“Just Like Old Times” – Is It Really?

Picture this. Scenario number 1. You are walking in a mall by yourself, meets an old friend from high school, start chatting continually, decide to have some coffee and have a really good time. You must have wondered “just like old times”?

Scenario number 2. You’re still in a mall (or wherever! It doesn’t matter) and meet an old crush. You start thinking of the “good old times” and feel like the years didn’t pass by at all. Familiar?

Anyway, you get the gist. I’ve lost count of how many hash tags I’ve read that says #justlikeoldtimes. Heck, I use it too! Today, in came a rushing thought to my mind? Are these really like old times? Do the moments we have today equivalent to the “good old times”?

Once you ponder (please do, so I don’t feel like the only weirdo overthinking this), we are absolutely NOTHING like the olden days. Think about it:

Some of us have new relationships. Some of us broke up with old flames, some of us got married to the person of our dreams, some of us had arranged marriages, some of us had children, some of us are recently single, some of us are happily dating or plowing their dating fields, some of us are mending our own heartbreaks, some of us are probably struggling with a recent family death.

Some of us have left studying, some of us are bored of our jobs, some of us want to study some more but are waiting for the right time, some of us are happily pursuing further education, some of us are looking for jobs, some of us are sick of being the bread-earner in the house, some of us are looking forward for job promotions and higher salaries, some of us are doing professionally and financially well and some may be on the flip side of the coin.

Some of us have lost oodles of weight. Some of us have better-looking hair. Some of us no longer have acne problem. Some of us have some kind of incurable disease. Some of us are struggling with eating disorders. Some of us are bulimic. Some of us have gotten some kind of cosmetic surgeries. Some of us have recently jumped into the health bandwagon. Some of us are still in love with junk food. Some of us sneak in chocolate in their gym bags.

Some of us have been bullied in school and yet learned the art of forgiveness. Some of us still carry old grudges and secretly hate them around us. Some of us sometimes still feel like society’s punching bag.

Give yourself a few minutes and acquire a snapshot of how you were in the “good old days”. Think of how we dressed, looked, talked, thought, behaved and so on. And then, bring yourself forward to the person you are today. Would you really rather be that person in the “good old days”? If you think you are a much better person today, spot on, because I’m sure you are. The person you are today is a far stretch from the gawky teenager you once were.

We have all emerged to be better, stronger, irrevocably sturdier person today. If anyone fails to understand that, build a fort around you and protect yourself with all that you have and comprehend that nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Go ahead. Meet your old friends and have a nice, long chat over dinner. Picture yourselves years before today and be proud of the person you are today. Growing up is never easy but you climbed through. You are frikkin awesome!