Nostalgia is, in many ways, a romantic concept. It brings us back to moments long gone, experiences we can only revisit in memory. And yet, the feeling it sparks, often a mix of warmth and longing, is hard to compare to anything else. It can also be surprisingly funny, as the memes in this article prove. Or even exciting. Either way, it hits a nerve.
Experts argue that nostalgia is much more than just a passing feeling. It’s a powerful emotion deeply rooted in the human experience. According to Krystine Batcho, professor of psychology at LeMoyne College and a licensed psychologist, nostalgia serves multiple purposes in our lives.
In an episode of the Speaking of Psychology podcast by the American Psychological Association, she explained that what ties all these functions together is the way nostalgia unifies us emotionally.
“One example of this is it helps to unite our sense of who we are, our self, our identity over time,” Batcho said. “Because over time we change constantly, we change in incredible ways. We're not anywhere near the same as we were when we were three years old, for example. Nostalgia, by motivating us to remember the past in our own life, helps to unite us to that authentic self and remind us of who we have been and then compare that to who we feel we are today.”
This emotional connection to our past also plays a role in shaping our future. Nostalgia gives us a sense of who we want to become. But beyond that, it serves as a deeply social emotion, connecting us to others in meaningful ways.
“In the beginning, when we’re very young, it’s part of what bonds us to the most important people in our life, our parents, our siblings, our friends,” shared Batcho. “As we go through life, it can broaden out and extend to a wider sphere of the people we interact with. It’s a social connectedness phenomenon, and nostalgia is in that sense a very healthy, pro-social emotion.”
Nostalgia also helps us reframe difficult experiences. Often, we remember the good parts—the joy, the wonder, the comfort—leaving the rest in softer focus. There’s always a hint of bittersweetness, but nostalgia allows us to revisit the past with gentleness rather than regret.
Few things trigger that feeling as strongly as physical objects like, say, CD players, toys, or collectible magazines. These familiar pieces can instantly transport us to another time. While we can’t return to the exact moment we first held them, just seeing them brings those memories rushing back.
That emotional pull is something Caylen Belcourt understands well. She runs Nostalgic Episodes, a Canada-based store dedicated to vintage finds and retro treasures. Bored Panda spoke with Belcourt to learn more about what nostalgia means to her and why she decided to turn it into a business.
It all began in 2017, when Belcourt discovered the thrifting side of Instagram.
“I saw people finding items I had as a kid or tween and decided to go to my own thrift stores to see what I could find,” she told us. “Growing up in a small town, I had never really been to one before, so this was all new to me!”
She started posting her nostalgic finds to her Instagram stories, and soon people began messaging her to ask if the items were for sale. That’s when the idea for her store was born. Today, she sources items from local thrift shops and garage sales.
Belcourt believes these items resonate so strongly because they remind us of a simpler time.
“As kids, we had the freedom of time! Now, as adults, we have so much we have to do each day and different stresses to worry about,” she said. “When I look at my nostalgic objects, I remember how easy and carefree life was. It gives me a moment of calm during my busy adult life.”