A sense of nostalgia
AT the end of a long day, or in the midst of a hectic one, I have noticed that nothing comes quite as close to putting me at ease as a hearty serving of comfort food, or the smell of blended essential oils to relax and soothe my mind. Nothing gives me as good an intermittent escape as a half-hour primetime teleserye does, and there are simply times when being in my pajamas, in the comforts of home, tucked in my sheets seems to be the most inviting of scenarios. At first, I associated the feeling of comfort with familiarity, and while that is not completely wrong, as I was chomping down a slice of pizza hurriedly for lunch the other day, a thought occurred to me: While as humans we are predisposed to gravitating towards our comfort zone and what we are used to, that sense of conventionality is often subjective and specific to our own lives. Essentially, what “sparks our joy” is that sense of nostalgia that comes about us. Whether it be through the perspective of an observer, a taste, a tune, a smell – the soothing powers of comfort is indescribable, especially when linked to a time in our lives that once upon a time brought us the best of memories. It got me thinking – what gives me a sense of nostalgia? I choose to break it up according to my five senses.
Sight: television and teleseryes
Though it can be argued that this requires more than seeing what is on screen to fully absorb and comprehend, I think the mere experience of watching television would not be the same without the sense of sight. For me, while I can pass time in general just watching television, what gets me to watch a series and get hooked on teleseryes to be specific, aside from the story line, is the familiarity with the actors and actresses, especially those who have been around for a while. Seeing them grow in their craft and age gracefully right before our very eyes gives the viewers a sense of fulfillment in addition to entertainment, which for me, gives a much sought after sense of comfort that I seek considering the amount of time I spend watching them.
Smell: eucalyptus, peppermint and citronella
And this is perhaps the reason I myself am an essential oils aficionado, and find the smell of a spa so comforting. The blend of eucalyptus and citronella always reminds me of home – of my parent’s bedroom to be specific – because no matter where we are in the world, my mom brings along a spray with her made of this blend. And as strong and repulsive as it may seem to some (and to mosquitos especially), growing up around it makes me feel like I am home every time I smell notes of it anywhere.
Sound: OPM, Peter, Paul, and Mary
Nothing quite gives me the feels as much as a Filipino love song does, and I remember during my homesick moments when I lived abroad, my OPM playlist of heartbreak, heartache, and love songs would be on loop. That, and, “Puff the Magic Dragon” – perhaps the very first song I learned the lyrics to in full when I was two years old because the Peter, Paul, and Mary album would play repeatedly in my dad’s car. To this day, the song puts a big smile on my face, and I know the lyrics from start to finish.
Taste: A bowl of pasta and strawberry milkshake
More specifically, our home-made carbonarra, Bolognese, or baked Pinoy party spaghetti with melted cheese on top. At the end of a grueling day, the comfort of a hearty bowl of any of that in my pajamas while watching a show is incomparable. Strawberry milkshakes as well, because when I used to pick up my brother from school as a child with my dad, the one from McDonalds would always be my treat.
Touch: Dog fur
While my own dog and the dogs at home give an unparalleled sense of comfort, no matter where in the world, if I see a dog, my immediate instinct is to make it smell the back of my hand, and pet it. Having grown up around dogs, I cannot describe the comfort their sheer presence is capable of providing, and how petting them can give you a momentary escape. A fellow dog lover can relate.
Nostalgia. Described in the Cambridge English dictionary as “A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy, personal associations.” To me, it’s all that, with an added sense of comfort brought about by even the smallest things, that are capable of yielding great amounts of joy.