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Ever felt, smelt, seen or heard something and been instantly transported back to “the good old days”? I know I have. Memories of the past can make us feel sad, or warm and fuzzy inside. They might even make us wish we were still little... living in a carefree time, unbothered by the stress of adulting, and the chaos of social media.

“Nostalgia is often triggered by something reminding you of a happier time,” reads the description of the r/nostalgia online community. It’s a place where 1.4 million people come to laugh and cry about days gone by. If you find yourself missing your childhood, fear not. We’ve lined up an epic trip down memory lane with a few blasts from the past that are bound to stir up all the nostalgic feels.

In the words of the online community, “grab your Pogs, Surge cans and Thriller cassettes” and keep scrolling for Bored Panda’s top picks from the page. Please upvote your favorites, and don't miss that chat we had with existential psychologist, Clay Routledge. He's the Vice President of Research & Director of the Human Flourishing Lab, and has done extensive research on the benefits of nostalgia.

#1

Anybody Old Enough To Remember Being Taught With An Overhead Projector And Writing On These Transparencies?

Anybody Old Enough To Remember Being Taught With An Overhead Projector And Writing On These Transparencies?

ScrunchJeans Report

Clay Routledge is a psychological scientist, and somewhat of an expert when it comes to what role nostalgia plays in giving us meaning in life. He kindly agreed to share some of what he's learned over the years. “The most interesting thing we have discovered is that nostalgia is actually better described as a future-oriented experience,” he told Bored Panda. "Yes, nostalgia involves looking to the past. But the reason people are nostalgic is because they need comfort, inspiration and guidance to move forward."

Routledge says nostalgia can be triggered by various external stimuli, like hearing an old song or running into an old friend, but we tend to become the most nostalgic when we are experiencing some kind of stressor and are in some way unsatisfied with our current situation. "Nostalgia increases optimism about the future, the motivation to pursue life goals, openness to new ideas and experiences, and creativity. In short, nostalgia energizes and inspires us," revealed the expert.

He further added that nostalgia doesn't just boost our wellbeing and motivation, it also helps us generate new ideas. "I've talked to artists, designers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders aspiring to create and innovate. All of them have nostalgic inspiration, meaningful memories that give them inspiration," revealed Routledge. "People who think nostalgia keeps us stuck in the past or serves as a barrier to new ideas don't understand that a healthy dose of nostalgia often plays a critical role in the creative process."

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#2

The Magic That Was The Scholastic Book Fair

The Magic That Was The Scholastic Book Fair

MccreesKnees Report

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Robert T
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember the magic of the library van coming round. It parked up outside the school and we went in to choose our own books.

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The Oxford English dictionary defines it as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.” And it's generally seen as a positive emotion. But Routledge says it there are some cases where nostalgia can be negative.

"Nostalgia can be unhealthy if people become seduced by the idea that the past was better and it will never be that good again," he explained. "This kind of pessimistic nostalgia is a barrier to gaining the best benefits nostalgia offers as a guide toward self-improvement, innovation, and progress."

Thankfully, Routledge says most people experience nostalgia in a good way. "Typically, nostalgia is a response to, not a cause of, negative thoughts and feelings. And it helps people productively work through their worries by reminding them of what has made their lives meaningful and inspiring them to move forward with purpose," he told us.

"If people find nostalgia is making them feel more negative about the present and future, I would encourage them to rethink their relationship with nostalgia. It should be a source of good feelings and inspiration."

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#3

Flipping Through These As A Kid Trying To Find Your Favourite Bands Poster

Flipping Through These As A Kid Trying To Find Your Favourite Bands Poster

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Dan Flo
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah... Favourite bands... That is what teenage me was looking at flipping through those. 😇

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You might be surprised to know that nostalgia was once seen as a mental illness. "For centuries, nostalgia was thought to be synonymous with depression. During the Thirty Years War, several Spanish soldiers were discharged from the army with nostalgic symptoms," reads the Neuroscience Of site. "The term nostalgia - formed from the Greek 'nostos' (homecoming), and 'algos' (pain) - was coined by the 17th-century Swiss physician, Johannes Hofer, who considered it to be a mental disorder."

#4

Wooden Playgrounds

Wooden Playgrounds

Xnightx0wlx Report

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K- THULU
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, I dreamt of wood play equipment as a kid.... we had welded steel slides that you could fry an egg on in the Australian sun...

