A Sentimental Rebel: On Noticing and Embracing Nostalgia

During the month of November, we have encouraged our community to focus on noticing: on  paying attention, particularly to the little things that go unappreciated in the rush of daily life.  Well, there is something that has stood out to me and brought me joy as of late, and that is what I  would like to share with you today. 

This month, I have found myself rebelling. Don’t worry, I haven’t dyed my hair or gotten any  impulsive tattoos. I have found myself rebelling by leaning into nostalgia. The Merriam-Webster  Dictionary defines nostalgia as “a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of  some past period or irrecoverable condition”. I’ve come across a lot of references, from Instagram posts to psychology articles, that have categorized nostalgia as a bad thing. I’ve seen it  defined as a toxic and limiting state of mind. Although I am no expert, I would like to challenge  that view and encourage the indulgence of nostalgia as a cathartic mode of healing and source of joy.  

I’d like you to close your eyes and think about a happy time in your life. Perhaps it is just one  moment that brings a smile to your face when you mentally revisit it. For me, I think of 8th grade—a year during which I was unapologetically and obnoxiously myself. Or, going further  back, a winter day spent trying to recreate the molasses candies from the Little House on the  Prairie books (which, by the way, was equal parts unsuccessful and hilarious). Both memories  feel like a deep breath. And, yes, they are accompanied by a longing for times that no matter how  vividly I can imagine them, I will not ever be able to return to. In years past, this thought would  have weighed me down with sadness. I am happy to say that at almost twenty-seven, I have  finally reached a point where I can lean into these memories with warmth and gratitude.  

These days I spend a lot of time returning. Returning to sounds, tastes, and experiences that filled  my cup when I was younger. My playlists are filled with high school favorites. I am happily  giving in to old cravings of hot chocolate with marshmallows and orange spice tea. And if I want  to spin in circles in the rain, why stop myself? Why not sing along to that song I danced to when a boy told me he loved me for the very first time? The way I see it, we have two choices when it comes  to nostalgia: to shrug it off as a childish indulgence, or to build a bridge that allows it to cross  over and evolve into our current stage of life. This year, as the holidays approach and reflections  on the past abound, I hope you allow yourself to choose the latter.