Embracing Nostalgia: The Good and The Bad

This post was written by Charissa, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club. 

Have you ever passed by a place you used to visit when you were young and a nostalgic feeling started to resonate in your chest?

The feeling blew you back in time a bit, and sparked that good memory concealed in your mind to come and revisit. It was probably a joyous occasion, and that feeling of ancient and special happiness surfaces again.

Well, what if something bad happened to you? Would the nostalgic feeling be the same? I highly doubt it would. If I visited a place that held a bad memory, I would feel suffocated by air tainted with unhappiness and regret. I wouldn’t have a happy and elated feeling in my chest. I would feel empty and alone.

Something I have realized in this society is this:

We all have our good places reminding us of the joy and happiness life can bring you, but we also have our bad places that are a reminder of how the world can be messed up sometimes. Some people have one more than the other.

Personally, I have both good and bad memories, and I like them just the same. Each one is a part of me and can never be taken or erased from my existence. I might wish bad memories could be erased, but that can never happen (or maybe it could with the ever-advancing field of science).

Anyway, good or bad, memories make us stronger because they are from our experience living in this great big world. We should treasure each one with care, because we were specially given each memory.

Here’s something you should remember the next time you feel happy or sad about something that happened to you: Memories are like presents given to you by this world.

Treat them with care and never lose them, even if they are something you didn’t want. They can teach you and make you stronger.

This article was originally published on the FLVS Creative Writing Club blog.