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If we were to believe the Happiness U-Curve, one of the happiest periods of our lives universally is childhood. It’s when we don’t have any worries, responsibilities, debts, and life was just generally easier. Different generations have different things that remind them of their early years.

On the “[Heck], I’m Old” subreddit, folks regularly share the things that remind them how old they really are. Old appliances, gadgets, TV shows, actors – many things can tickle our nostalgia. So, why don’t you scroll down these posts and see which ones are the most relatable to you? But we warn you: you might find out you’re a little bit older than you actually thought.

More info: Reddit

#1 Were You One Of These Kids?

Image credits: Tony-Sopranos-Prozac

#2 In The 70s I Grew Up In A House Where We Wheeled The Dishwasher Around And Hooked It Up To The Faucet

Image credits: m262

#3 Back In The Day When You Were A Kid. Would This Have Been You?

Image credits: damagedgoodz99824

It’s fun to look back at ourselves in old pictures and rewatch TV shows we loved as kids. Reminiscing about our “golden years” can bring us joy, but we should be careful not to lose ourselves in nostalgia too much. If we do, we might fall victim to nostalgic depression.

Although nostalgic depression isn’t an official subtype of depression, mental health experts did use the term back in the 1600s. One doctor used it to describe the melancholy and homesickness that Swiss soldiers used to feel when fighting away from home.

#4 Why Did These Go Away?

Image credits: Frostbit77

#5 Anyone?

Image credits: Libra79

#6 Remember When Air Was Free?

Image credits: L0st-137

In the 1900s, sociologist Fred Davis offered to make a distinction between nostalgia and homesickness. From then on, his peers continued to look into the consequences of nostalgia and to study its benefits. You see, a bit of nostalgia does give us a warm, fuzzy feeling, but that’s mostly because it’s selective.

Nostalgia is very biased; we tend to romanticize it and remember only the bits that felt good. Even as you scroll through this list, you’ll see that people often share nostalgic things associated with happiness, community, their childhood friends, or funny and wholesome memories.

#7 40+ To Understand This

Image credits: vi3talogy

#8 True Story!

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#9 Who Remembers This?

Image credits: UmpireWorking5328

In 2021, a team of researchers found that our response to nostalgic memories depends on whether they’re generated on request or just come to us in our daily lives. When you open your phone and go through old pictures on purpose, you’ll rate these nostalgic recollections more positively. If some memories just catch you off guard throughout the day, you might dwell more on their negative side.

#10 Did Anyone Else Sleep In One Of These? I Think I Would Have To Be Helped Out Of It Today

Image credits: 1illiteratefool

#11 Tell Me I’m Not The Only One Who Thinks This

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#12 Who Remembers Him?

Image credits: R3b3lli0n

We sometimes look back to the past to feel better about the present. When we’re lonely, depressed, or just plain sad, we like to go back to the good ol’ days and reminisce about how good they were. That prompted some researchers to suggest that nostalgia itself can make us feel more lonely, sad, and even depressed.

#13 My Spotify When I Was A Kid

Image credits: vi3talogy

#14 Yes, It Is. Received This When I Turned 65

Image credits: Littlebirch2018

#15 If You Can Hear This You’re Really Old

Image credits: Devi8tor

Yet other researchers have found that our response to nostalgic memories depends on how we’re feeling that day. If we’re already feeling lonely, nostalgic memories may exacerbate those feelings. “Nostalgia did not attenuate, but rather exaggerated the negative effects of loneliness on affective well-being,” the authors of one study concluded.

#16 I See Your Pop Snaps And Raise You This.. Are You This Old ?

Image credits: moldytacos99

#17 If You Know What This Is Or Browsed The Catalog, You Are Old Af

Image credits: Drinkythedrunkguy

#18 We Had This In My Old Middle School

Image credits: Doe79prvtToska

But enough about the bad side of nostalgia; it has a bright side, too! Research shows that nostalgia can boost our sense of social belonging and give us a sense of meaning. A 2023 study on nostalgia’s effect on loneliness by Andrew Abeyta, PhD, a Rutgers University psychology professor, revealed that lonely people who go on trips down memory lane report feelings a greater sense of meaning.

#19 39 Years Ago Today, A Group Of Strangers Gathered In An Old House For Some Kind Of Party. Fio If You Know What The Occasion Was

Image credits: bluegambit875

#20 Rip To This Beautiful Legend

Image credits: ThrowawaySeattleAcct

#21 Any “Night Court” Fans Out There?

Image credits: Longjumping_Prune852

Nostalgic memories can also help us build and maintain our mental fortitude. In one survey, 84% of the respondents said that nostalgic memories serve as reminders of what is precious and meaningful in their lives. For others, they’re a source of comfort (77%) and even inspiration (72%).

#22 70’s Essential

Image credits: Devi8tor

#23 Who Else?

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#24 Are You Old Enough To Be Freaked Out By This?

Image credits: ElectricalWhile9635

Social psychologist Clay Routledge, PhD, vice president of research and director of the Human Flourishing Lab, told the APA that nostalgia can help people move forward. “It makes people more optimistic about the future, it boosts well-being, it reduces anxiety, it increases positive mood and self-esteem and meaning in life. But more than that, it makes people thankful, and it energizes them.”

#25 Not Bragging At All!

Image credits: damagedgoodz99824

#26 Old Enough To Know Who These Two Grifters Were

Image credits: SiriusGD

#27 I’m Positive You Will Not Know What This Ls. If You Really Know This Then You Must Be Old!!

Image credits: Gator_Mc_Klusky

Nostalgia is also good for our future well-being. As a social psychologist from the University of Winchester, Verbon Cheung explained to WaPo, that it activates a sort of “mental highway” we can use to project into the future. When we remember past successes and friendships, it drives us to pursue new goals, meet new people, or even reconnect with old acquaintances.

#28 Always Funny

Image credits: JavaGeep

#29 Does Anyone Remember This Movie?

Image credits: HereInThisRedEarth

#30 It’s A Chair, It’s A Step-Stool. 2 Things Can Be True. Grandma Had One In 60’s And 70’s

Image credits: MurseMan1964

How many of these pics brought nostalgia for you, Pandas? Share with us the things that made you realize you’re getting older in the comments! And if you want to see more relatable pics from the “[Heck, I’m Old]” subreddit, check out our previous posts here, here, here, and here!