I find it interesting that we as people find comfort in things that accompany us during hard times. For example, my favorite show has become one that kept me sane on difficult nights, one small thing to look forward to back then. A stuffed animal from an old Disney movie brings a smile to my face, even though I associate it with being sick, since that's when I always watched it.
But why is it that we cling to those things that remind us of hardships rather than things we enjoyed during happy times? You'd think that would be the case. Happy memories and all. Maybe it's the reminder that we made it through that difficult time that brings us joy. I hear the theme song to that show and am instantly transported to early 2011 when I was at my lowest, and yet somehow, it makes me feel better.
Sound is another interesting thing. Memories are very attached to specific sounds, I've learned. The theme song to Cheers will always remind me of late school nights when I should have been in bed. The Monkees song will make me think of summer evenings when I had to come in from the pool so I wouldn't miss the episode. Monkee Mondays they were called, those marathons on Nick at Nite.
Memories are funny. I saw an ashtray at my grandma's house the other day that I hadn't seen in years. For a moment, I was back in her old house like nothing had changed, like over ten years had never passed, all because I recognized the grooves and the color in the glass.
So tell me, do you find comfort in old memories and odd places?
