the power of nostalgia

This past week, I spent each morning listening to a favorite album of mine from the past. To start each listening session, I closed my eyes and took a few moments to either revisit the memory of the very first time I heard the album, or another that I'd associated fondly with the album, for whatever reason.

When I decided to make this a daily "to do" for the week, I knew that I'd be an activity that I'd enjoy, but I had no idea just how much of a truly positive impact it would have on my state of mind each day. Though I did find myself longing to be transported back in time to each memory as I revisited it, the overpowering emotion that sat with me at the end of each listening session was happiness. Music - listening to it, reading about it, sharing it with others, seeing it live - is my biggest passion, and thus one of the things that makes me the happiest in life. Only a few of my best, happiest moments in my life (thus far) are not associated with music in one way or another.

Though it can, nostalgia doesn't always end with a feeling of sadness. Allowing yourself to be nostalgic about a fond memory or something that brought you joy in the past can be just the thing you need when things in the present might not be going all that great. Revisiting memories associated with some of my favorite albums may translate to rewatching some of your favorite childhood movies or TV shows for you, or perhaps thinking back to some of your favorite trips with friends or family. Whatever it may be, I encourage you to go back there, and stay there for a bit; let yourself enjoy and relive and - yes - long for the moment, if that feeling takes hold. I can almost guarantee you'll end the "exercise" in a happier place than before.

Should you be curious, here are the 5 albums I revisited this past week, which happen to comprise my "TOP 5" albums of all time:

1. Paul Simon - "Graceland"

2. Fleetwood Mac - "Rumors"

3. Tame Impala - "Currents"

4. Kendrick Lamar - "Good Kid, m.A.A.d City"

5. The Postal Service - "Giving Up"

As that #5 slot was VERY difficult to assign, this weekend through next week, I will be revisiting the following 7 albums:

1. Kanye West - "College Dropout"

2. Kanye West - "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"

3. National - "The Boxer"

4. Talking Heads - "Speaking In Tongues"

5. James Brown - "James Brown Live at The Apollo, 1962"

6. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - "Deja Vu"

7. Bruce Springsteen - "Born in the U.S.A"