A 19-year-old touching on nostalgia … is there really all that much to feel nostalgic about?
I’ve found nostalgia in different ways from different scenarios, whether in parents reminiscing on college or high school, musicians describing their first sets or in myself when I think about why I enjoy a few of the things that I do. On the app Co—Star, I am greeted with a daily notification giving me a piece of advice for the day, and quite a few times I have received “let go of nostalgia.” Each day I get this message, I start to think about what it means to let go of nostalgia or what exactly nostalgia means to me.
Despite only having 19 years under the belt, I’m nostalgic about many things. Nostalgia is the feeling I get when I find a song that I remember hearing all the time as a kid from my parents. It’s the feeling I get when I incorporate some of my favorite wordplay into written assignments. It’s my inspiration for ideas, new and old, and really serves as a way to let me figure out more by reminding me of myself.
This causes me to question, why exactly would I let go of that? Why would I let go of the feelings I get when little things remind me of adventures with my friends, or how simple life felt in the back seat of a minivan? Nostalgia allows me to feel like me. It gives me small reminders of simplicity, things that once made me feel, and allows me to reflect. It can be sad at times, just as simple reminiscing can be, but it nonetheless serves as a tool.
Nostalgia is not necessarily a bad thing. Regardless of age, there are little tidbits somewhere along the line that can be thought of fondly. Reflect with bliss. Know that the past can inspire and assist, and that memory lane doesn’t necessarily need to be let go of.
Lauren Patterson is a freshman studying journalism. Please note that the views and ideas of columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Lauren? Tweet her @lpaatt.
