There’s something about feeling stuck or low that makes the world shrink around us. Our days become routines, our thoughts a loop. But often, the way forward isn’t in seeking something new – it’s in looking back. Tucked away in the attic of our own memory are versions of ourselves we may have forgotten: the child who painted on rainy afternoons, the teenager who danced in the kitchen, the young adult who journaled, dreamed, wandered. And sometimes, the kindest thing we can do for ourselves is bring them back.
The revival of the real you
Mental wellbeing isn’t always about grand changes – it’s about reconnection. Rediscovering a forgotten hobby or a former habit can be like opening a window in a stuffy room. The joy you felt drawing comic strips in school or collecting sea glass on a local beach might still live inside you, waiting to be rekindled.
Revisiting these past joys reminds us that we weren’t always this tired, this tangled. We were once imaginative, curious, and resilient – and we can be again.
Memory as medicine
There’s science behind it, too. Research shows that engaging in activities linked to positive memories can trigger a sense of continuity and identity – something that gets lost when we’re feeling adrift. Even simple acts like listening to music from your youth or flipping through old photo albums can reawaken feelings of purpose and possibility.
In Penarth, where the past lingers charmingly in the air – from the pier’s art deco elegance to the old-world beauty of Windsor Gardens – there’s no better place to let nostalgia nourish you.
The lost art of doing just for the joy of it
As children, we drew without worrying if it was good. We danced because we loved the beat, not because it burned calories. Reclaiming this mindset is powerful. Whether it’s baking a family recipe, pressing flowers, or getting back on a bicycle, the act of doing something purely because it once made you happy can lift you out of the deepest rut.
Letters to your past self
Here’s a small vintage ritual with big impact: write a letter to your younger self. Tell them what you miss about them. Better yet, ask what they think you should do now. It’s a surprising way to gain perspective – and often, it brings back a sense of kindness toward ourselves that we rarely offer in the present.
Style, sound, and soul
Sometimes even how we dress or the music we listen to can bring back confidence or joy we thought we’d lost. Pull out that old band tee. Style your hair like you used to. Play that album you know by heart. These things aren’t frivolous, they’re grounding. They remind you who you were, and still are.
So if you’re feeling lost or low, don’t always rush forward. Take a breath, look back. There’s magic in memory. Sometimes, to move ahead, we just need to pick up an old thread and follow it home.
