The importance of a good dose of Nostalgia

I’m one of life’s great rememberers. My brain is bursting with full-colour, surround sound memories. I can tell you exactly what I was wearing at the dawn of the Millennium (a cloud print strappy dress, mohair shrug and approximately 100 butterfly clips FYI) and I can recall insignificant conversations from months ago, much to my boyfriend’s abject horror. 

Whenever my school friends and I find ourselves together the conversation inevitably turns to our formative years. We talk about the boys we fancied, the guys we fell out over, the heinous clothes we wore. We listen to songs that remind of us being young and carefree and for a minute, we escape our real lives. And we laugh, so hard. 

Last week, inspired by a soundtrack of 90s Smash Hits, myself and a colleague found ourselves in a Google Image black hole of vintage Barbies and Tamigotchis. After about 30 minutes’ squealing ‘Do you remember…’ at each other we returned from our trip down memory lane, happy and grateful for all the things we were lucky to have. 

A nostalgic tinge can make even bittersweet memories more fond. Songs about love lost, that once caused me physical anguish now play out like a great film soundtrack. Early naughties pop punk takes me back to being an awkward 16 year old, smart and studious and stupidly wishing a boy would kiss me. But I still know all the words to all the songs and I belt them out with glee. 

The thing is, I love it. I’m so happy to be able to relive the rich instalments of my life thus far and I know that one day I may not be lucky enough to remember. I think that as humans, we need nostalgia, now more than ever. The familiar warmth of the past can lift the mood in this uncertain present.