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If we were to believe the Happiness U-Curve, one of the happiest periods of our lives universally is childhood. It's when we don't have any worries, responsibilities, debts, and life was just generally easier. Different generations have different things that remind them of their early years.
On the "[Heck], I'm Old" subreddit, folks regularly share the things that remind them how old they really are. Old appliances, gadgets, TV shows, actors – many things can tickle our nostalgia. So, why don't you scroll down these posts and see which ones are the most relatable to you? But we warn you: you might find out you're a little bit older than you actually thought.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
You Can Hear This Can't You?
RELATED:
#2
Anyone Else Play With This Kind Of Early Tablet And Stylus?
#3
Nuff Said
It's fun to look back at ourselves in old pictures and rewatch TV shows we loved as kids. Reminiscing about our "golden years" can bring us joy, but we should be careful not to lose ourselves in nostalgia too much. If we do, we might fall victim to nostalgic depression.
Although nostalgic depression isn't an official subtype of depression, mental health experts did use the term back in the 1600s. One doctor used it to describe the melancholy and homesickness that Swiss soldiers used to feel when fighting away from home.
#4
How Many Of You Sat On The Living Room Floor With A Bowl Of Cereal Saturday Mornings Waiting For This To Come On?
ocean todd 10 months ago
It’s not the same, but just did this last Saturday w/grandson on a streaming channel
#5
Not Bragging At All!
Marie Clear 10 months ago
Too bad the photo doesn't have the 20 foot handset extension cord from RadioShack!
In the 1900s, sociologist Fred Davis offered to make a distinction between nostalgia and homesickness. From then on, his peers continued to look into the consequences of nostalgia and to study its benefits. You see, a bit of nostalgia does give us a warm, fuzzy feeling, but that's mostly because it's selective.
Nostalgia is very biased; we tend to romanticize it and remember only the bits that felt good. Even as you scroll through this list, you'll see that people often share nostalgic things associated with happiness, community, their childhood friends, or funny and wholesome memories.
#8
If You Can Hear This You're Really Old
#9
F**k I'm Old
Marie Clear 10 months ago
Had this merry-go-round in the park near our house, and we played Jarts (lawn darts) like the game 10,000 - someone throws one up, and you catch it by the tail for points. (And I'm still alive and perfectly perambulatory!)
In 2021, a team of researchers found that our response to nostalgic memories depends on whether they're generated on request or just come to us in our daily lives. When you open your phone and go through old pictures on purpose, you'll rate these nostalgic recollections more positively. If some memories just catch you off guard throughout the day, you might dwell more on their negative side.
#10
Any "Night Court" Fans Out There?
#12
One Of The Memories Of My Schwinn 10-Speed
We sometimes look back to the past to feel better about the present. When we're lonely, depressed, or just plain sad, we like to go back to the good ol' days and reminisce about how good they were. That prompted some researchers to suggest that nostalgia itself can make us feel more lonely, sad, and even depressed.
#13
People Here Will Know Exactly What This Is
#14
Does Anyone Remember This Movie?
Yet other researchers have found that our response to nostalgic memories depends on how we're feeling that day. If we're already feeling lonely, nostalgic memories may exacerbate those feelings. "Nostalgia did not attenuate, but rather exaggerated the negative effects of loneliness on affective well-being," the authors of one study concluded.
#16
Who Could Forget This Finale? It Aired 41 Years Ago, And It Was Kind Of The End Of An Era
Marie Clear 10 months ago
Attention. Captain Alvin Mercer leaves for a honeymoon in Tokyo at oh-nine hundred hours. Any nurse wishing to be the bride please contact the captain. No experience necessary. -- PA
#17
Back In The Day When You Were A Kid. Would This Have Been You?
#18
Always Funny
But enough about the bad side of nostalgia; it has a bright side, too! Research shows that nostalgia can boost our sense of social belonging and give us a sense of meaning. A 2023 study on nostalgia's effect on loneliness by Andrew Abeyta, PhD, a Rutgers University psychology professor, revealed that lonely people who go on trips down memory lane report feeling a greater sense of meaning.
#19
If You Remember Seeing This Machine You're Pretty Old
#20
I’m Pop’n Old
Heir of Durin 10 months ago
They still sell these! Bought one for my niece’s 2nd bday last month!
#21
And That’s The Truth
Nostalgic memories can also help us build and maintain our mental fortitude. In one survey, 84% of the respondents said that nostalgic memories serve as reminders of what is precious and meaningful in their lives. For others, they're a source of comfort (77%) and even inspiration (72%).
