Do you consider yourself a nostalgic person? How does nostalgia manifest for you? What memories or experiences evoke a sense of nostalgia?

When the term nostalgia was coined in the year 1688, it took the form of a medical diagnosis. I admit that I did not know this before I delved into the book On Nostalgia by Canadian author David Berry. As Berry explains in this book, the word contains two words from ancient Greek: “nostos roughly means ‘home’…while algos means ‘pain’.” He further explains, that the term “nostalgia literally means ‘pain associated with home’ – or, in slightly more familiar terms, ‘homesickness’.”

Nostalgia is a feeling that most people experience and it involves a sense of longing for the past, fond memories, and a feeling of home. While the meaning of the word has changed over time, it remains a powerful force in our lives. In his book, Berry explores how nostalgia has become central to various aspects of our culture and politics. He examines how this personal feeling has become a cultural and political phenomenon, influencing advertising, art, writing, mass media, and politics. It is an excellent read that looks at nostalgia from all aspects.

“Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days.”

Doug Larson, columnist and editor

I have always been a person who is prone to nostalgia to some extent. However, my nostalgia is not driven by a desire to go back to the past or a belief that the past was better than the present. I don’t view the past through rose-tinted glasses and refer to it as the “good old days.” A thorough examination of history’s timelines will reveal that the “good old days” were flawed, much like the present. It’s our selective memory of the past that induces nostalgia for the “good old days.”

Whenever I feel nostalgic, it’s usually because of my fondness for pop culture and the memories of my carefree days. It’s like a wave of emotions that takes me back to a time when life was simpler, and I didn’t have to worry about the challenges and responsibilities of adulthood. The feeling can be triggered by a song, a movie, a TV show, or even a particular smell that reminds me of a specific time and place. Nostalgia is a powerful and bittersweet emotion that I often embrace, as it allows me to relive the happy moments of my past and appreciate the person I have become today.

“One is always at home in one’s past.”

Vladimir Nabokov, novelist and poet

Retro Reverie

I’m now middle-aged and I can’t help but feel nostalgic and passionate about the music and movies that shaped my youth. The tunes from the earlier days of my generation and the preceding generation still ignite a fire in me. When I hear the song “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard, I’m transported back to 1988 when it was the song of the summer. I reminisce about swimming in my grandparents’ pool, having family barbeques, and rocking out to this song on the Scrambler ride at Centre Island in Toronto. During my 30s, I used to go to a retro dance night every month where the DJs would spin hits from the 1980s and 1990s. It was an incredible experience to see people come together and enjoy the music that defined our generation with the atmosphere of a school dance for nostalgic adults.

I love movies and own more than 400. I always watch the movie Dirty Dancing during the summer because it reminds me of seeing it for the first time at the drive-in theatre with my young, hip aunt and uncle. The drive-in was a cool experience—the atmosphere, the energy, and you could enjoy it without the person behind you talking or kicking your seat during the movie. Drive-in movie theatres still exist in some parts of Ontario where I live, attracting niche nostalgic drive-in audience members like myself. I’m not as excited about many new releases these days. Most of the movies from my youth that I still enjoy today have either been remade using advanced computer-generated imagery or the plot has been rewritten into another story entirely. While I approve of some remakes, certain movies hold a special place in my heart, and I hope they are never remade.

“Nostalgia is a very human trait.”

Stephanie Coontz, author and historian

Blissful Innocence

I often think back to the days of my childhood, when life was simpler and I had fewer responsibilities. I was blissfully unaware that these carefree days wouldn’t last forever, and now I look back on them with nostalgia. This time last year, I took a walk through one of the neighbourhoods where I grew up, and I was struck by how little it had changed over the years. It was as if time had stood still, and I could almost hear the echoes of my childhood as I weaved my way down familiar streets and past the homes of my old friends. Even now, I can recall exactly where each of them lived.

In speaking with a friend about the nostalgia of childhood and carefree days, he had this to say:

Many people reminisce about their childhood as the happiest time of their lives. Back then, we didn’t have to work and we spent our days playing with our friends. We had no real responsibilities, and our view of the world was innocent and carefree. As we grow older and learn about the harsh realities of life, it’s wonderful to have something that takes us back to those simpler times and makes us feel happy. It doesn’t have to be a physical object, even a memory can bring us joy. I often think back to riding bikes to the park with my friends, with our only concern being to get back home before it got dark. It’s funny, but I swear the grass was greener back then, and the sounds and smells of those days are etched into my memory in a way that’s different from how I experience them now.

As we near the end of our journey through nostalgia, take a moment to ponder how it manifests in your life. Do you find yourself lost in thought, reminiscing about days gone by? Or maybe a whiff of a certain scent or a familiar tune takes you back to a moment in time? Whatever the case, nostalgia is a powerful force that reminds us of our humanity and the timeless connections that bind us to our past, so embrace it, cherish it, and allow it to guide you on your journey through the constantly changing landscape of life.

Until next time, keep reminiscing and keep finding beauty in the nostalgia that surrounds us all.