Childhood, Adulthood, & Everything in Between
Childhood was a time of innocence and wonder before the world got a hold of you. A time where your only responsibilities might have been playing and napping. The older you get, the more responsibilities you acquire. Tasks pile on and you find yourself wishing for simpler, less-stressful times. If only we could be children again…
When it came time to collect a list of Notre Dame’s childhood dreams, former thoughts on adulthood, and favorite books, there was an overwhelming response from students and staff. In response to the question about their favorite childhood novels, books from old classics to newfound favorites were recommended. Some of Notre Dame’s favorites included: the Harry Potter series, the Magic Tree House series, the Nancy Drew books, the Percy Jackson series, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and the Dork Diaries. In response to the question about the Notre Dame community’s favorite movies/TV shows, a large number of individuals responded with Wild Kratts, any Disney movies, the Harry Potter movies, and even America's Funniest Home Videos.
For most students and staff, recollecting the positive memories associated with watching and reading their favorite movies or books allows them to envision themselves in a more optimistic light in the present and future. As children, there were no limits to what we could achieve; this meant that dream jobs like being a “princess” were obtainable. Surprisingly, a large portion of Notre Dame students aspired to be veterinarians as adults! Kaileen Grace ‘22 realized early on that she wanted to be a vet, after she “turned 4 and realized that becoming a princess wasn’t really a likely profession.” Since her childhood, her plans have not changed. Yet, for most, their childhood “dream job” is no longer the pathway they want to follow.
The psychological concept of temporal distancing, thinking about ourselves in the past or future, is scientifically proven to help us deal with negative events by proving their impermanence. Not only does self-distancing ourselves from the present reduce anxiety and depression, it also helps improve our decision-making and emotional regulation. Xinyue Zhou, of Sun Yat-Sen University in southern China, researched temporal distancing and documented in a 2012 study that people who engaged with nostalgic memories actually reported feeling warmer and happier. At Notre Dame, in their reflection on their happiness as a child and teenager, only 31.1% of poll respondents stated that they were happier as a child than they were in the present. A larger number of people (44.5%) actually replied that they were “maybe” happier in the present than during their childhood. The remaining 24.4% answered that they were happier in the present than the past.
There is no problem with romanticizing the past, as long as we keep ourselves accountable while we maintain the ability to get some space from our own experiences. As we all inevitably grow older, it may be helpful to take a few photos to remember the memories that matter to us in the present. These photos will help seemingly mundane memories and moments bring you joy when you look back upon them in future occasions. Notre Dame, immerse yourself in your past memories and future dreams, but don’t forget to also slow down and enjoy the present.
