Sara - Week 13 - A Word, A Scent, A Memory
There is something about nostalgia that gets you when you least expect it. You hear a random song in the distance, a fragrance that floats in the air, or someone says something you haven’t heard in a long time, and then, all of a sudden, you’re not here anymore—you’re in the past, reliving a moment that you thought you’d lost. Whether it’s a word, a scent, or a memory, it’s strange the way something so small can sweep you up, the way one word can open a doorway to the past. Language is memory’s keeper. The words that we use, the slang we grew up with, the inside jokes we swore we’d never forget—each one is a thread that connects us to something in the past, something that no longer exists. But, we hold onto them, because in a way, they hold onto us. Sometimes, we use an old expression without realizing why, only to feel the weight of a memory settle in our chest. Some words are personal, linked to moments only we remember. Your middle school nickname that your best friend at the time gave you, the mispronunciation your family has of a certain word, the lyrics to song verses you used to scribble down in the margins of your notebooks. They aren’t just words; they’re memories of laughter, snapshots of a time when things felt simpler, or maybe just different. They remind us of the people we used to be, even if we’re not that person anymore. We take on other peoples’ words as well, generic signs of common heritage. Trends come and go, but the language of the trends is seared into our minds. Cliched expressions from old TV shows, how we used to text when we were younger (especially anywhere between 2020-2022), the inside jokes that then made so much sense but today feel like relics from the past. Each of these carries a narrative, a feeling, a shard of us. But nostalgia isn’t always sweet. It sometimes causes sadness, or pain. It reminds us of what’s gone, what people have strayed away to, what things we cannot return to no matter the attempt. We hold on to the words, hoping to bring everything back, but they’re just echoes. But even in the ache, there is beauty. For every sentence lost, a new one is formed. New jokes, new slang, new words which will one day cause us to stop and remember. Maybe nostalgia isn’t missing out on the past—it’s carrying it with us. It’s knowing that today’s words will become tomorrow’s memories, and that even as time moves forward, some pieces of us will always stay.
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I read the title of your blog I knew it would resonate with me in some manner and I just had to read it! I thought I was crazy, sometimes walking through the hallways smelling buttery popcorn and being reminded of that one time I was in kindergarten and we had a little “movie night” or when I smell a certain perfume and remember a specific time period in my life! Reading your blog was so relatable, we carry pieces of everybody and everything we’ve ever known within us. Whether that's, like you said, within our words, minds, or senses! I think nostalgia is such an interesting feeling. It's almost like time traveling. It brings you to anywhere and anyplace in the world that you’ve previously been making it seem like you're in that exact spot all over again. I also loved the last sentence you use about how "nostalgia isn't missing out on the past- its carrying with us” that was really well written and through our quote that resonates with a lot of people’s thinking process including me!
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteIn relation to your introductory sentence, I felt sporadic senses of nostalgia and quick memory recollections as I read through your blog. I agree that language has a huge impact on memory, especially because many people will often remember words they wrote or said that elicited strong emotions from them. Nostalgia can be great for remembering the good times, but I like how you included the bad side of nostalgia that some people overlook. I try to think that all my nostalgic feelings are positive because it builds my character to who I am today. Great blog, and I hope you find all of your nostalgic feelings positive in the future.
Hi Sara!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautifully written. The title encapsulates the sudden jolt to the past. I often find myself using old slang or remembering specific phrases from certain periods of my life, and it's exactly as you described - a thread connecting me to a past version of myself. The insignificant words or scents that instantly transport you is something I talked about in my blog. The bittersweet feeling of both comfort and a little pang of what's gone is something which I feel conflicted on, unable to tell if it is a good thing or a bad thing. I like your blog. It is very relatable.
Hi Sara! I absolutely love the topic of your blog and the way in which you addressed it; language holds so much beauty, including but not limited to the nostalgia it can bring. Language is what defines us—communication is a key part of life.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the way you characterize and reflect upon nostalgia, and I agree with all parts of your opinion on it. Nostalgia is us facing the test of time and still keeping a part of ourselves through everything we face in life, as you state when you say “some pieces of us will always stay.” Language brings both nostalgia and new eras—the way we speak acts like artifacts in the museums of our minds. I think your blog is amazing!