The childhood memories we all treasure

Take a trip down memory lane to put a smile on your face, says a happiness expert

How reminiscing can help put a smile on your face

If you find it hard to remember where you’ve left your glasses, but can still recall the salty tang of sea air from a family holiday decades ago, you’re not alone.

Our strongest positive memories often come from our youth. And when it comes to our childhoods, research has found that we can recall more details from the positive times – like who was there and what the weather was like, as well as smells and sounds – than we can from negative times.

In fact, reminiscing about our youth can make us happier and healthier, says wellbeing expert Meik Wiking, CEO of The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, an organisation dedicated to researching and improving quality of life for people across the world. ‘People are happier with their lives if they hold a positive, nostalgic view of the past,’ Meik

explains in his new book The Art Of Making Memories. ‘Nostalgia is a universal and ancient human emotion, and studies show that it can produce positive feelings, boost our self-esteem and increase our sense of being loved.’

So why is it that memories from the past can hold such a special place in our hearts? According to Meik, this is because our younger years were a time of new experiences and discoveries about ourselves and the world around us. So there’s a reason why a kids’ TV theme tune from when you were small is as ingrained in your memory as your wedding day or your child’s first steps!

Now, where on earth did you put those glasses…?