An Open Letter To Nostalgia | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

An Open Letter To Nostalgia

Reflections on change, what once was, and what can be.

342
An Open Letter To Nostalgia
Wikipedia

Nostalgia,

I am writing this letter as I board a bus bound for a new life. I thought leaving you behind would be difficult. Every where I look, though, it seems I am reminded of you; whether it be a street corner I drive past vaguely reminding me of a friendlier and familiar one, or the bus itself resembling one the marching band has traveled in. I find myself frequently in throes of wistfulness, constantly seduced by your better-thens and could-have-beens. The journey to college, an event I have been looking forward to for years, has become a bitter migration north. You whisper of my ear of goodbyes not said and friends left behind, of the simplicity of "life back then", the so-called "good old days", a toxic and enchanting place in which everything in the past is gorgeous and straightforward and wonderful and colorful and without comparison, leaving the present in bleak, muted tones that can never live up to the tantalizing picture of the past you have painted. Your honeyed words make a past so perfect I can't help but try and mimic it, only to have my attempts to relive what once was leave me feeling agitated and unsatisfied.

You can't repeat the past. I understand now what game you play, what it is you do to me. Through you, the past contains no mistakes, has no trials or tribulations. You weave a story composed of solely positive memories, which once seemed a blessing but now binds me in an all-consuming fervor to recreate what once was had, thwarting me from attempting to found new experiences, to forge new memories. Nostalgia, you toxic temptress, I will not let you hold me back any longer from exploring my future, from starting this new chapter in my life. This time of transition is terrifying, you aren't wrong, but I look forward to the challenges and opportunities it will bring. I look forward so I may look back-- four years from now, I want to review the time I spent and how I spent it with pride, free of lamenting and longing. Even the old can become new; old friendships don't have to be relived, they too can become something brand new in the wake of this metamorphosis. I accept my past how it was, and look forward to embrace the future. I am my own author of this new chapter of my life, and I will not have it co-written by thinking about what used to be, what could have been. And when this journey finally comes to a close, I hope I will have discovered who I am. Although I don't think I've met that person yet, I am confident that I will be content, and look forward to meeting myself.

And you, nostalgia, probably won't ever truly go away. But your reign over the way I percieve my life is over. That is one thing that will never change.

To all who read, who find themselves as I once did:

We are all ungoing a great, exciting, wonderfully frightening transformation. Don't let the past hold you back.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

3396
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2057
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201373
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21666
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments