Reframing Nostalgia
I've been feeling quite nostalgic lately. For everything from the triumphs of my early career to the deep imaginative immersion of classic video games and young adult fiction.
Yet, I know that being too nostalgic is like being stuck in the past. The present is really all you have, so if you're going to be thinking oh wow I had it so good X years ago, you're sacrificing the richness of the present.
One question I ask myself that always helps: "In what ways will be I nostalgic for my life today, 10 years in the future?"
That snaps me back into the present. It reminds me of all the great things in my life today — I am quite possibly in my best health, my parents and close family members are all alive and well, I'm traveling frequently, I have many adventures to look forward to in life and at work, and the list goes on.
It's surprising how a simple, effective question can alter your perspective like that.
