There are two things that keep my spirits up when everything seems to be going wrong—daydreaming and nostalgia. If you’ve got the blues, there’s nothing like cuddling under a warm blanket, grabbing a mug of hot tea and some childhood snacks, and thinking back to the good old days. (Preferably with an old movie, game, or soundtrack to help you get in the right mood.)
If you’re a nostalgiaholic who loves reminiscing about how things used to be and what we used to have, then the ‘Nostalgia’ subreddit will be right up your alley. A community of nearly 868k people, r/nostalgia is a place for everything—from things to commercials from our past, whether they’re happy, funny, or sad. Get ready to dive headfirst into your childhood. Just remember to upvote your fave pics while you’re swimming through long-forgotten memories.
Feeling nostalgic for some more nostalgia posts? Check out Bored Panda’s earlier article about the ‘Nostalgia’ subreddit right here. And be sure to let us know in the comments what you miss the most from your past, dear Readers.
Bored Panda spoke about nostalgia with Kemi Omijeh, a child and adolescent therapist based in London and a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. "Many psychologists, myself included, believe our childhood is the foundation to who we are as adults. It explains why we frequently revisit our childhood as it influences our present," she explained. Read on for Omijeh's full insights about the pros and cons of nostalgia, as well as how to control your daydreaming if it's getting out of hand.
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Who Remembers Looking Through The Card Catalog To Find A Book?
Entertainment Cabinets, The Click Sound It Would Make After Closing
Blank Vhs Covers Had Some Wild Artwork
Therapist and BACP member Omijeh explained to Bored Panda that how we remember our childhood experiences directly correlates to the kind of childhood we've had. In other words (and to generalize a bit), we're nostalgic about our childhood if our experiences are full of being loved and nurtured. Meanwhile, the opposite is also true.
"If we’ve had a difficult childhood, it can be hard to feel nostalgic, instead it will feel like something we need to get over in order to move on," said Omijeh.
According to her, nostalgia, aka our brains reliving the fun and happy times we've had, is good and healthy. "Nostalgia can also be a good coping strategy for times of low mood and challenges," she said. However, Omijeh points out that there's a limit: nostalgia can become a hindrance to everyday life when it interferes with our everyday lives and our ability to be present.
Legends Of Pbs
Remade My Room From The 90s In A 3D-Software, As I Remembered It
Elementary School Paper
"If we end up comparing it to our experiences today and feeling like nothing is as good as it was, then this will inevitably affect our mood and our ability to do what we need to do," therapist Omijeh said. “We can become stuck in our nostalgia; in which case it might be best to seek help from a counseling professional to help you process your past in order to enjoy your present. You can find a counseling professional through the BACP."
Another nuance is that when we're living our past memories, we're seeing them through a filter. The details might not be accurate and we're reliving what we want to remember.
Considering that some of us (ahem, yours truly) can get stuck on daydreaming quite a bit, we were curious to find out what can be done to control it and feel more 'present,' instead of always floating about in fairyland.
Visiting Home And Mom Busts Out My Sheets From 1986
Cd Wallets... I Know They're Still Around, But 90s Nostalgia
90's Movie Theaters
"Identify your patterns. Think about the times you usually daydream, is there something about that situation or those times that mean you’re daydreaming? Do something about it if that is the case. Set a time limit, use a timer if it ensures you stop," BACP member Omijeh said. "Write down the biggest thought or feeling as a result of the daydream. That way you’re not just stopping daydreaming. You are doing something positive as a nice transition from stopping daydreaming to doing something."
She also suggests interrupting daydreams by reminding ourselves of action points and to-do lists. Even something like singing or humming your favorite song can work wonders to distract you. Not a fan of music? Try reciting a poem or remembering your math skills by doing the times table. In other words, do something, anything to distract yourself from your daydreaming if you feel that it occupies too much of your time.
"Finally, turn your daydream into a visualization or goal exercise. Your daydreams could be a communication about your innermost desires. Could you begin to plan how to achieve those desires?" the therapist mused.
Viennetta, The Ice Cream That I Knew My Family Couldn’t Afford
Actor Jonathan Hyde, A Staple Of Fun 90s Movies (Pictured: Richie Rich, Jumanji, Titanic, And The Mummy)
You know what? I have never pieced these together as the same person lol.
Fisher Price Farm
My mom gave these to me cause she was cleaning out the attic. The silos missing, so is the fence, along with the stuff the horse is carrying, also no trough, it’s kinda dirty. I asked my kids to clean it off to sell it. And they go “NOOOOOOOO DONT SEEEELL IIIIIIT!” and I go “why?” They go “CAUSE I WANT IIIIIT” now guess what, it’s sitting in the corner, collecting dust. (But I also sorta want to keep it because it’s a vintage set I got it when I was like 5 and it was full then but you know how messy kids are 🤣)
Seeing how the r/nostalgia subreddit was formed back in 2008, in a very meta way, it won’t be long before someone’s nostalgic for its founding days as well.
