Have you ever wondered… about nostalgia? I have. I find nostalgia to be one of those magical practices where balance of its use is key; else, it becomes too easy to abuse. Think of it like candy – a little bit here and there as a reward or a treat can be good, but if you make candy your entire diet, then it becomes more harmful or hurtful than helpful.
love can be tough to navigate
when the mind is constantly
craving more
craving often blocks us from seeing
the incredible person standing
right in front of us
craving also disconnects us from gratitude
-yung pueblo
Y’all, I am in awe of and so grateful for how life often unfolds when you simply go with the flow. After enjoying a nice dinner with a friend last night, they mention a surprise idea. After a short drive across town, we arrive at a retro arcade. I had never visited one of these places before. After we pay the entry fee, every game inside is free. That means we played some classic arcade games from my childhood like X-Men and Time Crisis all the way through to the end. I experienced the entire storyline of entertainment that had enthralled me from an early age. There was so much less stress involved, too, because I had no concerns there about running out of tokens or money. It was such an unexpected yet wholly welcomed stroll down memory lane. I was reveling in all the pure nostalgia.
Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days.
-Doug Larson
I even made a fool of myself with DDR (Dance Dance Revolution), a game that I had not played in who knows how long. Now, was this night out at a retro arcade what I had in mind or planned for my Tuesday evening? No, not at all, and yet, it was an absolutely delightful, impromptu outing, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity. By being flexible and nimble in the moment, I now possess so much newfound gratitude for nostalgic games that bring back many fond memories of an easier and simpler time.
Nostalgia is a sweet place for a poet and writer to be in. But it’s an indulgence; a distraction. You can’t live in a distraction.
-Gulzar
I do not delude myself, though, by diluting my current experience if I were to only reflect forlornly. By being grateful for both then and now, I can keep moving forward with my present personal progress. I can acknowledge those parts of my past while continuing to work on all my current goals and plans. I will not live there now, but I can appreciate it.
Nostalgia is the only friend that stays with you forever.
-Damien Echols
What a nice thought that you can always have at least this one friend with you forever. It motivates me to recognize more of the grateful spots in my past. By identifying all those moments of gratitude, I store a wealth of information within my memory bank; it is one account that will never run out. Those friendly treasures can be carried with me forever.
Reminisce nostalgically.
Express gratitude for all the good.
Allow it to drive and motivate you forward.
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.