Holiday Season Nostalgia

Photo Credit - Pinterest

As I'm writing this blog, I am sitting in front of a window, looking out at the snow, and watching people walk past. Whenever it snows I like to find a place to people watch and see the snow fall. As I'm sitting here and looking out at the city, it is giving me a mixture of happy and sad nostalgia. I think this time of year makes a lot of people feel at ease and happy. I also think this time of year can leave people with a sense of longing, yearning, or sadness. I think both can be beautiful things.

It has been proven that around the late Fall/Winter months depressive symptoms are the highest compared to the rest of the year. Scientifically, this is because of the reduced sunlight which can disrupt our circadian rhythm and serotonin levels. I think another (less scientific) reason is because the contrast of people's holiday expectations and their reality/current circumstances can be hard to deal with. I'm sure that everybody has a vision of what they would like their dream holiday season to look like, but sometimes some things are just easier said than done, and this can leave people feeling depressed, or dissatisfied with their current position. The late Fall/Winter months may also be hard for some people because it can cause you to reminisce on life. The holiday season is known for nostalgia. Thanksgiving is about looking back on your life and being grateful, Christmas reminds us of our childhood and family, and New Years is about reflecting on the year you had and planning for the one to come. Having these holidays back to back makes us constantly reflect on the past, while thinking about the future simultaneously, which can leave us with feelings of sadness from time to time. As someone who is constantly feeling nostalgic and looking back on past events of my life, the holiday season only magnifies these emotions.

The holiday season though, does not only evoke feelings of sad nostalgia. For many, the holiday season is a time of pure joy and bliss. Being off of school, spending time with loved ones, and doing winter activities are just a few of the fun things that come with the holiday season. I believe there is a reason it's known as the most wonderful time of the year. There is so much childlike joy in the air this time of year it's almost impossible not to feel it. Just because it is the season of reflection does not mean it can only spark sad emotions. Sometimes looking back at where you used to be, versus where you are now can be a very strong reminder and encouragement.

There are a lot of emotions that can come up during this time of year, and I think the ability to feel them all at once is very beautiful. I like to think that two things can be true at once, and that you can feel both happy and sad nostalgia at the same time. Call me crazy, but I really do believe in holiday magic, and there truly is something special about having 3 holidays back to back to end off a calendar year. This holiday season, as we inch closer to Thanksgiving, I hope everybody can reflect on past moments of their lives and feel a sense of calm and peace. In addition to that, we should be present in every moment we are experiencing now, so that next holiday season we can look back and feel a new sense of pride for the future people we will have become.

Bye for now everybody!

-SideNote xoxo