I’m about to take my first multi-day holiday for the year. It’s nothing fancy. All I’m doing is visiting my parents, spending time with family, and seeing some old friends from high school.
As I was thinking ahead to some of those reunions, it hit me that my pile of memories is already big enough. Has been for a while, in fact. If, from here on out, all I ever did was to relive the memories I have in some shape or form, I think it would make for a lifetime of happiness.
Every time I meet an existing friend, I’m happy. Every time I watch an old anime, movie, or TV show I’ve already seen three times, I’m happy. Whenever I listen to a familiar song, look through my photos, or flick through a book I’ve enjoyed, I’m happy. This is a tremendous luxury—but I think it’s a point many of us reach without realizing it.
Of course, life can’t be just nostalgia. It needs movement, progress, and forward-thinking. But nostalgia is a reliable way of enjoying our spare time. How amazing if you’ve collected so many experiences already that you basically have your own memory museum to walk through any time! And this is to say nothing of the great art, wonderful people, and beautiful moments you’ll discover along your journey as it unfolds!
It’s a great paradox: There’s an infinite amount of books I want to read, games I want to play, and movies I want to watch. And yet, I’ve already had enough of all of them. It’s a great paradox, but if we appreciate both sides, we can never lose.
Follow your dreams. Enjoy what you discover along the way. Engage with all the art and all the people. And remember if you found zero new experiences, you’d still have enough memories for a lifetime of nostalgia.
