I often question my deep emotional attachment to my hometown. Is it normal? Do all feel the same?
There's no definite answer, and the feelings are also not certain for everyone. But what comforts my thought is that it's not alien. We humans do recognize the emotional significance of some places.
And why it wouldn't be?
The place where I grew up is full of memories of my childhood. It's the same for most of us, right? No matter if our childhood was awesome, no matter if we had a lavish life. But the simple things, even the poor lifestyle still hold significance to many of us. It still attracts us and we feel nostalgia.
I grew up in a suburban area, I have no experience of farm or cattle. I came across some people saying, that then there's not much to recall as my life might be boring. Well, probably compared to them and their village life. But it was certainly much more interesting than the life I have now. Or I could give it to my child.
Yes, we have many things now; many materialistic things. But the charm is what we have lost!
I sometimes think, about how our children, the next generation will recall their childhood although it's kind of boring compared to us. My second thought continuous, that it would be as good as we had compared to our parents.
Our childhood, the birthplace, the place we grew up, the people we grew up with everything feels special. Probably because it was many of our 'First!'
Our first school, first best friend, first kiss, my sport winning; everything embeds a deep memory. That's why I find this hometown, the old city very fascinating.
I can recall what happened many years ago in the same spot, I can see the old city while going through the new one.
While taking a walk around the city, I was thinking all this and thought, well, I'm aging. I have been out of my hometown for almost two decades and never felt these. There was always a connection but feeling like I needed to go back and revive my memories type of emotion never happened.
I know there's nothing special in my hometown. I would probably find it difficult to adjust to the lifestyle after so many years. But I still wait for the time, any festival to go visit there, to see the places and meet the people of my town. It brings back so many memories.
On top of everything, it gives me a feeling of fulfillment, an attachment. It's like I know, I have somewhere to go. That's enough for me.
Do you feel the same? How do you process the emotion?
