The chorus of a song that is a decade old, the sweet smell of a familiar soap, the sight of an old and fraying photograph, a scrapbook which is scribbled by your high school friends all these things are seemingly insignificant. But in reality, these gifts of the past can evoke such strong feelings. It is truly remarkable how our senses can stimulate our memories and along with them, the powerful emotions that had once accompanied those lost moments.

A group photo of your school life can flood your mind with memories of the golden flashbacks. You can feel the innocence by seeing those crazy faces. You can remember the countless laughs you shared with friends. You can remember how happy and carefree you were.

Though sometimes it is unwholesome to dwell too much on the past, recalling pleasant memories can be uplifting and even inspirational in times of lowered moods. These recollections may be bittersweet. You may be sad that these moments are locked in the past, but focusing on the favorable emotions of that time can be beneficial. These positive sensations of nostalgia not only bring about feelings of satisfaction, but they can also result in us feeling more connected to those around us and increase our sense of purpose.

So the next time you may be feeling a bit down or are in the company of people you may care about, consider reminiscing about the past. The results might surprise you.

After all, who are we without our memories?