Why are you nostalgic?

Ivan Nyagatare
2 min readFeb 4, 2023

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Photo by 𝓴𝓘𝓡𝓚 𝕝𝔸𝕀 on Unsplash

Nostalgia is a longing for a time or place in the past. It is a strong feeling that is often linked to happy memories, such as those of childhood.

Nostalgia can be a nice feeling because it lets us remember the past with fondness and appreciation. But it can also make us sad because we can’t really go back to the past.

We like to reflect on the past because it can make us feel better. When things are hard, we can use nostalgia to escape the present and return to happier times.

It can also give us hope by reminding us of what we’ve done well in the past and what we can do in the future. Nostalgia can also be a big part of our culture and identity because it helps us remember the values, traditions, and stories that have made us who we are.

But nostalgia can be dangerous as well. We can get stuck in a cycle of longing and regret if we hold on to the past too much. We might think about the past so much that we forget to enjoy the present and plan for the future.

“You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth.” — John Green

Nostalgia can also cause people to compare themselves to others in harmful ways and to set unrealistic goals. We may constantly compare our current lives to the ones we had in the past or expect them to be as perfect as the ones we remember.

Last but not least, nostalgia may be a pleasant emotion when used appropriately. Nostalgia can serve as both a reminder of our successes and a motivation for future endeavors. Nonetheless, remember the significance of both enjoying the here and now and planning for the future.

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Ivan Nyagatare

I am a writer, educator, creator and entrepreneur. Focused on creating tech tools, content, books and courses to help you develop better perspectives.