So there is a TikTok trend where older folks are filming themselves looking at a younger version of themselves via “the teen filter.”
Most of us play “The Freshman” or “Forever Young” while longingly looking at the image on the screen. Some have begun to cry while others smile at the “younger” version of themselves.
I saw one and decided to try it myself. Before I noticed all the other older folks getting emotional, I felt extremely moved by looking at the filter and hearing the song. Then, as I saw others, I realized it wasn’t just me—it was many of us reacting the same way. But why?
Well, I think it’s a mix of things. For one, that song, “The Freshman,” brings up strong feelings of nostalgia for a challenging but meaningful time in my life, my teens. At the same time, I remember the things I could do back then, the way I looked, the way I lived, and I feel a blend of happiness, sadness, yearning, and even more nostalgia. I’m also reminded that I am older now by the standards I once had when I was young myself.
I don’t resent getting older. I know it’s something many people don’t get to experience. But I do miss that healthy, strong young man I once was. So yeah, let us have this moment, let us feel that yearning, because believe it or not, I was in your shoes not long ago. I remember teasing my friend for being 30, calling him too old to hang out with us. That was just yesterday when I was 23, and now I’m 45.
So before you judge those of us having this moment, remember this: if you live long enough, you’ll be here in the blink of an eye.
Leave a Reply