Nostalgia is such a strange sensation because it’s enjoyable and saddening at the same time. It brings a smile to my face to remember so many goofy and fun times with my friends or cozy snuggles with my doggo. I laugh out loud at some of the many embarrassing things that my family and I thought were cool. Then when I shift back into the present I remember that those times are gone, they are with the past.

What does it mean to live in the present?

Living in the present is certainly a worthwhile skill to master, but I think remembering the past can bring a lot of value as well. I could be wrong about that, I know that I can put myself into a morose state when I reminisce. Does living in the present mean saying goodbye to nostalgia? Does it mean that you stop reminiscing and only look forward?

I love my memories, even though I did learn recently on a Netflix documentary that most of our memories are false reconstructions….watch “The Mind Explained”, so good. Despite the likelihood that my memories are missing some truth, I cherish them. I cherish the feeling of almost being right there in a happy moment. I find so much joy when I snuggle up with a pillow and can almost feel my puppy’s soft, fluffy fur. I can almost smell her cute little puppy smell. Am I holding myself back by daydreaming about the past?

How can we find inspiration without the past and the future?

Nostalgia doesn’t always put me in a negative space. Sometimes it inspires me to find that joy again. Other times it reminds me why I am doing what I am doing and lights a fire under my ass to work harder. I can’t always find that fire when I am simply living in the present. Sometimes the present is boring and there is no clear indication of where I am going. But, wait, does that mean that I’m living in the future? I guess there’s still some work to be done.