Nostalgia

Now... nostalgia

That feeling we get when we see an old photo with friends we haven't seen in years, or when we pass by our old school, remembering all the fun times we had there, is like our hearts get a little wrinkled.

But...

What is the Nostalgia?

The meaning of nostalgia has evolved over time; initially, this word came from Greek words, nostos (meaning “return”) and algos (meaning “pain”), giving it a meaning linked to negative emotions and pain.

Today, it represents something quite different and much more positive: nostalgia refers to the sentimental longing for the past, often triggered when a person reflects on cherished memories or even difficult experiences.

This emotional response tends to emerge during periods of transition or when someone is facing challenges in the present.

Nostalgia is a fairly common feeling that we can experience many times throughout our lives, but there are some triggers that unleash these moments in which our brain takes us down this path of memories.

Nostalgia Triggers

sensory experiences like baking a pie you used to make with your family
life transitions such as moving to another city or house
Social interactions, such as talking to friends, can bring back memories of other moments

All these triggers have something in common; each one brings back happy memories.

That's what makes nostalgia such a powerful feeling; when we feel it, it reminds us how happy we were at a certain time or place.

Therefore, the strategies I'm going to give you next are not to fight against nostalgia,

but to use it as a tool to be strong during tough times.

Things to do when you are feeling nostalgic

📱
Text friends or family

Use that nostalgia you feel to write to important people in your life whom you haven't seen for a while and remind them that you appreciate them.

🤗
Hug your love ones

Give a hug to the people close to you; nostalgia reminds us that nothing lasts forever, and it always feels good to show people you love them.

📒
write in your journal

Write down in a notebook everything that is making you nostalgic and give a reason for each thing; this will help you better understand why those moments are special to you and keep them present in your memory.

📷
Take pictures

If your life is going through big changes, remember to take pictures of your surroundings so you can look back on them in the future and remember all the beautiful things you had at that time.