Why Everyone Should Reminisce from Time to Time

Yes, I know, when I think of reminiscing I get all emotional too and this is going to be my first emotional post in a short series as I lead up to graduation in a little over two weeks, so bare with me. With my class load winding down and graduation approaching this realization has been creeping up on me slowly and suddenly it’s grabbing me whole. Even writing this right now I’m feeling a little choked up but it’s okay because that’s what I want to discuss today! How perfect is that?

So reminiscing, what’s that all about? Some people will say you’re living in the past but to me it’s about conjuring up old memories and emotions, laughing with your friends, and keeping those memories alive. For those who’ve been following my blog you know that is one of the most important things to me, laughing. But with the good also comes the sad and those memories are just as important, why? Because they stop and make you think.

People get so busy they forget where they are or how they got there, but when they start reminiscing it stops them in their tracks and think, “Wow, it’s been that long, how did we get here?” I like to remember the entire journey and keep in perspective the hard work I put in to get where I am now. But, most importantly, reminiscing the good and the bad help me remember where I came from and keeps me connected to my old friends, respectively.

Reminders

In my life I have a lot of proud moments but also moments I wish I could live over again, but unfortunately I can’t do that unless time travel is invented in the future…(No? Nothing yet? I guess they’re still working on it.) But would I really want to relive those moments over again? I don’t think so.

Those moments made me who I am and they remind me of what I’ve gone through to get to where I am today. I am the first to admit I’ve made mistakes but I will always learn from them and push forward. I try to remember these sad memories because of one of my favorite Abraham Lincoln quotes, “I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.” Since these memories are at the front of my mind I will always remember them and never make the same mistake twice.

But reminiscing about the good memories is also important because it helps you reconnect with old friends.

Reconnecting

Sadly I’ve drifted away from many friends in my life and that happens. People get busy with life and don’t have the time to just get together like they used to. But that doesn’t mean people stop talking altogether. I can’t tell you how many times I’ll recount the story about the time my friend Ethan and I attempted a rolling switch in a car. I jumped out, he didn’t, and I hit the ground trying to roll, more like flopping, and proceeded to catch up to the car for both of us to almost wet ourselves from laughing.

Tyler, Me, Ethan, Jarod at High School Graduation

That story brings up so many other memories from high school and I then begin reconnecting with my friends. We were young and we were stupid and we made mistakes, like trying to switch in a moving vehicle. We learned from these moments and can look back and laugh at ourselves now but the point is we end up laughing together. When we do get together we pick up right where we left off and it’s like nothing ever changed.

The message to take from this post is to take the time to reminisce. Don’t get so caught up in what you’re doing that you forget about your past. Cherish the good and the bad, remember where you came from, and take the time to stay connected with old friends.