Nostalgia is a sentimental longing for the past, for a place with a happy personal association. Nostalgia is listening to Assyrian music and feeling an intimate connection to my culture. It is, going to the Middle Eastern store and finding childhood candy for the first time in 20 plus years and indulging it with my girls; or eating watermelon and bread for lunch, as we recently did.
Growing up with very little, borderline of poverty, and spending months eating our neighbors’ leftovers for survival, one of the affordable meals my family consumed was bread and watermelon. The large watermelon lasted us several meals, and the bread was the filling carbs we needed.
I have come a long way since, and now, I share that meal with my family. Why? Because I want them to appreciate the simplicity of life and how my family managed to survive.
Nostalgia keeps me grounded and grateful. It encourages me to continue looking for opportunities in life and staying optimistic no matter the circumstances because it reminds me of my past, where I was, and where I am today.
How do you stay grounded? Where do you find your gratitude?
