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Let us just put our stylish rose-colored glasses on and we’ll get this party started. How do we look, Pandas? Awesome, that’s what we wanted to hear!

The [insert decade of choice] holds a special significance for many of us and probably many of: it was (arguably) a better time, the people were friendlier, life was simpler, and the future seemed far brighter. Or maybe we were all just a tad more naive. That’s where the ‘Pics that make you reminisce’ Twitter page comes in. A social media project with a following of over 115.6k internet users, the account shares nostalgic photos of products, toys, and content that remind you of what the (recent) past was like. Most of the stuff featured here is from the past few decades, and it's reminded us to get back to work on our Time Machine.

However, it doesn’t matter if you were born in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s (hello there!), 2000s, or even the 2010s: nostalgia for our childhoods/the best years of our lives unites us all. And everyone’s nostalgia is valid. The things we miss are, at their core, the same. All that’s different is the shape and form, but the spirit remains the same. Scroll down, upvote your fave pics from the past, and tell us what you miss the most from your childhoods, Pandas!

Suzanne Degges-White, Ph.D., Licensed Counselor, Professor, and Chair at the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University, was kind enough to answer Bored Panda's questions about nostalgia, how much reminiscing is 'too much,' and how we can learn to be more grateful of what we have in the present. You'll find Bored Panda's full interview with the professor about the 'super power' that is nostalgia below. Don't miss out, check it out.

"Nostalgia has the 'super power' of helping us feel better about the 'now' by connecting us to positive feelings from the 'then.' Nostalgia can help us feel better about ourselves and more in control of current situations if we're able to channel that positivity into concrete actions or a reframed mindset about the present. However, when we begin 'living in the past,' we may be inviting into our lives less than optimal mental wellness and potentially compromised physical wellbeing, too," Professor Degges-White, from Northern Illinois University, explained to Bored Panda that there are certain pitfalls that come with reminiscing about the past too much.

"When we succumb to memories of how things 'used to be' and refuse to address the 'what is,' we may find ourselves overwhelmed by our current conditions and less able to manage current challenges," she said.

"It's often memories of home and the people who surround us that keeps us able to deal with significantly concerning or dangerous conditions. For instance, letters from home can be a lifeline for those who are engaged in warfare far away from what they consider 'home,'" the professor pointed out how being reminded of home can help people in very tough situations.

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TmKhr
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remember playing this on Windows XP in 2005/2006. Good times 😃

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"It's when we become stuck in our memories of people who have died, places or times in our lives when things were 'easier' or 'better' that invites in the negative effects of nostalgia. When we are unable to make decisions about a current challenge or get stuck in memories of better times from the past, we can sink into a state in which we kind of 'tune out' of the present and ignore very real threats or opportunities in the now."

According to Professor Degges-White, the very first step towards gratitude is 'waking up' and looking around you in order to recognize all of the things in life that you appreciate.

"It's also helpful to step outside yourself and see how others might see your life. Gratitude can start with the basics—enough food to eat each day, a job that pays you enough to keep a roof over your head, people in your life who care about you and to whom you matter. Recognizing that not everyone in life has been as fortunate as you have and acknowledging your accomplishments is the best way to begin. Making a 'gratitude list' really does help us see our lives in a whole new way if we are committed to acknowledging the way our lives have been touched by success."

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Deborah Harris
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We still have the PS2 neon green controller with the duel shock ( somewhere in the house) . I hated it, I blame it for all my Lara Croft deaths -.-

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The professor also opened up to Bored Panda about a personal experience that directly links to feeling gratitude. "I once received a letter from a friend who shared with me all the ways that she envied my life—from the mundane, that I had a station wagon, to my parenthood status, I had a baby girl, this friend listed ways she felt I'd been luckier in life than she had," she recounted.