#22
It’s A Chair, It’s A Step-Stool. 2 Things Can Be True. Grandma Had One In 60’s And 70’s
#23
Who Else?
#24
Did Anyone Else Sleep In One Of These? I Think I Would Have To Be Helped Out Of It Today
Sky Render 10 months ago
I had a water bed for most of my 20s. It was nice to lie on, but miserable if the heater ever went out. Also couldn't let the pets on it, the cat poked a hole in it once...
Social psychologist Clay Routledge, PhD, vice president of research and director of the Human Flourishing Lab, told the APA that nostalgia can help people move forward. "It makes people more optimistic about the future, it boosts well-being, it reduces anxiety, it increases positive mood and self-esteem and meaning in life. But more than that, it makes people thankful, and it energizes them."
#25
I’ll See Your Paddle Ball And Raise You A Cheap Airplane
#26
This Always Seemed To Appear On My Parents Coffee Table Between Thanksgiving & Christmas
#27
Miss Days Like These
Nostalgia is also good for our future well-being. As a social psychologist from the University of Winchester, Verbon Cheung, explained to WaPo, it activates a sort of "mental highway" we can use to project into the future. When we remember past successes and friendships, it drives us to pursue new goals, meet new people, or even reconnect with old acquaintances.
#28
Yes, It Is. Received This When I Turned 65
#29
If You Immediately Recognize This, You’re Officially Old
#30
I’m Positive You Will Not Know What This Ls. If You Really Know This Then You Must Be Old!!
How many of these pics brought nostalgia for you, Pandas? Share with us the things that made you realize you're getting older in the comments! And if you want to see more relatable pics from the "[Heck, I'm Old]" subreddit, check out our previous posts here, here, here, and here!
#31
39 Years Ago Today, A Group Of Strangers Gathered In An Old House For Some Kind Of Party. Fio If You Know What The Occasion Was
#32
Anyone Else Look Forward To These?
#33
I Can Still Taste Em
#34
40+ To Understand This
#35
But Are You This F**kn Old?
George D 10 months ago
Oh, yes. This is when Sears was king and they had set up one of these in the electronics section. There was like 60-70 of us crammed in that section watching two dudes playing it. I can't express how profound that moment was because until then it was all pinball machines and mechanical games. Then 4-5 years later came Star Wars. It was a mind expanding time to be alive.
#36
Why Did These Go Away?
#37
Who Was Around When These Two Became Famous And Then Infamous?
#38
Who Remembers This?
#39
Who Remembers Him?
#40
If You Recognize This Man, Then You've Likely Enjoyed Some Great TV
Marie Clear 10 months ago
BH: I'm not against half naked girls - not as often as I'd like to be.
#41
Are You Old Enough To Be Freaked Out By This?
#42
If You Grew Up Back In The Day You Have A Definite Opinion On This Gum
#44
Filling Up Behind The Rear License Plate
#46
Remember When Air Was Free?
#47
Tears For Fears
#48
If You Can Smell This Photo…
#49
Were You One Of These Kids?
#50
Tell Me I'm Not The Only One Who Thinks This
Geoffrey Scott 10 months ago
This is how old I am. Our local 'Thrifty Acres' , Meijer, had recycling glass and metal in the parking lot by the hwy. Had a cafeteria, barber and beauty shop on the mezzanine, an ice cream stand (Purple Cow, with Ogden Nash poem on the sign), Sandy the horse ride for 1 cent. Alll goooone, except Sandy. Fred Meijer must be spinning in his grave.
#51
Rip To This Beautiful Legend
#52
In The 70s I Grew Up In A House Where We Wheeled The Dishwasher Around And Hooked It Up To The Faucet
#53
Critics Didn’t Like It. It Bombed At The Box Office, But I Liked It. Who Else?
#54
I See Your Pop Snaps And Raise You This.. Are You This Old ?
#55
The Last Living Beatles Members
Elwood Schwartz (it/that) 10 months ago
Ringo is nearly 85 and still tours almost constantly. I hope I have stamina like that when I'm his age. I bet the money helps.
#56
If You Remember What Movie This Scene Is From, You Probably Cancelled Your Canoe Trip To Georgia, And…you’re Old
#57
Terrifying Cowboy Robot - If You Know Who This Is You Are Old
Rose the Cook 10 months ago
Guilty, it is Yul Brynner. He was also in The King and I and many other films.
#58
We Had This In My Old Middle School
Sleepy Panda 10 months ago (edited)
A hand washing sink! I had one in my elementary school. You pushed the lever with your foot to turn it on.
