Sitting criss-cross applesauce on the floor, you are taken back to being a little kid, eager to listen to the day’s read-aloud book. Your teacher starts reading a class favorite: The Day the Crayons Quit. Page by page, the class gets more invested in the story and as the book finally comes to an end, students are begging for the teacher to read another. This was a core childhood memory for many current teens. This moment marked a time where everything was simpler and worry-free.
There are many things in our present day lives that remind us of our childhoods. Nostalgic feelings are triggered when encountering anything familiar like a smell, sound, or keepsake. For sophomore Lucy Shaner, there is one smell in particular that brings her back to the past.
“We used to have a lot of campfires so if I am ever around one, the smell of it stays on my sweatshirt and takes me back to when we would have campfires at the pumpkin patch” Shaner said.
Along with smells, we associate food with memories of the past. Some days you might find yourself craving one of those delicious foods that give you a gentle reminder of your childhood. Whether homemade or from a favorite restaurant, these foods always hit the spot. Freshman Meyah Randles has always had a soft spot for southern food like sweet tea biscuits and sausage gravy country fried ham as it reminds her of growing up in Tennessee.
“I was at my grandparents house a lot and they made a lot of southern food which I have always loved,” Randles said.
There are many attractions around town that have brought a lot of joy to kids and continue still today. SkateDaze, the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, and the Children’s Museum are just a few. Shaner spent many afternoons at the Children’s Museum which was a significant part of her childhood.
“There were these fake foods that you could play with that I liked along with other activities you could do,” Shaner said.
Everyone has a memory that pops in their mind right away when they think of the past. For some it could be with family and friends and for others it could be something completely different. No matter what it is, it holds a special place in our hearts. For Shaner, time with family is at the top of her list.
“On my mom’s side we would go to the Ozarks and Silver Dollar City where we would go on rides all day and then get big lollipops and take a picture with all my cousins in height order,” Shaner said.
All of these memories evoke a nostalgic feeling that can be bittersweet. Everyone has different emotions when it comes to nostalgia. Some people feel sad knowing that you can never relive that moment again while others feel a more comforting feeling. For Sophomore Linette Koranda, this emotion is more sad than happy.
“The feeling of nostalgia is mostly sad for me. When I sit and reminisce about my childhood, I usually get sad thinking about how much things have changed and how we’re all growing up,” Koranda said.
As we go about our life, we reflect on our past and start to long for that simpler time. We feel this way because these moments give us the comfort in what we once had.
“I miss my early childhood a lot and it’s a scary feeling for me thinking how in a couple years, I’m going to be off to college. It also scares me to think that this is the last year my sister is going to be living with us all together as a family.”
Revisiting childhood memories brings us back to a simpler, worry-free time. We become quite fond of these special moments that we wish we could relive just one more time. With these familiar favorites, we can create even more memories that will bring enjoyment in the future.