The Power of Nostalgia and Growth From It

Every now and then, I catch myself drifting back 10 or 15 years.

For me this is a song by Good Charlotte or a 1998 Gold Toyota Camry.

For you it could be: A song, a certain smell, or an old photo that pops up on social media.

And just like that, I’m there again—living in a time that feels familiar and yet distant.
A version of me that was full of questions and floating along just to figure it out. It was a curious stage of life, maybe a little restless or eagerness.

There’s a strange warmth in that kind of memory.
A soft ache that doesn’t come from regret—but from realizing just how far I’ve come.

Time Doesn’t Erase—It Transforms

That stage of life—whatever it was for you—was real.
It mattered.
And it shaped the person you are today.

But it’s okay to outgrow it.

You’re not meant to live in those years forever.
You’re meant to carry the best parts forward—like an old hoodie that still fits just right and keeps you warm, even if it’s a little worn around the edges.

From Experience to Echo

There’s something powerful about noticing when a moment crosses over.
When it’s no longer now, but then.

You don’t always realize it right away.
But when you go back to that place—or revisit that rhythm—months or years later, it can hit you like a ton of bricks.

You feel it in your bones.
That place has become a memory.
That phase of life has quietly slipped into the rearviewslowly faded to a quiet “long time ago”. Every time I go to Main St, I’m reminded of that time.

It’s the coffee shop, the walking, and the sharing of stories with friends at night.

The way the cobblestones caught the glow of the streetlights or how the parking lot lit uneven, quiet, and dim.
What was once your daily life is now a story you tell.

And that’s okay.

Because those moments still live in you.
Not to trap you—but to remind you.

Of how much you’ve grown.
Of what you’ve overcome.
Of how your values and dreams have been sharpened by the journey.

Gratitude for the Journey

If you’re feeling caught between who you were and who you’re becoming, you’re not alone.

It’s bittersweet tension—missing a past version of your life while still being proud of the road you’ve taken.

Let yourself feel it.

Nostalgia isn’t weakness.
It’s a superpower.

Recognizing how your life has shifted—how you’ve changed—isn’t a sign of being stuck.
It’s a sign of growth.

So yeah, that chapter of your life might be closed.
But the feeling it gave you?
That’s something you can carry forward.

Family Ties

This feeling can be a gift to your kids and your family.

Let that feeling flow into your daily life—especially into how you show up as a dad.

When that song plays and stirs something in you, bring your kids into the moment.
Tell them what it means.
Where it takes you.
What kind of person you were back then.

Because kids don’t always know that we were kids once, too.

Don’t shield them from your past—share it.
Use your experiences to guide them through their own.

Pull out old pictures.
Show them the pictures and share the stories behind them.

They’d be amazed at how you looked or laugh at your old style.

I even still chuckle at my long, wavy, curly hair I had.
Let them see that life was different then, but some things—like growing up, messing up, and finding your way—never change.

You’ve lived through your highlights.
Now let your kids experience them through you.

And maybe, just maybe, that memory becomes a brand new one—this time, together.

Here’s my challenge to you:

What’s one memory you have that formed your childhood or adolescence into who you are today?

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