Weekly newsletter
I. Prompts for motivation
When was the last time you revisited something you used to love as a child? Whether that be a book, a show, a movie, or a hobby, can you recall what it was in particular that caused you to enjoy the material so much?
Are there any old favorites that you no longer find as appealing as you used to when you were younger? In those cases, what do your current insights tell you about yourself and how much you’ve changed?
II. Thoughts for intention
With so much content out there, it is very easy to get caught up in the newness of unfamiliar stories and experiences. Of course, this varies from person to person. While it’s always a good idea to expose ourselves to new ideas to expand our insights, sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to go back to the things that bring us joy. These are the classics—the kind of things that have a way of bringing us down memory lane and reminding us of the moments we treasure. This can serve as a kind of reflection exercise in order to understand how our favorites influenced us in all sorts of ways.
When we revisit, rewatch, or replay certain types of media, it can be a thrilling experience. Of course, there should be some moderation, as with anything we do, since it’s important to recognize any redundant concepts that only lead to biased thinking or close-mindedness. Nevertheless, there are benefits to going over something that we’ve already seen before. In doing so, we discover any patterns or details that we might have missed initially. Because as we grow older, our understanding of the world changes, causing us to find more layers of meaning to any story. This also leads to valuable skills in critical thinking, which we can use in many areas of our lives.
III. Ideas for preparation
We can revisit our old favorites any time we need. They are always there to provide us with a form of comfort through a familiar experience, especially when we are in the middle of a stressful week. Sometimes, just watching a beloved movie or exploring an old novel once again can help us through a difficult time. In many ways, they can serve as little markers of our past and remind us of how much we’ve grown and experienced through the years. We can even use these favorite things to bond deeper with loved ones who have shared these experiences with us in the past. This allows us to strengthen our connections and rekindle lasting memories.
Another way we can enjoy revisiting our favorite things with others is by setting up regular activities with people directly in our schedules. Whether we decide to dive into a long-forgotten hobby with friends on a weekly or monthly basis, the idea is to set some time aside to invite more of these special experiences into our lives. We can do this by buddying up on an old pastime, by creating a book club, or by organizing a regular discussion group to gather and engage with those who share similar interests. This allows us to build more openness and intimacy, which leads to better emotional awareness and support in the long run.
IV. Quotes for inspiration
“Inside each of us are memories, fantasies and desires for home—a shelter waiting to be built, a place of peace to be revisited.”
― Louisa Thomsen Brits, The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Art of Living Well
“I am always drawn back to places where I have lived, the houses and their neighborhoods. For instance, there is a brownstone in the East Seventies where, during the early years of the war, I had my first apartment. It was one room crowded with attic furniture, a sofa and fat chairs, upholstered in that itchy particularly red velvet that one associates with hot days on a tram. The walls were stucco, and a color rather like tobacco-spit. Everywhere, in the bathroom too, there were pints of Roman ruins, freckled brown with age. The single window looked out on a fire escape. Even so, my spirits heightened whenever I felt in my pocket the key to this apartment; with all its gloom, it was still a place of my own, the first, and my books were there, and jars of pencils to sharpen, everything I needed, so I felt, to become the writer I wanted to be.”
― Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Three Stories