#59
Old Enough To Know Who These Two Grifters Were
Earthquake903 10 months ago
Yep. Predecessors of Joel Osteen, TD Jake's, Creflo Dollar. Every single televangelist is no better than the orange buffoon in the white house. They care nothing for others unless they can get money out of them.
#60
Im Ancient
#61
Best Halloween Costumes Ever
#62
This Was The Face Of Public Health When I Was A Kid. Are You Old Enough To Remember Him?
#63
My Spotify When I Was A Kid
#64
If You Know What This Is Or Browsed The Catalog, You Are Old Af
#65
Bernadette Peters, Then And Now
#66
If You Get It, You're Old
#67
You Are F**king Old, If You Ever Dressed Up Just Because You Were Flying Somewhere
Marie Clear 10 months ago
Not only old enough to have dressed up, but my dad made use of the little ashtray in the chair arm through the whole flight.
#68
My 27 Year Old Son Didn’t Understand The Significance Of This Place
#69
Kmart Cafeteria 1975. I Can Smell The Coffee And Cigarette Smoke
#70
I See Your "Tales From The Crypt," And Raise You Elvira
Lost Panda 10 months ago
... I used to do a lot of rising for Elvira... I still do, but I used to too
#71
The Tylenol Murders Started 42 Years Ago This Week. Kids Today Have No Idea
#72
Happy Birthday To Robert Duvall Who Turns 94 Today!
Michael Largey 10 months ago
"I love the smell of living till 94 in the morning. It smells like victory."
#73
Crazy How They’ve All Aged So Well… Well Most Of Them
#74
When I Was 16 This Was The 💩
#75
Who Remembers This Movie?
#76
Are You This Old?
#77
Raise Your Hand If You Got One And Couldn't Wait To Try It Out, In Real Time
#78
Do You Get It?
#79
You're Definitely Old If You Know What That Slot Is For
Sky Render 10 months ago
Razorblades. Lots of old houses are full of them behind their bathroom cabinets...
#80
What Was That One Thing You Always Wanted And Never Got?
#81
Thank You For Your Service If You Ever Used One Of These. Bonus Points If It’s On Your Key Ring Now
Poll Question
Do you enjoy reminiscing about childhood through memes and pics?
Yes, it's fun
Sometimes
Not really
I prefer other mediums
Total votes •
1,101
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What do you think ?
Multa Nocte 10 months ago
These were great! Most of these articles only go back to the 80s or 90s, but these were more inclusive. Thanks!
Forrest Hobbs 10 months ago
Mmm. Inclusive, if you were American. A lot of it's inapplicable to the UK.
Load More Replies...
Bill Swallow 10 months ago
*sigh* Begin standard screed - "When I was born, the US had 48 states. The only thing orbiting the Earth was the Moon. On the entire planet, there was not one single integrated circuit - let alone a microprocessor. People were still saying 'I Like Ike'. Now I'm a server administrator." One of the nicest things about communications, and technology, and the in particular is that it makes it so easy for people to share knowledge, and viewpoints, and experiences across time and generations and continents. How meager life would be if we were restricted only to what we could personally experience between the time we're born and the time we die, within the range we can walk. If the universe hasn't gotten around to giving us teleporters and time machines yet, we can perhaps make shift with books, internets, and various media, and communities, physical and online. I luxuriate in being able to live in worlds that were gone long before I was born, and to look at possible worlds to come.
Janissary35680 10 months ago (edited)
Apparently I'm so old I missed some of these entirely!
Load More Replies... Multa Nocte 10 months ago
These were great! Most of these articles only go back to the 80s or 90s, but these were more inclusive. Thanks!
Forrest Hobbs 10 months ago
Mmm. Inclusive, if you were American. A lot of it's inapplicable to the UK.
Load More Replies... Bill Swallow 10 months ago
*sigh* Begin standard screed - "When I was born, the US had 48 states. The only thing orbiting the Earth was the Moon. On the entire planet, there was not one single integrated circuit - let alone a microprocessor. People were still saying 'I Like Ike'. Now I'm a server administrator." One of the nicest things about communications, and technology, and the in particular is that it makes it so easy for people to share knowledge, and viewpoints, and experiences across time and generations and continents. How meager life would be if we were restricted only to what we could personally experience between the time we're born and the time we die, within the range we can walk. If the universe hasn't gotten around to giving us teleporters and time machines yet, we can perhaps make shift with books, internets, and various media, and communities, physical and online. I luxuriate in being able to live in worlds that were gone long before I was born, and to look at possible worlds to come.
Janissary35680 10 months ago (edited)
Apparently I'm so old I missed some of these entirely!
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