Non-Stop Nostalgia

Nostalgia. A simple word that is only eight letters. That most people probably go day to day never using, or giving any thought to. But how can such an under used, quaint word have so much power. It’s like nostalgia is the tiny underdeveloped person who enters the weight room and is able to bench more than the bodybuilders. You don’t see it coming from such a seemingly nice word. Nostalgia is like the friend every one has, but doesn’t really want. They are always there, but never because you need them. They remind you of things you loved, but never help you find them again. They are attached to good memories, but really only fill your life with pain. The pain is the worst part. And there is nothing you can do about it. It’s like this friend, is following you around throwing signs in your face that read, “this weather is going to make you miss that one day last year.” Or, “remember that trip you took to Arkansas that was one of you favorites of all time? Well, that’s all over now.” And then the friend doesn’t even stay around long enough for you to cope with the pain, and they leave you. Only to return another time with something else that you will miss so much it hurts. So how do you avoid a feeling that can be so paralyzing? Even though it brings up the best memories, it’s hard not to feel sad. So do you try and steer clear of this friend? Do you try and duck past them when they haven’t seen you yet? Hoping that if you can’t see them, they can’t see you. When they call your name do you pretend you can’t hear? When they throw the signs in your face, do you close your eyes hoping the tantalizing desire to return to your past will leave? Even if you tried all of these things, nostalgia will find you again. It’s your shadow. You may be able to hide from it in the shade, but once you enter into the sunny area, there it is. Screaming your name and going on and on about how it’s missed you, even though you know it’s not true. And here you are full of the pain and regret again, because the good part of the memory is fleeting and all that is left is the empty feeling. And all you want is to experience that moment just one more time. And you swear this time you will make it count. This time around you promise you’ll appreciate it. Everyone has always heard that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. This is because of nostalgia, because the minute the good is gone, the unfaithful friend will return to remind you over and over again that the good experience won't be coming back. Maybe, it’s like when you’re in physical pain, and you promise that once it’s over you’ll appreciate life so much more. Is that the point of nostalgia? To make us remember that we should appreciate what we have, because one day it will be gone? So even if everything isn’t perfect, that we should smile through the pain and laugh through the tears? So that when we look back we will know we lived every moment to the fullest? It seems as though nostalgia is just reminding us to live in the now. Nostalgia is just there to keep us in place. To prompt us to be better, and show us that we can make new memories that one day we will miss just as much. There isn’t a limit to how many memories one person can have. And nostalgia’s calling is that exactly, to tell us again and again how much we value our memories, and demonstrate that we should make more. In the end, it’s not nostalgia’s fault, it’s just doing its job.