By EmilyRose Nulty
Ah, nostalgia. A marketer’s dream buzzword and a universal feeling.
Nostalgia can be described as cosy and comforting, but also bittersweet. The origin of the word traces back to the Greeks (of course!) who coined the term nostros (return) and algos (pain). Back in the seventeenth century, a term once used to describe homesickness evolved into an emotion of its own.
Nostalgia can manifest in various ways and is unique to each individual due to the emotional weight it carries. The University of Florida explains that people can experience nostalgia through sensory experiences, including sight, smell, and sound. Human connection is another, such as conversations with family or friends and life changes. All of these, and more, can evoke nostalgia.
I find it hard to explain nostalgia because it hits in so many ways. But, as someone whose brain sorts emotions into neat little folders (convenient and slightly chaotic), I broke it down into a few personal categories: sight, sound, smell, and memory.
Sound
I am convinced that music has a spell cast over me. I can hear a particular song and be instantly transported back to a specific time and place. From Thin Lizzy to Keane, I grew up surrounded by a wide range of genres, which I love and that inspire me to discover new music. Coldplay, in particular, reminds me of sitting in the back seat in my booster chair, swaying to Clocks while my brother was playing a match. The music would be blasting, the window cracked open for air, and my mam playing with her hair.
Sight
Some films just change something within your chemistry. While I have a lengthy list of films and series. I’ll choose one. Mulan (1998) – I recall having this film on VHS (I’m a 2000 baby, okay!) and being truly immersed in it. It was the first time that I recall seeing bravery on screen. She wasn’t perfect; in fact, she was terrified, but still wanted to protect people. Every time I watch Mulan, I am flooded with a child-like awe of just how strong she is, and it serves as a quiet reminder that I want to be that way too, always.
Memory
My parents always took photographs of their life in some aspect, but my mam and her compact Canon camera captured my childhood. Opening the black photo album and seeing old photos, such as birthday parties with old friends, my dad and his friends, or random people you’ve never met but who have quite a story to tell. Photos are the closest thing to time travel, and boy, do I love it.
Smell
Some of you may find this one strange, but the smell of an old Irish chimney from a house built at least 60 years ago is my favourite scent. The air always feels crisp, with the smell of burning wood taking over. It takes me back to my Granny’s house, and this nostalgic feeling is even more special now that she passed away this year, but that smell makes me feel so warm and cosy inside.
As you can see, I love nostalgia, but it is about balance too. Yes, we love nostalgia, and it may make us feel safe and happy, while also serving as an escape from the craziness of the present day; however, it is also essential to continue learning and growing. Return to the things that make you happy, but also do things that make you a little uncomfortable because you never know what you may stumble into!
For me, I stumbled into the creative world of media, and now I get to create new projects based on some of the things I find nostalgic. I listen to certain songs to evoke specific emotions, which works well for me when I write, especially when creating characters. It helps me become what I am trying to create. It’s the catalyst behind a lot of my work, but it’s the current version of me, who has grown and experienced a lot since childhood, mixed in that makes it better.