Why do we feel nostalgia? - Clay Routledge

Nostalgia was once considered an illness confined to specific groups of people. Today, people all over the world report experiencing and enjoying nostalgia. But how does nostalgia work? And is it healthy? Clay Routledge details the way our understanding of nostalgia has changed since the term was first coined in the late 17th century.

Lesson by Clay Routledge, animation by Anton Bogaty.

[allthingsbaseball]

Nostalgia is the wierdest thing. It makes you feel happy and sad at the same time

[BroCactus]

Nostalgia can be toxic. We like to romanticize the past. Our memories portray a false reality. We too often remember the good whilst forgetting the pains. And the good is depicted as better than it actually was. We are left in a state of melancholy, believing that the past was always more enjoyable than the present moment.

[ilyguyss]

nostalgia really makes my heart ache. who else took for granted the life they had just a couple of months ago?

[KawaiiPandass]

When you look back at a good memory, it seems stronger than it was when you actually experienced it

[Kinkybaerice]

What triggers my nostalgia the most is music. If I hear a song from like 10yrs ago I reminds me of that time in high school or a girl or a video game, family whatever its like a bookmark in my life

[JaysFan]

nostalgia makes me want to go back to specific times and re live them. usually it comes from music, but it generally makes me sad lol

[CHILLAX]

Nostalgia is the perfect example of
"Don't be sad it's no more, but be happy that it happened"

[nevaehfischer]

*when you realise the movie ratatouille has examples of nostalgia.*

[Xuurls]

Nostalgia is one of the most pleasant and painful experiences ever.

[abbas]

I just miss my grandma she loved me so much now I've grown up and still hasn't forgot about her.. She will always be in my heart

[danielv]

we feel nostalgia because our life is shit compared to what it use to be

[mitsuki]

I feel sad whenever I hear any song on which I used to dance with my friends in childhood..
nostalgia always brings tears to me

[jayzhelleserano]

Nostalgia taught me that life isn't that bad than how I thought it to be, it made me remember and see the beautiful moments in my life that I couldn't see before. It makes me appreciate my life even more.

[ikarmax]

"I wish there was a way to know that you're in the good old days, before you've actually left them." -Andy Bernard, The Office

[zehrazahoor]

I think a more weird feeling is when you are happy in moment and realize that it will pass and things wont be the same, Basically feel nostalgic about the present :/

[esclance]

Nostalgia is very weird indeed. You feel sad because those memories can never be recreated the same way but you feel happy that they existed.

[PartisanGamer]

Well I find Nostalgia to be very fucking annoying, always makes me longing for things that are gone and will never come back - I find it to be very saddening.

[bgonf]

I feel nostalgia everyday. Idk how to stop

[Itisdone.]

It hits different when you feel nostalgic for memories you never even experienced.

[freddurst]

It’s like you want to go back and relive the past so bad, but you know those simpler times are over. It’s an overload of sadness and happiness