Over the past few weeks, I have been thinking a lot about nostalgia and why it is so powerful. It has this hold on us that makes us light up when thinking fondly of the past, and I suspect the reason is that it is comforting to think about it. In this day of complete uncertainty, we are sure that things from the past will keep us grounded. Nostalgia offers safety, structure, joy, and most of all, comfort.
I’ll give you an example. The other day at the grocery store, I was waiting at the till. I looked at the confections rack and my eyes were immediately drawn to a Doublemint Gum package. Now how many of you remember the commercials from the 1980’s (I know, I’m aging myself here) with sets of twins pulling out a stick of gum to a catchy tune? This jingle is less memorable than the one for Juicy Fruit (remember: take a sniff… pull it out… ah, a simpler time for society indeed), but I’m sure you are starting to hear the synthesizer melody now. Well, for whatever reason, I added the gum to my order. I don’t normally chew it, and don’t ever crave it, but in that moment the nostalgia took hold. The wrapper may be paper not foil, and the color may be a bit lighter than it used to be, but when I put that stick of gum in my mouth, my childhood came flooding back. It was fun and comforting.
For a couple years now, a clothing store has released limited edition retro sweatshirts. Yes, for all you 90’s children, I’m talking about Club Monaco. Do you remember how popular those sweatshirts were? I remember walking into a retail store and staring at the full wall of sweatshirts, organized by color and size in a massive plush rainbow. And, to my surprise, the clothier brings back these garments each winter in a limited-edition release. Did I need a sweatshirt? Absolutely not. But man, I was tempted. I wanted one, not for the garment itself, but for the nostalgia. The power the past holds is vast.
The same is true for pop culture. Remakes of past classics just aren’t the same. However, sometimes a life transition shifts our perspective, and something we once adored no longer holds our affection. For this reason, I have not gone back and watched a few movies that I absolutely loved back in the day. Yet, I am drawn to sitcoms that I immersed myself in during turbulent times in my life. I can tell you which CDs got me through which rough patches. I can quote some shows that got me through high stress periods of time. And as I age, I think of how many performers from these the world has lost. Nostalgia is a funny thing. As one hand holds us back, another pushes us forward, and we protect ourselves with all the safety and comfort nostalgia brings.
