INTPs and Nostalgia...

[Rationalis]

Hey INTPs! Loooong time lurker (~4+ years) here.

Recently some changes in my life (started my first job ever and I am 25 years old) had made me quite nostalgic. I started thinking about past events, past happenings, about people with whom I used to do various stuff with them. I also started to compare the past with the present, thinking along the lines that in the past life was easier as I did not need to work, etc. I remember being nostalgic about past events before, however not to this extent.

Now I am wondering: is this nostalgia an INTP thing, as in the manifestation of Si? Or maybe is it just my present situation that created some challenges that is at fault? How often do you, guys, gets nostalgic about past events, people, situations?

Thanks in advance for the response.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Congratulations on your first job and welcome.

I guess I'm not registering the full extent of your nostalgia but from your description I wouldn't think it's anything peculiar. It's possible to have grown attached to some aspects of your personal life, especially since you've only just begun your professional life.

I say learn from the bad, remember the good, and keep moving forward.

 

[Grayman]

I see a lot of types spend time contemplating the past. I don't spend a lot of time in the past short of it becoming relevant to the direction of the future or building bonds through shared tribulation and other social interactions. There isn't any attachment in the past because I am too attached to my ideas about the future.

If circumstances were ever to occur that the future seemed dim and the past so bright I may yet have some feelings of nostalgia.

 

[Jennywocky]

I tend to have strong nostalgic feelings, although not as something I have to adhere to or something that dictates my future choices. It's more about continuity of self through time, for me -- the role of memory in self, the reinforcement of certain patterns and experiences on the personal level, etc.

When I listen to music, I recall memories from childhood when I heard the same songs; or things that occur now will remind me of things that occurred when I was young. Not everything, but memories that leap out... and not even necessarily "event" memories but more like broad fuzzy feeling-state memories versus specific details. It depends on what it is.

I don't think everything can be broken down to functions, some of these traits are just part of broad human experience rather than easily and specifically assignable.

I think it makes sense as you age you would experience more feelings of nostalgia; when you're young and haven't really left anything behind yet to move into another stage of life, how can you have nostalgic feelings about much or with much intensity? There's not yet enough distance between you and the prior experiences to generate nostalgic feelings. As you get older, perhaps it will become more pronounced... at least the opportunity exists.

 

[deathvirtuoso]

Your experience with nolstagia seems pretty "normal". Congratulations btw

I'm not sure about the rest. But as for me, I refrain from thinking too much about the past. I barely think about it. I'm usually thinking about ideas and other things, but not the past. To avoid thinking about the past is second nature to me. I barely question why anymore.

 

[Nebulous]

I do get really nostalgic at times. I know I was the other week.
I mostly live in the moment though