There was a time when websites that helped people reconnect with old classmates were hugely popular. More recently, a film about a middle-aged woman searching for her long-lost school friends became a hit. Why are we often drawn to memories of the past? It’s because they hold a special place in our hearts. But what makes memories feel so beautiful?
It turns out that we, humans, have a natural tendency to forget the bad and hold onto the good when we look back on our past. This phenomenon is known as the Methuselah Syndrome—named after the biblical figure Methuselah, who is said to have lived 969 years. The term reflects the idea that the older we get, the more we tend to reminisce, often remembering only the sweeter moments of life.
Even the toughest hardships often feel lighter as time goes on, and that may be partly because of this very tendency. Time heals, they say, and even wounds that seem impossible to mend will soften eventually. If we try to live with a forward-looking heart—one that lets go of sorrow quickly and holds onto joy—we may find that no challenge is too great to overcome.