Nostalgia, Introspection and the Importance of Context in our Society

Nostalgia is a feeling that is deeply significant to me. Moments and memories from the past resonate with me continually. I build upon these past moments and memories and connect them to my present-day experiences. My photo album on my iPhone is currently overflowing, with 4,220 videos and 21,843 photos. I have photos and videos dating back to 2013 on my phone and more images from earlier dates buried away in various albums on my laptop, desktop computer, external hard drive and online. Let’s not even begin to discuss the amount of printed photos I have, marking different seasons in my life.

I believe that past events and occurrences in my life, whether good or bad, have helped shape me into who I am today. I cannot claim to be all that I am today without recognizing the circumstances that resulted in me being here. Capturing the essence of a moment in life through video, photo, writing, recording, creating artwork and other mediums help memorialize a specific time. When I am able to look back on that moment, I recall where I was in life at that time. My nature, my mentality, my pursuits, my strengths and weaknesses, my hopes and dreams. Looking back helps me remain introspective. I am able to identify how far I have come, strategize how I can continue to better myself and maintain an attitude of gratitude. Looking back reminds me of principles and values I have acquired throughout my life journey. It has been a way to recall forgotten desires and aspirations, stir up fresh ideas and gain inspiration. Being in touch with the past equips me for navigating the future.

To me, context is extremely important. I strive to seek and understand the context of any and all situations I encounter. Without context, I am missing necessary information to address a situation properly. Having access to as much information as possible regarding a matter helps me understand the depth and fullness of the matter. This gives me all that I need to strategize, make a well-educated decision and put my best foot forward. Context also aids me in supporting others effectively. I do not want to be someone who offers solutions quickly and always has a response prepared without understanding the magnitude of situation. I would rather remain tact and perceptive. Overall, I prefer not to be absentminded or insensitive in my actions, practices and conversations.

In our society, we have become accustomed to dealing with matters in a trivial way. Social media contributes to this approach on life, constantly presenting us with topics and ideas that are fleeting without providing true depth and the correct context. We are focused on a single moment, here and now. Our news and conversations revolve around the most recent occurrences, the latest details, the hottest “tea.” Many of the things we post and share announce our most recent accomplishments: a new house, a wedding, a promotion, a baby, etc. I am not saying that we should not share our good news with others. Comparatively, I have noticed that social media has become a platform for people to keep up appearances. We piece together our profiles with posts containing our best selfies, nicest outfits, latest travels, and greatest achievements. We are concerned with how others perceive us, therefore, we show them final results in place of incorporating context behind those results. This leaves people longing for our lifestyles and accomplishments without understanding the process, the labor and the background of our efforts. Furthermore, after a year or so, some people go back and delete their old posts, erasing the past instead of embracing it. We do not want the past to chip away at the image we are creating for ourselves in this present moment.

Our profiles on social media create distance between who we are and who we want to appear to be. We create our own façade and opt to relate to others from this version of ourselves as opposed to operating from our true nature and identity. This defies human nature as we are no longer in touch with our flaws and imperfections, which may be “ugly,” but are also beautiful because they comprise who we are. We are lacking in authenticity and genuineness which are necessary qualities to remain relatable. Context is important, even on social media. Personally, I refuse to curate my social media profiles in a way that appeals to my following. I do not view my “followers” as my audience; they are just people I am connected to in one way or another. I do not seek to grow my following or accumulate likes, comments and shares. I do not seek to know the latest details of the lives of those I follow, and I do not want to be at the top of everyone else’s feed. I don’t post often and, when I do post, I post memories from the past. I use my social media as an another means to remind me of previous adventures and experiences. My profiles assist me in recognizing my growth and maturity. It helps me dream and consider my future.