Welcome to The Forum from the BBC World Service.
I'm Izzy Lawrence.
Today, we're talking about nostalgia and how it underwent a remarkable transformation.
When nostalgia first got its name back in the 17th century,
it was thought of as an illness, a malady.
Fast forward to today, and many people think of it as something benign, even desirable.
I think nostalgia is very healthy.
I just think it's a healthy feeling for anyone to feel.
It's nice to contemplate on it sometimes and think, what does it give me now?
What does it give me today?
Rather than just saying, oh, I wish I was there and that's it and then feeling really sad about it.
But thinking what that moment gave you then that you can actually use here and now.
That's forum listener Louisa from Cyprus.
Listener Ruta from Lithuania recently swapped her local brand of toothpaste for a brand that's common in America.
The scent brought memories flooding back.
When I was brushing my teeth,
I just used the toothpaste that was at hand and I suddenly was transported to like the year 1989 when I...
As a 17-year-old girl from behind the Iron Curtain found myself in the United States of America.
So I would probably compare that to what happens
when you live in a black and white colored reality and you suddenly find yourself in the world where it's vivid.