Nostalgia
What is it and where do I find it?
5 Ways to Feel Nostalgic Every Day
By Belinda Buckler
What exactly is nostalgia? As an artist I ask myself that question all the time. The clinical term is that nostalgia “favors a utopian and imagined past over a real one.” At one time it was referred to as “homesickness” and was seen as a mental disorder. Thankfully we no longer feel the same way because I would be out of a job. Nostalgia is now seen as an emotion that we use as a “time travel” to take us to different times and places and it’s more pronounced in times of uncertainty and chaos. The basis of my art is feelings of sentimentality so I spend a lot of my time “walking down memory lane” looking for inspiration.
Our senses are what triggers our sense of nostalgia – a particular song can take you back to your high school days; the smell of cinnamon can remind you of fall days and past Christmases; thumbing through an old photo album might have you remembering family members who have past.
Nostalgia can also bring out desires to imagine life in another time that in our imagination – from art, photos, and books – seem to be more romantic or simple.
“Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different…
C.S. Lewis
Whether you consider yourself a sentimental person or not, we all feel nostalgic from time to time. We often feel the need to preserve a moment in time that will live forever and we do that in many different ways. Have you ever walked into a used bookstore and the smell of old books makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time? That’s the essence of nostalgia. So let me share with you a few things that get me into that ooey-gooey emotion.
- MUSIC:
This is a big one for me. Songs that remind me of summer vacations, my first kiss, high school and college friends are all music that make me go gooey. In fact, I have a playlist on my IPOD that is called Songs That Make Me Go Gooey. It includes songs like Summer Breeze (Seals and Croft), Human (Human League), Hand in Pocket (Alanis Morrisette), Uptown Funk (Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars). Songs from all different decades, all different genres. I even love songs from decades before I was born.
Music can help relieve stress and is an amazing way to boost your mood. Experiencing music from different decades is a great way to build up your nostalgia muscle by imaging what life may have been like in that time. For instance, listening to music from the Andrew Sisters may help you imagine life in the 1940s during World War II or listening to Beethoven can give you a glimpse into the life of 18th century Germany. Let your imagination soar.
2. Seasons/Holidays:
As an artist I love creating pieces specific to each holiday or season. To do that I need to begin painting at 3 months before the season starts. For instance, to get paintings ready for fall I have to start I need to start working on new pieces in June; Christmas paintings are started around September, you get the idea. I need that extra time so that people have the time to enjoy them before the holiday is over. There’s nothing worse than buying a wonderful piece that is perfect for your fall display and you have to wait a year to use it because it wasn’t available ahead of time. Now you also know why Hobby Lobby sets their Christmas merchandise out before July 4th. If I had my way I wish they would keep their fall and Christmas merchandise out all year long. (I hope I’m not the only one who feels that way? If I am, don’t judge me, just love me.)
So because I have to get my head in the holiday spirit so early, nostalgia plays a big part of my process. The best way for me to do that is to revert back to #1 – Music. There is a lot more Halloween music out there than most people think- check out Midnight Syndicate, super spooky. And don’t even get me started on Christmas music. There is so much to choose from it would take a dozen lifetimes to listen to it all. I rely on music so much to feel inspired that I listen to holiday music all year long.
3. Antique Stores/Flea Markets
I love antique stores. I could get lost in them forever and never come out. It’s like going on your own personal little treasure hunt without knowing what your looking for, because it’s all treasure. I find a lot of inspiration in antique stores and I’m never disappointed. Many of the ideas I’ve had for my “Grandma’s Kitchen” collection came from the treasures that I found while going on safari in an antique store. Every antique has its own story to tell and is a small portal that transports me back in time. What a way to spend an afternoon.
4. Old Photos
You never know what you will find going through old photos. While going through a box of photos my Dad once told me that one of his uncles (my grandfather came a family of 12 kids) knew and had his photo taken with John Dillinger. This is a story that you don’t see in the history books and it’s a story that is unique to my family. (If anybody in my family has a copy of that photo, I would love to see it) .
Every picture tells a story . Many of these stories are known and some I make up myself. I used old photos a lot as a costume designer because it was an amazing record of what everyday people wore and how they lived. Whether it is a picture of a little girl proud to show her fur muff that she got for Christmas or the pride of a shop owner advertising his wares with a mural painted on the side of his store, these are photos of times long past and, in some cases, with loved ones who are long passed, but their stories are still alive. Thumbing through an old photo album is like paying a visit to those long gone and a great way to feel nostalgic.
5. Smells
This is another big one for me. I love distinct smells and how they can send me into a nostalgia-spin at the snap of your fingers. Some of my favorites are: the smell of lilacs reminds me of spring days and hunting for easter eggs; the smell of crayons reminds me of the anticipation of going back to school (I still love looking at school supplies). The smell of cinnamon gets me in the mood for crisp, fall days and family Christmas’ and the smell of campfires sends me back to bonfires after high school football games and roasting marshmallows after spending a summer day swimming and camping.
What are some of your favorites?
So here are just a few of the many things that help me feel nostalgia on a regular basis. What are some of yours? Tell me in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.
Nostalgia is a major part of my life – it’s keeps me feeling good, it’s a way to feel connected to loved ones, living and dead, and it’s the basis for my art and now, my blog.
So follow me on all the social media thingies and sign up to receive new issues of this blog, where I will be talking about everything nostalgia, where the stories are endless.
Catch ya, later
Be