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#5

The Labels That Came With Vhs Tapes

The Labels That Came With Vhs Tapes

radcatmom Report

#6

The Ge Alarm Clock That Everyone Seemed To Have

The Ge Alarm Clock That Everyone Seemed To Have

2ezyo Report

Interestingly, past research has found that people are more likely to feel nostalgic on cold days than on warm days. And that the fuzzy feeling we get with heart-warming memories can literally warm us up. "Our study has shown that nostalgia serves a homeostatic function, allowing the mental simulation of previously enjoyed states, including states of bodily comfort; in this case making us feel warmer or increasing our tolerance of cold," said co-author of the study, Dr Tim Wildschut.

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According to another study, feeling nostalgic might even help relieve mild pain. Researchers from Beijing's Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences gathered 34 adults and split them into two groups. One group was shown images that made them feel nostalgic. Think children's games or cartoon characters from the past. The second group looked at more modern images that didn’t evoke nostalgia.

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#12

Cross-Section Books From The 90's

Cross-Section Books From The 90's

4khz Report

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Ece Cenker
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still love this sort of illustrations. They are informative and help your imagination actually get in the subject.

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After viewing each image, participants were exposed to a “heat-pain stimulation of varying intensity” on their right arm. And while this was happening, researchers were measuring their brain activity. The results showed that one group felt less pain than the other. And that “nostalgia triggers real effects in the brain by activating pain relief mechanisms, such as an analgesic effect.” Similar to taking paracetamol.

So, if your head hurts a little at the moment, there’s a chance you might feel better after looking at some of the images on this list of flashbacks.

#13

Mechanical Pencil Sharpener- Sharpened Many Pencils In School Using One Of These. Always A B***h Whenever You Had To Sharpen An Unsharpened Pencil

Mechanical Pencil Sharpener- Sharpened Many Pencils In School Using One Of These. Always A B***h Whenever You Had To Sharpen An Unsharpened Pencil

umasstpt12 Report

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g90814
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The joy of a perfectly sharp pencil, and the horror of one that kept breaking off or wouldn't sharpen evenly.

John L
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did anyone ever use one of the other non standard size holes...I mean ever?

Vidas Zlioba
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a kid, I would "fix" them every time I saw them mounted incorrectly (as in this photo). The container can be rotated 90 degrees so that it is "down."

Captive
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always wanted one. I had to turn the pen manually myself like a cave man

Tim Douglass
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I flinch every time I see one of these because in third grade we had a somewhat mentally disturbed kid who walked up to the sharpener, stuck his little finger in, and sharpened it to a point - literally a point on the bone. That's my little bit of childhood trauma.

realenancy170
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have one. It was in a house we bought in the 80's, we have moved twice and taken it with us. Still makes a mess every couple of years when I empty it.

Damon Hill
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worst part was when you got back to your desk, noticed the tip was loose pulled it out then had to go back and resharpen

Richard Graham
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Draw a person. Brush rubber cement where there would be hair. While the rubber cement is still wet dump the shavings from one of these pencil sharpeners. Viola! Realistic hair! (I still remember doing a Jesus in the First Gr

Scott Rackley
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm at work and have one on my wall. It's an antique Berol that works just fine. I sharpened it 10 years ago.

Tom Hardeveld
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and when the point of the pencil broke the damn thing became unusable

Chich
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have one on the desk here. The fancy one with the piece you pull out to grip the pencil and guide it in.

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Does the smell of cookies being baked remind you of your childhood? Or maybe a particular cologne or perfume brings back memories of your ex. There’s actually a science behind why certain scents stir up such strong reminders of past people, places or things.

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As Inverse reported, "Smells from childhood are particularly powerful in this respect because very often our first exposure to scents is in childhood. Our brains form particularly strong connections during this process in case recollection of the smell is important for survival."

#16

So today, I accidentally broke my autistic brother’s favorite dragon tales plate and I can’t find it anywhere online. If someone finds one like or similar to it (online or in your basements) I’d pay you for it and you’d be really helping us out! Thank you, internet folk! :)

Update: Daniel has received the dragon tales plate thank you so much for everyone's support and help

meatygonzales Report

#18

Burning The Sickest Cds In The Neighborhood

Burning The Sickest Cds In The Neighborhood

Jeffrey_Strange Report

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Johnny McFearless
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Person who made this CD definitely never could have imagined it's picture would be a part of every 90s nostalgia list ever, and that thousands upon thousands of people would witness their childhood taste in music. I wonder if it keeps them up at night.

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Routledge says that loneliness is a big nostalgia trigger. "Loneliness is tough because when people feel lonely they actually tend to withdraw from others to avoid further social pain, when they should be seeking out others as a way to not feel lonely anymore," he explained.

