BY ANGELA HAUPT
WHEN PEOPLE WALK INTO KERI Piehl’s retro toy store in Albuquerque, N.M., their eyes light up. Wooden spinning tops, yo-yos, trolls, rainbow lava lamps, scratch-and-sniff stickers—it’s like time travel, unlocked.
Some visitors make a beeline for the games and puzzles, eager to relive their glory days. “I sell a ton of jacks to grandparents,” Piehl says. “I always joke that I should have an over-50 league, because every single grandma tells me they were the best at jacks.”
Indulging in this sort of nostalgia offers a host of well-being benefits, experts say. Research suggests that yearning for the past helps us feel more connected to other people while increasing our ability to offer emotional support. Nostalgia can also help us find meaning in life, build self-esteem, and focus more on being true to ourselves; plus, it can make us happier. Interestingly, it’s as much about building a better future as it is the past, experts say.
“Originally, I said, ‘OK. The best way to think about nostalgia is it’s this psychological defense mechanism—when life is uncertain and unstable, we look to the certainty and comfort of the past, and that makes us feel better,’” notes researcher Clay Routledge, whose book Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life will be published in December. “And that’s definitely true.” But he’s also discovered something surprising: when people share nostalgic memories, many are future-oriented. “It’s looking backwards,” Routledge says, “but it’s because you want ideas for how to move forward.”
We asked Routledge and other experts to share their favorite ways to tap into nostalgia’s benefits.
1. Watch old movies
Developmental molecular biologist John Medina sets out to bathe in nostalgic warmth for an hour a day, often watching old Disney movies that he and his mom enjoyed together when he was growing up: Fantasia, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty. “That’s my happy place,” he says. Follow Medina’s lead and seek out the movies that remind you of a joyful time in your life. Even better, watch them or discuss them with someone else, he recommends.
2. Dine like you did as a kid
In need of dinner plans? Load up your plate with a cafeteria-styles sloppy joe and some Pop Rocks and Pixy Stix, and pair it with a nice glass of purple Kool-Aid, Medina suggests. If anyone asks, call it the Nostalgia Special. Some research shi
