What makes you feel nostalgic?

Old things.

Seriously, though, according to the definition of the word nostalgic I don’t long for the past. I live in the now with the future coming at me. That is what needs to be focused on. I may think about things in my past but it’s just a memory; it’s not a desire to go back. In fact, I WOULDN’T EVER go back. Those stories are written.

Yeah, I can see or hear things that trigger memories but it’s just that – memories. Do they make me pause and think about my past? Sure they do. Does it make me want those things to have remained the same all these years? Oh. Hell. No. Absolutely not.

We cannot help but think about the things, people, and events that have happened in our lives. It is what has shaped us and the world around us. That’s not to say that we cannot learn valuable lessons from previous events. Perhaps remembering a few bad things from the distant and recent past would be very beneficial (Stalin, Hitler, fill in the blank) so previous mistakes are not repeated. But, people seem to pick and choose what to remember these days and don’t learn a damn thing from even the worst events in history.

It does us absolutely no good to live in the past. Longing for “the good ol’ days” (whatever that means) is counterproductive and propagates many of the issues and problems we have today. Honestly living in the past is really lazy. Change is inevitable so stop trying to fight it because it will happen whether you want it to or not. Look forward for once and be open.

While you’re at it, quit trying to force the rest of us to live our lives in YOUR past.