Embracing and Celebrating Nostalgia

Today I’d like to take you on a journey through time and explore the enchanting realm of nostalgia. Join me as we look at the profound impact nostalgia has on our lives and why, contrary to popular belief, nostalgia is actually a good thing.

As I talk about this nostalgic moment, I would like to ask you to take 10 seconds of your precious time to close your eyes and think back to any moment in your life. What is the moment that first comes to mind? How old were you at that time? How did you feel at that moment? There may be several moments that flash in your mind right now, and I encourage you to take some time to process all the feelings you may not have had in a while and embrace the emotions that are welling up inside you.

In a world where progress and change seem to be the only constants, we are always busy and dependent on external factors: I often find myself telling my parents I have so much to do, but end up scrolling through social media all night; I am often overwhelmed by the huge amount of work I have to complete, but feeling lost when I get it all done. When my friends ask me what I did during the day, the answer is always “nothing.” In a rapidly moving society, we seem to focus less on ourselves and let external demands hog the already scarce time we have.

However, there is one thing that gives me comfort in my uncertain life: Memories of the past. Whenever I feel like doing nothing, I open the diary I wrote a few years ago or open the collection of all the letters people have written to me since I was in kindergarten, or look at pictures of myself when I was three. Looking at these collections make me feel like I’m actually communicating with the 3 year-old carefree little girl who knew nothing, or saying hello to the people I grew further and further away from as I got older. These references bring back all the good and bad times I’ve experienced, allow me to explore how heartwarming some moments were and how those moments shaped my present.

So what is the exact definition of nostalgia? Nostalgia, derived from the Greek words “nostos” (homecoming) and “algos” (pain), was originally considered a disease called homesickness. “Johannes Hoffer the Swiss physician described it as a “neurological disorder with essentially demonic causes.” Today, however, the term nostalgia refers not to homesickness but to the way people think back on their past and express wistful affection for a time gone by. Our memories serve as a powerful lens through which we perceive the world. Nostalgia allows us to revisit those memories and evoke the emotions associated with them.

But sometimes when I want to share my nostalgic feelings with others, I find people saying phrases like: “What is the point of being nostalgic if you can’t go back to the past anymore?”

I somehow understand that. When we are too caught up in the past, we can find it difficult to face reality and end up avoiding the future, which can leave us feeling traumatized. For me, however, nostalgia has a positive and transformative effect. it is a way for me to connect with my personal narratives, better manage the present and look to the future through my past. All of these help to strengthen my resilience, especially in times of crisis.

With the sudden end of the three months of lockdown here in Shanghai last year, life seemed to be returning to normalcy. Stores and restaurants were reopening, and more people were back on the streets. In the 85 days I stayed home, I often thought of the times when we could still live without restrictions, the days I could still hang out with my friends, and the days I could go to my swimming practice. Feelings of nostalgia uncontrollably evoked, fortunately, I coped by scrolling through all the collections. These collections accompanied me on sleepless nights and made me feel connected to my loved ones as if they were still with me. From singing Love Story on my birthdays, screaming in the middle of the hallway, to traveling to Australia in midsummer… they reminded me of myself and who I was at those wonderful moments. These silly little moments became precious memories and were the only way for us to stay close during this time.

And this year in high school, various things have happened, from cramming for schoolwork, tests, and SAT at the same time, to having arguments with my parents on a weekly basis, to COVID in the middle of nowhere … All of this has messed with my head over the past year. However, when I think about the fact that every summer, as soon as the vacations started, I could return to my hometown where I could fall into my grandma’s arms and listen to all the funny jokes she made up out of thin air, it gave me a sense of motivation to keep working and looking to the future.

Through nostalgia, I know that everything will get better, and I look forward to the days where I could reunite with the ones I love. In the lockdown times, I admit that I missed my normal life, but I also wonder if the future will be better than the past. The warm embrace of nostalgia provides us with comfort and strength, reminding us of the challenges we have overcome in the past. More importantly, it allows us to focus on ourselves in the present moment and explore the connections between our past, present, and future. Just Remember, the past is not lost; it lives within us. So, let us celebrate nostalgia, for it is the symphony of our souls, reminding us of who we are, who we have been, and who we can become.