Skip to main content

Why we get so attached to certain songs and movies

If you're like me, there are at least a handful of songs and/or movies that hold a special place in your heart.

We associate certain songs and movies with fond moments and times in our lives.

Examples may include:

  • The first movie you saw with an ex or your current partner
  • A song that was played at your high school prom
  • A song that you'd sing with your friends at summer camp
  • Songs or movies that came out while you were in college, presumably a relaxed and carefree epoch in your life
  • A song or movie that came out during other defining periods in your life, e.g., while you were serving in the war or traveling around the country.
Songs and movies can take us back in time. Perhaps you've noted that a certain song or movie first came out before you had kids, converted to Judaism, began working for your current employer, or bought your two-story house. Indeed, some songs and movies lead us to compare an older version of ourselves (when they were first released) to a newer one (the present).

Hopefully, we're happier with the post-movie/song version of ourselves.

If you say, "Man, I wish I could go back to living in 1985, when Back to the Future hit theaters, it suggests you're not content in the present.

It makes sense for senior citizens, moreover, to wish they could relive their youth. But if you're 40 years old and still wishing you were 25, perhaps you should delve deeper into why you persistently long for the past.

While there's nothing wrong in cherishing great times evoked by older songs and movies, we should always try to remain forward-looking.

As I've stated before, it's our experiences -- not material possessions -- that bring us the most joy. Instead of focusing only on past experiences, we should aim to create new ones, which will of course be conjured up by newer songs you listen to or movies you see around the same time.

As long as we're breathing, we are capable of creating new memories -- whether of climbing a mountain or reading a book in bed with your granddaughter. Never stop enriching your life with new experiences. The songs and movies, among other things (pictures, videos, etc.) will help keep the experience seared into your memory.

Is there a particular movie or song that evokes a special time or event in your life?
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...
1 comment
Read More

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it?  After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...
6 comments
Read More

Men prefer to marry brunettes

Study after study shows that men prefer blondes as girlfriends or mistresses and brunettes as wives . It seems many men see brunettes as more trustworthy and loyal. What's more, even though participants claimed that blondes are better in bed, they feel brunettes are better kissers and more affectionate than blondes. I find these results to be rather interesting. In my high school and early college days, I actually had a preference for blondes myself -- that is, until I hooked up with my now-wife. From that point on, I deemed brunettes as more attractive and marriage material, probably because they reminded me of and more closely resembled her. I think we can blame Hollywood, shows like Baywatch, and Playboy for painting blondes as wild, big chested, promiscuous and loose. (Yes, I know that there are brunettes in Playboy, but they seem to be in the minority.) When someone tells a man to think of an attractive blonde, who do you think likely crosses his mind? More likely than...
Post a Comment
Read More