Whether or not nostalgia is good or bad for you is a complex question, as we've seen. But, in short, it’s all about balance. On the one hand, living just in your memories draws you away from the present, making you blind to your surroundings and the important events happening around you. We should be happy with where we are in the present, not just the past.
And, well, if we’re not too content with where we are in life, it’s best to make some honest changes so we have some great memories to look forward to in the future. But nostalgia has some great upsides, too, and plenty of researchers and therapists agree.
Sweater My Grandma Sewed For Me In The Early 90s
I Truly Miss Rental Stores
Anyone Else Want To Bring Back Kitchen Phones With The 10 Ft Cord?
On the other hand, being nostalgic can have benefits as well. It’s no secret that the way we think and what we think about affects our daily lives. Similarly, Scientific American confirms that the bittersweet nostalgic feelings we get actually improve our mood, our vitality, and possibly even our mental health.
That’s because nostalgia boosts something known as ‘self-continuity’ which is how connected we feel to our past selves and the narrative we have about our lives. So it really does pay off to reminisce about the brightest parts of your life, full of loved ones, warmth, and wholesome activities. Just remember not to get stuck there for too long, Pandas—it’s time to make new heartwarming memories.
I Miss This Cartoon Network
Mumma had a chicken, mumma had a cow, daddy was proud he didn’t care how.
Somehow, This McDonald's Floor Was Always Sticky And Slippery At The Same Time
The Tupperware Lemonade Jug That Was In Everyone’s Fridge
Anyone Remember Seeing Wishbone?
Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993)
Getting Your Feet Measured Whenever You Got New School Shoes
Wooden Playground: Despite Scorching Hot Metal Slides And Rubber Bridges - We Always Went Back For More...
Big Wood Grain Console Tvs
My Collection Of Old Electronics That I Cannot Throw Out
The Blanket That Was Set Over Every Grandma’s Couch
Ohhh. I have one of these in my closet. Can’t bring myself to get rid of it. Nana made it! In those exact colors.
Checking The New Release Section In Blockbuster
I'm not saying I dislike having 1000's of shows and movies at my fingertips. However, when you don't have instant access to things, it makes them special and fun. Going and picking out a movie was special. It was fun. And I miss that.
That's where everyone headed first when they came in the door. I remember how disappointing it was when all the copies were out on a movie you wanted to watch.
I used to love it when the movie wasn't there so I'd go to the counter and asked if any copies had been returned that hadn't been put back on the shelf yet. Quite often there would be and you would feel you'd trolled everyone else looking for it
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And then all of them were gone and you had to rent the Matrix Trilogy again XD
Some of us use public libraries, where there are hundreds and hundreds of DVDs to borrow.
Getting to blockbuster first thing to make sure you got what you wanted
Closet you can get these days is when you buy a newly released DVD or BLU-ray.
When Blockbuster was closing they sold the stock, movies going anywhere from $1 to as high as $3, at least at the two stores in my neighborhood. I bought a bunch of them and that actually was the start of my very extensive movie collection.
The only ones that weren’t completely out were crazy obscure films that almost no one ever heard of. My mom would never spring to get these anyway. 😝
Ancient Cup From Pizza Hut. Nostalgic Enough?
Bazooka Joe Gum
Anyone Still Remember Wacky Races?
The Toxic Smell And Taste Of Plastic Balloons
90s High School Science Classroom
Christmas Life Savers Book
School Maps Over The Whiteboard
Paper Plate Holders
My primitive ass didn't even know this existed. Ever, not only in 90ies :D
Who Remembers Tiny Sized Chiclets?
Flintstones Vitamins
My doctor recommended I start taking 4 a day to help boost my immune system when she determined I had long-haul COVID. No joke. I'm 37.
"Zip Off" Shorts
if you're into hiking, i bet you've got a pair in your closet. i sure do.
Anyone Played Aladdin?
Mcdonald’s Ash Tray
Having To Watch The Price Is Right When You Stayed Home Sick From School
A Piece Of Childhood That Meant Warm And Fuzzy Memories. Gracie Films Logo
Sand-Filled, Glittery, Rainbow Lizards
The Dining Room Table & Chairs That Everyone Seemed To Have
Bubblicious Watermelon Bubble Gum
The Golden Age Of Cartoon Network (1998-2005)
Cartoon Cartoon (in dexters voice, from dexters laboratory)
Does Anyone Remember The Pagemaster?
Throwback To The Times When You Could Happily Spend Hours Just Moving Piles Of Sand From One Place To Another
Going To The Mall In The 80s And Having A Wall Of Cassettes To Choose From
Land Before Time! Pizza Hut Toys! In The 80s And Early 90s..pizza Hut Did Cool Stuff
LEGO Ghost From The 90s. Glows In The Dark!
Jeopardy! Alex Trebek Is And Will Forever Be Iconic, May He Rest In Peace
Heads Up! 7up!
Believe it or not, I once had to get stitches from playing a game of heads up seven up.
