Why would one be nostalgic for one of the worst times in their life?
6-7 years ago, I was living with my father, working at a pizza shop waiting tables.
During that, my life was a mess. My father was in active addiction, and we were getting eviction threats almost weekly. I was broke, and drinking a lot as well. He was gambling, and I was paying the rent (or trying to) most months. I was broken up with, and spent years stupidly being depressed over it.
I would wake up, watch tv, go wait some tables, eat some pizza, drink, then go to bed and do it all over again.
I was just visiting family in my hometown. I drove past the pizza place without even thinking. I caught it out of the corner of my eye, and actually started to cry. I couldn’t believe I was crying.
And for the first time ever, I actually started to miss that time in my life. I missed living with my father. I missed working at the pizza shop. I’ve been thinking about that time nonstop these last few days.
I moved out 3 years ago. I’m not doing well financially, but my life is at least calm and not chaotic like before.
When living with my father and working at the pizza shop, not every day was bad. There were some good days…but I wasn’t happy the majority of the time… but for the first time ever, I thought “I would totally go back to that time in my life”
So, if I was so unhappy…why do I miss that time? Why do I feel so nostalgic?