Have you ever felt that quiet pull to go back, back in time? Not because your present is unbearable. Not because you regret your journey. But because something in your spirit momentarily whispers, “That was a beautiful time.” I can see it in my mind’s eye, and it was beautiful.
I felt it recently. It started with music. A simple song my daughter was listening to on social media, I guess from a meme, one of those melodies that carried my teenage years in its rhythm. Suddenly, I was no longer standing in the present with responsibilities neatly arranged heavily on my shoulders. I was a teenager again. Light. Unburdened. Dreaming large. And I felt it. That gentle ache. That soft longing. Wistfulness.
There was a time when life felt… easy, ridiculously easy. Not because there were no challenges, but because the weight of the world was not yet ours to carry. We worried about exams, friendships, what we would wear. We did not yet worry about strategy, survival, impact, leadership, or legacy. We were just becoming.
The music unlocked more than memory. It unlocked atmosphere. The way technology back then felt new and exciting. The way friendships felt permanent. The way hope felt uncomplicated. There was something beautifully simple about those years. It’s hard to explain. Tears came to my eyes. Not tears of sorrow. Tears of gratitude. What a wonderful time it was.
But here is what I have come to understand about wistfulness: it is not an invitation to go backward. It is an invitation to remember who you were before all these complicated layers accumulated. Before expectations multiplied. Before titles were attached to your name. Before you became responsible for outcomes and people beyond yourself.
Wistfulness reminds us of essence. When I felt that longing, I had to pause and ask myself: What exactly am I missing? Is it the absence of responsibility? Or is it the lightness of spirit? Is it the simplicity? Or is it the freedom to simply enjoy?
Perhaps what we truly long for is not the past, but the feeling the past carried. And that feeling can be reclaimed. We may not be able to return to teenage years, but we can return to joy. We can return to wonder. We can return to music without multitasking. We can return to moments that are not optimized for productivity.
Wistfulness, when handled gently, is not weakness. It is awareness. It tells us that we have lived. It tells us that seasons change. It tells us that growth costs something, usually simplicity. But growth also gives perspective. I do not want to be a teenager again. Not really. I would not trade the wisdom, resilience, and clarity that life has shaped in me. But I am grateful that my heart can still feel the sweetness of what was.
That means I have not become hardened. And that is a gift. So if a song brings tears to your eyes, let them come. If a memory warms your chest, sit with it. If you find yourself smiling at who you once were, honour her. She carried you here.
Wistfulness is not about going back. It is about remembering, and then choosing to carry forward the lightness, the joy, and the faith that made those years beautiful in the first place. What a wonderful time it was. And what a gift it is to still remember.
I genuinely want to know your thoughts, and I’m sure others do too. Feel free to comment 👍🏽, but if you’re not comfortable sharing, please reach out to me through any medium. I’d be thrilled if you could share something, anything, and let others know. Your comments help me understand your perspective and often present a completely different view on the topic. They could even inspire another blog. 😉 And you never know how your comment might benefit others. Remember, life is meant to be lived, and you should always strive to live your best life. #lifeisforliving #liveyourbestlife #gratefulforlife #faithgreaterthanfear
See you next Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., Bogotá time.