Remember When Mcdonald’s Happy Meal Toys Were Legit? The Battery Still Works In My Inspector Gadget Multi-Piece Toy 20 Years Later
Chalk Holder To Make Lines. Teachers Used These At My School In 90’s
The True Story Of The Three Little Pigs
Corduroy, The Bear That Got Lost In The Department Stores
90's Animation Drawing I Made
The Halloween Decorations That All Elementary Schools Had
Who Else Would Watch The Adventures Of Milo And Otis Like 6 Times In A Row When They Were 4
First movie that made me cry. I so, so badly needed them to be back together! Fun fact: This is a Japanese movie (Koneko Monogatari) which was incredibly easy to dub in other languages (no humans, no moving lips). Not so fun fact: this predated a lot of modern animal cruelty standards and laws....many animals were killed and abused in the making.
Cooties
Game Boy Advance Sp
And the original game boy and gbc cartridges would stick out, That was so fun.
Mcdonald’s Halloween Pails
The Cast Of Snl In The ‘90s
Pizza Hut
Anyone Remember The Creepy-Crawler Bug Maker?
The Old Mcdonald’s Drive Thru Menu
OK, this is actually so much better, and easier, looking than they are now!
I’d Spend So Many Long Summer Nights As A Kid Watching Nick At Nite!
Does anyone remember "salute your shorts" or "hey dude" on nick?
"Scrubs" Reminds Me Of The Mid 2000's More Than Any Other TV Show
The Kmart Cafe
Omg, I did not know that this was a common thing. I only knew of one Kmart that had a cafe in the store.
Ipod Silhouette Ads (Mid To Late 2000s)
Tmnt Select Screen
Best 99¢ I Ever Spent. Copyright 1988. I Have An Alf One And A Lambchop One Too
A 1996 Toys-R-Us Flyer
Dinosaur Hand Puppets From Mcdonald’s
The Leaning Tower Of Cheeza - A Goofy Movie
Arguably The Best Scooby Doo Movie, Scooby Doo On Zombie Island
Microsoft Golf
When Scooby Doo Gummies Were Actually Good
Anyone Remember Aladdin's Castle Arcades?
Rockin My Jnco Jeans Back In The Day
Kmart Halloween Costumes And Accessories, 1985
Twisted Metal
Anyone Remember Gatorade Gum?
Anyone Remember The Star Wars Pepsi Cans From Episode 1?!
Bass Fishing' Game By Radica!
Solid, Nasty Ass Vitamins
I guess this was a very American article, because I hardly recognised any of these.
im not american and recognized most of them, maybe its an age thing?
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I used to watch a show called Banana Splits when I was little. I loved the theme song part at the beginning!
The effin Banana Buggies! Who else wanted to drive one?
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Pepper Ann, Pepper Ann, much to cool for 7th grade. Pepper Ann she's like one in a million! Pepper-Ann...94503f.jpg 
I'm 70, and recognized most, except for the TV shows....I never saw that playground Excavator, and I would have spent a LOT of time digging around...
Hi I grew up in Poland (although in capital city which is always a step ahead when compared to the rest of the country) in 90’s and 00’s shocked to see that I can relate to and remember 80-90% of the things described above. My point is that: We weren’t that different from the west and US after all.
Wow. Like many other people I also thought that these things might be American or British because I couldn't recognize many of them but now I guess not
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Weebles wobble but they don't fall down. That was another of my favorite toys:) And the weeble haunted house . The ghost glowed in the dark.
Not for me, but my children's time. So, I remember and enjoyed a lot of that...second hand of course!
I am an American (apparently a very old American). I recognized the grade-school writing paper and, of course, card catalogues.
I recognized perhaps 10 of them and I am in my 30's. Is this an American article?
I guess this was a very American article, because I hardly recognised any of these.
im not american and recognized most of them, maybe its an age thing?
Load More Replies... I used to watch a show called Banana Splits when I was little. I loved the theme song part at the beginning!
The effin Banana Buggies! Who else wanted to drive one?
Load More Replies... Pepper Ann, Pepper Ann, much to cool for 7th grade. Pepper Ann she's like one in a million! Pepper-Ann...94503f.jpg
I'm 70, and recognized most, except for the TV shows....I never saw that playground Excavator, and I would have spent a LOT of time digging around...
Hi I grew up in Poland (although in capital city which is always a step ahead when compared to the rest of the country) in 90’s and 00’s shocked to see that I can relate to and remember 80-90% of the things described above. My point is that: We weren’t that different from the west and US after all.
Wow. Like many other people I also thought that these things might be American or British because I couldn't recognize many of them but now I guess not
Load More Replies... Weebles wobble but they don't fall down. That was another of my favorite toys:) And the weeble haunted house . The ghost glowed in the dark.
Not for me, but my children's time. So, I remember and enjoyed a lot of that...second hand of course!
I am an American (apparently a very old American). I recognized the grade-school writing paper and, of course, card catalogues.
I recognized perhaps 10 of them and I am in my 30's. Is this an American article?
