Childhood Nostalgia

I hear a lot of people reminiscing on their childhood memories. When they used to stay out late, or do that thing, see life that way. Yet it’s not these specific experiences that they miss, but an attitude towards life. A time when they were less jaded, more trustful, less aware of their mortality, more open to new experiences. They view this attitude as unclaimable, lost forever to cynicism, suspicion and fear. And perhaps in some ways that’s true, we cannot forget the sting of betrayal, or the experience of mortality. They give us perspective on the truths of life that it is fleeting and that we must make the most of our time. The transition from childhood to adulthood is a journey of experience of learning and of pain. Pain either because of an experience or because of saying goodbye to that very childhood mentality. As with all growing and change, we need to experience a little pain to grow.

I would say that this attitude is not lost forever. We can be more trustful, less jaded, and more open to new experiences. We can look at mortality with acceptance instead of fear. Knowing all will end is not an excuse to put off the inevitable but a call to action, not to fight, but to experience life for what it is. The knowledge that survival isn’t enough. Trying to make the most of the seconds we have as they tick onwards. We can be more trustful, more forgiving, more compassionate, we can find it in our hearts to not let bitter experiences sour our lives. To try new things, to go outside of our comfort zone. We can gain back what we really miss, which is not to go out late, but to live in the present and we can bring something new to each moment: the knowledge that we should treasure these moments.