Behind the comeback of 2000’s fashion and the revived public interest in physical music, there is a population of people who yearn for days that are already long gone.
For many, this is by no means a new feeling. But this fixation on the past currently has a tight grip on the entire world.
However, it doesn’t only have an impact on fashion trends and music.
Many people, young and old, let their life be consumed by the wish that they could go back in time. They spend their days living as ghosts wandering through their memories instead of putting one foot in front of the other and living in the present.
By doing this, people are robbing themselves of the opportunity to make memories greater than ones they’ve already made. They already have it set in their mind that nothing can beat what they’ve already experienced.
And as long as they keep thinking that way, they are probably right.
To some extent, nostalgia is a healthy emotion that helps people develop their identity and have a positive outlook on their life. However, spending too much time sitting in the feeling can be harmful, as nostalgia can often glorify events.
Psychology professor Dr. Krystine Batcho states that the memory process not only is selective, but it also distorts to some extent.
Although we may look at a certain period of time, whether it’s five years ago or 50, as if everything was perfect and that things have only worsened since, it’s important to remember that our minds are complex and can be deceptive in certain ways.
Just because life doesn’t feel like it used to doesn’t mean it’s gotten worse.
For the sake of maintaining good mental health, it’s essential to appreciate life for what it currently is and savor the present moment, as some day, it too will be just fragmented memories.
It is a perfectly healthy habit to use the past as a placemark to reflect on how far you’ve come or to smile to yourself at the thought of fond memories, but as stated by author Thich Nhat Hanh, “life is available only in the present moment.”
