Nostalgia is a peculiar feeling, it is that emotional pull toward something that once existed but no longer does—an event, a moment in time, or a shared experience with someone that now lives only in memory.

And when those memories return, they rarely come quietly. They arrive vividly, almost like stepping back into the actual scene again and reliving it again.

Growing up, my mom used to tell me stories about how ridiculously cheap things were while she was growing up.

Food, transportation, everyday living—everything sounded suspiciously affordable. I used to doubt her sometimes because the prices she mentioned did not quite match what I remembered paying when I was younger.

But guess what?

One day I will probably tell those same stories to my own kids, and they will look at me the exact same way I looked at my mother—skeptical and unconvinced at my own story.

Because honestly, how do you explain seeing the price of eggs jump from ₦25 to ₦250, or bread that once cost ₦30 now selling for over ₦400, and that is even for the smallest size?

That small personal story perfectly sets the stage for my real point about nostalgia.

Sometimes when we sit down and reminisce about the “good old days,” it starts to feel confusing. Because weren't we always told that better days were ahead?

So why does it sometimes feel like the better days are actually behind us?

Abi better days dey our back?

Is it the economy causing this feeling? If that is the case, then somebody really needs to do something about it.

Nostalgia Might Actually Be a Drug

Here is a truth I've come to realize over time and that is the fact that nostalgia behaves a lot like a drug.

And yes, many of us might already be addicted.

We remember a time when kids played outside without worrying about the world. There were no internet shenanigans, no endless scrolling, and certainly no constant pressure to chase money.

Of course people always chased money. That part of life did not suddenly appear yesterday.

But it feels like today, money has become the entire definition of living.

What happened to living slowly?

What happened to casually catching up with friends instead of rushing through life like commuters trying to beat Lagos traffic that will still hold you for hours anyway?

And honestly, if you are reading this and you cannot relate even a little bit, then maybe—just maybe—you were born in 2016, because I genuinely do not understand how someone can not connect with this feeling.

For many people, nostalgia simply reflects something deeper.

Life has become more serious. Responsibility has increased.

And sometimes you miss those earlier days when you could be a little careless, a little relaxed, and still move through life without heavy consequences.

It reminds me of a university student procrastinating about when to read. Sometimes they delay studying until the very last minute and still manage to get away with it.

But try that same behavior later in life and life will show you small shege.

Real life is not play.

Living Slowly in a World That Refuses to Slow Down

Now before this turns into a full nostalgia support group meeting, which isn't my intention, let me say something important.

If you are reading this article and you read up till this point, I'm here to tell you that you should relax.

You did not kill anybody. So relax.

Take a break.

And if your work or responsibilities do not allow you to fully take a break, then at least try to live slowly.

Because the danger of nostalgia is when your memories of the past become the best part of your life.

That should never happen.

Your present should not feel like a waiting room while your past carries all the excitement.

Instead, try to make everyday living meaningful. Let each day feel worth something.

There is a popular statement people love repeating that I strongly disagree with.

“You only live once, so live your life well.”

I beg to differ.

You actually live every day of your life.

If people truly only lived once, then technically everyone should have died the same day they were born.

Life is not one single moment, it is thousands of days stacked together and that is what you would call a lifetime.

Which means the real goal should be to live each of those days properly.

Enjoy your life intentionally, not just the memories.

The Antidote to Nostalgia

So if nostalgia is truly a drug, what is the antidote?

It is actually very simple: intentional living.

Have things to look forward to, create new experiences and build memories that belong to today instead of constantly revisiting yesterday.

Looking back at the past is not a bad thing. In fact, it can be comforting and meaningful.

But when someone spends too much time dwelling there, it can slowly become emotional baggage.

You begin measuring the present against an idealized version of the past.

And that comparison rarely ends well.

So yes, remember the good old days.

Laugh about them, tell stories about them, but do not allow nostalgia to become the highlight of your life story.

Because the truth is that the best chapters of your life should still be ahead of you, not permanently archived behind you.

And if nostalgia is indeed a drug, then perhaps the cure is simply this:

Live fully today, so that tomorrow’s memories will also be worth remembering and exciting to achieve.