Two Sylvias' Weekly Muse: December 4, 2022

Issue 32

Hello Weekly Musers,

Here we are in the first week of December with advertisements and preparations for the holiday season in full swing. For many of us, this time of year brings hints of nostalgia as we remember past holiday events and celebrations—our grandparents being feisty and healthy, fun office parties with an ex-spouse, cooking holiday dinners with babies and toddlers underfoot, getting together with friends who are now long gone, the way everything felt so cozy and innocent on winter mornings when we were ten years old, mom curled up on the couch in a robe opening a gift and laughing, etc.

Although some of us might scoff at nostalgia as sentimentally yearning for the past instead of looking forward, a recent study conducted by Chinese psychologists found that the act of feeling nostalgic can have some interesting benefits.

Before we dive into the research, let’s clarify the meaning of nostalgia. Nostalgia is a bit slippery to define—it involves reminiscing about certain times i…