Danial, Week 13: Nostalgic Memories

“We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange. As often as not, we are homesick most for the places we have never known.” - Carson McCullers

Nostalgia impacts human life daily by reminding us of our happy memories which motivate us to continue living and achieve our goals. However, spending all your time dwelling on nostalgia retracts from these benefits since it leads to loneliness and depression.

Contrary to what McCullers stated, I feel nostalgia for old memories and a desire to develop new memories are not completely split apart since it is these happy old memories that fuel one’s desire to make more memories that bring one joy.

While nostalgia does not affect my life daily, I do find myself occasionally reminiscing on the past. Whether it was a video game I used to play or a funny memory I had with a friend I do not talk to anymore, I reflect on these memories when reminded of them and they bring me happiness while making me desire to experience more of these happy moments.


Despite these benefits, excessive nostalgia leads to feelings of sadness, loneliness, and depression. Nostalgia can also trigger stress hormones and lead to decreased motivation and decreased engagement with the present, which significantly harms individuals over long periods of time, both mentally and physically.


                                                                           Image from Al Jazeera America

Personally, I believe nostalgia is perfectly fine unless it is excessively dwelled on. Life moves on, and dwelling on happy memories for too long prevents one from making new ones and enjoying the moment, which is what I think makes living worth it in the first place.

Comments

  1. Ethan NguyenMarch 26, 2024 at 10:25 PM

    Hello, Danial. To begin, you nicely began the blog with a quote that tied the blog theme of memory with your specific topic of nostalgia. It gave a nice preview to the blog’s main points on this specific type of memory/feeling. In addition, your anecdote“Whether it was a video game I used to play or a funny memory I had with a friend” resonated clearly with me as I have felt the same way. Also, the succinct concluding sentence “Life moves on, and dwelling on happy memories for too long prevents one from making new ones and enjoying the moment, which is what I think makes living worth it in the first place” encapsulates the powerful message in an uplifting manner.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Via GonzalesMarch 27, 2024 at 9:44 PM

    Hi Danial, this blog made a lot of sense and deeply resonated with me. I constantly have nostalgia and it affects me all the time. Whenever I pass by my elementary school, I feel nostalgia, soaking in the innocent, wholesome memories from grade school. Whenever I visit the park my grandma used to take me to, I feel bittersweet remembering the good memories that I can no longer remake with her. Nostalgia hits me in ways that hold me back from the present. I like how you added an anecdote to your blog, giving the readers a better understanding of what nostalgia is. Overall, I felt like your blog was a meaningful topic for memory.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Keane ChenMarch 27, 2024 at 9:44 PM

    While nostalgia can have negative effects in the sense that it can create sadness and loneliness, I would argue is a positive way to reminisce on fond experiences. However, the feeling, when it becomes an obsession, can be problematic, which is why it is also worthwhile to enjoy current circumstances. I enjoy hearing some of the things you feel nostalgic about, such as laughing with a friends or playing video games. Childhood memories such as these can last forever. For me, I like to think back on when I was younger and able to spend more time in Thailand, because I associate the environment with less stress as we were on vacation, and better connections, as I would be able to bridge the generational gap between me and my grandparents.

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