As I approach my final year in university, places on campus begin to feel more and more like museums of memories, rather than just empty spaces. However, when I catch a glimpse at my first-year residence from the bus, the pang in my heart isn’t tinged with sadness. It’s a different kind of feeling, one that is full of revel and appreciation.
When thinking about spaces where nostalgia breathes; art, novels and television shows come to mind. Specifically, a scene from one of my favorite television shows, Mad Men. The main character in the show, Don Draper, is a creative director in a New York City advertising agency in charge of pitching an advertisement for Kodak and their new film machine. Don decides to sell the product as a “time machine” that has the ability to “take people places to where they ache to go again.” When Don exhibits photos of his family using the machine, we see Don feel nostalgic about his memories. In that moment, we get a close-up shot of his eyes, full of tears and longing.
But does nostalgia always have to make you feel sad? This is a question I’ve been thinking about as I reflect on my time in university. When researching online, I realize the phenomenon has various definitions and meanings. The word itself originates from two Greek words, “nostos” and “pain” which together is translated as “homecoming to pain.” Furthermore, psychological research from the 17th to 20th century related nostalgia to depression and melancholia. Current research on nostalgia however has provided an alternative outlook.
Dr. Constantine Sedikides at the University of Southampton has embarked on various studies on the positive effects of nostalgia. Dr. Sedikides research demonstrates that nostalgia can help us reconnect with our roots, counteract loneliness and help us find meaning in our identity.[1] As indicated by Dr. Sedikides, asking the question, “what has my life meant?” rather than “those were the days” could elicit more beneficial impacts of nostalgia.[2] The key to unlocking the benefits is to appreciate your past experiences and memories, rather than yearn to relive them. To read more on Dr. Sedikides research on nostalgia, feel free to refer here.
Learning that exercising nostalgia can be beneficial, I find that prompts are a helpful way to reflect on my memories. Prompts can be used in various ways; while on a socially-distanced walk with friends, over a Zoom call or by yourself journaling. The spaces that hold a lot of nostalgic memories for me are located in my first-year residence, such as the entrance, dining hall, commonsblock and the field. If you share a similar feeling, let these prompts guide you on your reflective process.
First-Year Residence
1.) The entrance
How did you feel when you first entered your residence? Scared, nervous, excited? How has that feeling re-emerged or changed in your life now living in your own place or with friends?How much is different to all the fears you had in your first year?
2.) The dining hall
Did you have a favorite area to sit? If so, where was it? Would you sit with your friends or strangers? Was there something that made you happy about the dining hall? A kind cook or a familiar cashier? Good food or being able to make new friends?
3.) The commonsblock
What did you do here? Eat late night snacks from the vending machine? Study, play games, play the piano? What area made you feel the most comfortable? What small interaction did you have there that made you smile?
4.) The field
What was the first sport you played on the field? Were you ever there when it snowed? Did you meet someone for the first time there? Did you ever walk the field at night with friends?
Such a great read! I definitely relate to this as well. Thanks for sharing, Annika!
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