"While it's clear that my friend was going through some difficult times in her own life and the letter might not have been driven by any positive motivation, I was able to respond to her with a note of gratitude and appreciation for helping me step back and recognize all of the things in life for which I should feel gratitude. It was a big twist on the construction of a 'gratitude list,' and perhaps it is helpful to seek the perspective of others who care about us in the ways they see our good fortune in life. But if you ask a friend to do this, be sure to return the favor in kind."

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We’re going to wear our hearts on our sleeves for a bit here. Truth be told, we sometimes wish we could travel back in time and be kids again. Life can get very hectic when you’re an adult. And we’d love to completely detach from all of the anxiety, just for a little while.

The war, the pandemic, the economic difficulties—all of these are making us look back to a time when things weren’t this bad… or at least when we weren’t aware of it all so much.

Being taken care of by your family, only having to worry about school or what you’ll do with your friends for fun, was a blessing. It’s nice to reminisce, but it’s also vital not to get too stuck in those feelings: you wouldn’t want your quality of life to drop in the present just because you long for the past. And we probably wouldn't want to go back in time if it meant that it wildly changed the future: we wouldn't want to lose all the friends and loved ones we've found along the way.

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emowankinemo
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE BLUE! Are y'all making this up to make me crazy?

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Sonja
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never seen the white-gold version, always the blue-black and never knew what the hell are they talking about when claiming it is white.

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Olivia Lisbon
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still gold and white, I see. If I really focus I can make it black and blue, but it takes considerable effort.

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Gin. No tonic
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When this first happened, I could swear it was white & gold (in the shadow). All I see is black & blue now. How times change...

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Dominique
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

me too! I looked away a second and after it was blue an black and has been ever since

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SlothyK8
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read this thread three hours ago and the dress was blue. I came back, and now it's white. WTF?!?!? I hate this dress!

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Jaymi Leigh
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like where would the black be? It's gold and white. Maybe an off white with a tinge that could be a bluish undertone but more of an off white / grey. Where would the black be? And can you not see the gold?

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Analyn Lahr
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Personally, I think there were TWO different pictures of TWO different dresses. And some people were just trolling to set the world on fire. I distinctly remember black and blue. But THAT one is clearly white and gold.

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The_Canadian_Zebra
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see the two. At the beginning I saw white and gold, then blue and gold and then black and blue

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xL3af
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

at first i saw gold and white, then i tilted my phone screen down but where i could still see the dress, and it became blue and black???

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Ladytron
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So stupidly interesting. It changes colors for me) And I would understand a white to-light blue transition but it's the dark blue that makes me so puzzled)

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SAF saf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the image was zoomed out you'd see that the dress is white w/ gold strips. It's seems to be at the edge of well lit room where it's darkly lit, the light contrast is throwing you off. Try blocking off the edges of the image and imagine a white and gold dress in a poorly lit room.

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Jungkookismine
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's both!!! Because of certain lighting and exposure it'll show the dress as white and gold or blue and black :))

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Ciara Ann Stone
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I first saw this on here it was blue and black, now it's gold and white

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Medina Oldenburg
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting, yestereday it was white & gold (had a really relaxed day), today it is black & blue ( I'm stressed out!)....

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Susan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always see black and blue at first and then my eyes adjust. Once it switches to looking like white and gold (in the shade) then I can't switch back to black and blue again.

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ERIKA H.
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is so stupid. Anyone saying it is not blue and black are obviously lying because the color change/difference would only be possible in person due to light. The lighting cannot change in a photo.

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Kaleb Prichard (MiraiKuma)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here is a youtube about the blue and black dress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AskAQwOBvhc

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AndThenICommented
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve only ever seen white and gold - is this a prank that I’ve just not figured out? Anyway - edit to add link https://www.livescience.com/50842-dress-debate-color-perception.html

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Demongrrrrl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yesterday I saw the blue and black. Today I see blue and gold. Weird.

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Huddo's sister
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have seen it both colours, depending on what device someone showed it to me on :)

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American Panda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is BP participating in this conspiracy? I’ve looked at this list a couple times now and sometimes I see white and gold, and other times I see blue and black, like they are switching the picture on us….

