel like this.

I think too much about the good old days.

It’s not that I’m stuck living in the past, but I feel there have been so many changes in my life that have taken place in such a short amount of time, I can’t help but yearn for a less chaotic time. Sometimes, I can get too caught up however, and forget about the here and now.

This brings me to a place where I have to remind myself, that these are the good old days, and I will never get this time back. While life may seem chaotic now, it will only get more chaotic. The future is something to look forward to as it is chock full of experiences, mistakes, and memories that we will be able to experience. On the other hand, the present is the now (obviously), and we will never get this time back again. I will never be 21 years old again, so I need to soak up the moment.

When we feel nostalgic it’s important to acknowledge it. Maybe listening to songs about nostalgia will help, maybe it’s some throwback songs, or maybe it's doing an activity from childhood that will help you get in touch with your inner child. It’s important to appreciate your nostalgia because it means you created good memories from a certain point in your life. Acknowledge it, but don’t get stuck in it.