"Nostalgia helps. It reminds people of past social success, which reminds them that even though they are lonely in this moment, there is a way forward. If they have felt connected in the past, they can feel connected again."

#19

Working On The Car With Your Dad So You Can Learn How To Fix Stuff. All I Learned Was How To Hold The Flashlight And Get Yelled At

Working On The Car With Your Dad So You Can Learn How To Fix Stuff. All I Learned Was How To Hold The Flashlight And Get Yelled At

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Robert Cosgrove
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad used to ride with Lance Armstrong and I have got a DVD of me jumping over 5 lorries on Blue Peter

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#20

Old School Pizza Hut

Old School Pizza Hut

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SlothyK8
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I ever got really rich, I'd build a 80's style Pizza Hut as a tourist destination.

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#21

Wilson From Home Improvement, And How They Always Managed To Cover His Face In Every Situation

Wilson From Home Improvement, And How They Always Managed To Cover His Face In Every Situation

ABC Report

Nostalgia breeds optimism and resiliency. And if there was one time we needed resilience, it was surely in the dreaded year of 2020. If you found yourself reminiscing more than usual during the Covid lockdown, you probably weren’t alone. Routledge says that nostalgia is a resource that people use to move forward. And boy did we want to move forward and fly into a future that didn’t involve Covid or lockdown.

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Interestingly, nostalgia might have played a part in helping some of us get through those dark, lonely days. We daydreamed about the pre-pandemic times, when we could hang out freely with our friends and family, or just simply walk out our front doors.

#22

Removing The Faceplate Of Your Car Stereo So It Wouldn’t Get Stolen

Removing The Faceplate Of Your Car Stereo So It Wouldn’t Get Stolen

ebjazzz Report

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g90814
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mine still got stolen... and they went through my whole car to find the faceplate too.

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#23

Rear Door Ashtrays; Playing With These As A Kid On Car Rides

Rear Door Ashtrays; Playing With These As A Kid On Car Rides

FunnyCutty23 Report

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Geoffrey Scott
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fancy ones, like this Lincoln, even had lighters. The cheaper ones has the ashtray in the back of the front seat.

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#24

Remember When You Didn’t Have To Enter Your Personal Info Online To Win A Soda?

Remember When You Didn’t Have To Enter Your Personal Info Online To Win A Soda?

VitruvianHooligan Report

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JohninND
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah yes, before every aspect of our lives was monetized and we became the product.

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“COVID lockdown was a time of health, social, and economic anxiety. Nostalgia not only provided psychological comfort by giving people a fun distraction. It gave them hope for the future by reminding them that life is bigger than one period of time,” said Routledge during our interview.

“They could use what was meaningful in the past to help them plan for the future. In fact, the pandemic inspired many people to really think about what is important in their lives, what the want to prioritize or not take for granted moving forward. Their nostalgic memories helped them plot that path.”

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Ironically, a few years later, some people are now nostalgic for the days of face-masks, social distancing, and isolation.

#25

This Velcro Toss And Catch Game

This Velcro Toss And Catch Game

anarachelb Report

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UKGrandad
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again, how can one be nostalgic about things that are still readily available in shops?

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#26

Ahhh Yes, Square Slices Of Pizza At School

Ahhh Yes, Square Slices Of Pizza At School

Whitlow14 Report

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#29

Who Remembers Shopping For School Clothes Around This Time Of Year, But Your Mom Not Letting You Wear Anything Until School Started?

Who Remembers Shopping For School Clothes Around This Time Of Year, But Your Mom Not Letting You Wear Anything Until School Started?

reddit.com Report

#31

Those Red Pebbled Cups From The Pizza Joint With The Arcade When You Were A Kid

Those Red Pebbled Cups From The Pizza Joint With The Arcade When You Were A Kid

Kiarray Report

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#33

Remember When Laptops Used To Have That Little Rubber Clit For A Mouse?

Remember When Laptops Used To Have That Little Rubber Clit For A Mouse?

reddit.com Report

#34

Glittery Sand Lizards

Glittery Sand Lizards

reddit.com Report

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VikingAbroad
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still ha these! But in dragon shape, I give them out to youngsters who are insecure or scared. They help them relax and change their focus. ❤️

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#35

I Just Remembered How Much I Loved These Wooden Pattern Blocks

I Just Remembered How Much I Loved These Wooden Pattern Blocks

anarachelb Report

Note: this post originally had 96 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.