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Ray McArdle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay people. Wars have been fought over the correct color of this dress. Neither side has ever won.

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Cold Eagle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can someone explain this then. I always thought someone was pulling a prank bit if I am to take the comments legit maybe they weren't. I defo see black and blue?

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Dzjaz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um just adjust your brightness. The lighter you put it. The more white and gold it gets...

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Miss Frankfurter
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The first time I saw the dress on here it was blue and black. I had to go do something and so sign off. Now I’m back and it’s white and gold.

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Stephen Lyford
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a white & gold dress, but either the white balance of the photo is off, or something else happened, that made the white look tinted blue in the photo.

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Angela Turrall
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can see both, I remember when it first changed colour on me , I was scrolling and it changed in about a second to blue and black from white and gold. I freaked out and everyone at work thought I was lying, lol. It was trippy.

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Vic D
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Scroll down it's white, scroll up it's blue, I hate this picture.

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Wysteria_Rose
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see a gold and darkly shadowed white (maybe blue? still looks overly white though)

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Benita Valdez
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly depends on the photo for me. This pic is white and gold to me but I have seen some pics that look black and blue

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Shelby P
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw blue/black in the preview pic but in the bigger pic I see white/gold...

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Isabella
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a photographer I can understand how people see beige/gold here. Still - the proper color is blue. The light temperature and white balance is fcked up on this one

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Tiny Dancer
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, no, no, that's not how you do nostalgia. I refuse to reminisce about something that happened less than 10 years ago!

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My O My
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, so, this picture is blue and black for me, but the one at the top of the thread is white and gold

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JPotts
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It depends what device you are using. The colors are different on my mobile compared to my computer.

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Jessie Zhang
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm going crazy-how can people see gold and white but some see black and blue-

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Sven Wouters
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dudes i s**t you not. I looked at this post three times now. The first and second i saw gold and white and now i see black and blue wtf

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RainWingRoyal
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gold and white, when I turn down my phone brightness it's black and blue.

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Beck
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I scrolled first I saw blue. Then I blinked. Now I see gold and dirty white. Like it has a shadow over it.

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Child and adolescent therapist Kemi Omijeh, a member of the BACP, previously explained to Bored Panda that our childhoods are the foundation of who we are as adults. That’s part of the reason why we frequently revisit our childhoods in our memories: our past influences our present.

"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," she explained that not every person will have fond memories of the past. We tend to feel nostalgic for the times when we were happy. Similarly, we shy away from memories that make us feel bad.

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Deborah Harris
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These evolved into 'shag' bands ... yep lots of fun having a 12 year old in a shop shouting out ''Mam, can I have some shag bands!!!'' at 100 decibels ..I still wince over that :D

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"Nostalgia can also be a good coping strategy for times of low mood and challenges," therapist Kemi told Bored Panda. However, there are limits to how much we should allow ourselves to reminisce about the ‘good old days.’

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Pirates of Zen Pants
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only a marketer would think, "Tops aren't macho enough. Let's call this thing L-Drago Destructor and watch the money roll in" 😂

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"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," she warned about the downsides.

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TmKhr
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had one black, one blue and one see-through red. It was awful when you had to delete some save file to make room for another.

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TmKhr
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have the green and brown one at my parents house!

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“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,” she said that it’s perfectly fine to seek outside assistance.

Some people can end up reminiscing about the past so much that it affects their day-to-day. The therapist shared her thoughts about helping someone curb the habit of daydreaming 

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Deborah Harris
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember dragging my screaming Daughter away from these every time, there was always a queue of kids waiting to play and all she wanted to do was press buttons as she was too little to play it properly .. yes thank you McDonalds ...

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"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," she told Bored Panda.

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TmKhr
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

PS4 version had a different tutorial world, but it still gives me goosebumps even though I played it first time in 2017. It was my first experience with Minecraft.

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"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,” the therapist suggested.

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"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?" she said that daydreaming and thinking about the past can help us become more aware of our wants and needs in the present.