Why do we feel nostalgic?

Low self-esteem or a sense of despair over life’s meaning can also drive nostalgic musings. When suffering the existential blues, “People don’t just go back and recruit random memories of driving to work or paying taxes,” says Routledge. “They think about the special times. They think about the times they’ve spent with close friends or loved ones, maybe that family reunion, maybe important rituals—their wedding or graduation.”