🏁NKO Club | Vol. 9 Going, Going, Back, Back to Cali 🌟🌟🌟

01 Wellness Spotlight

NOSTALGIA: The Bittersweet Experience of Returning “Home”

Driving through studio city on my way to a meeting on the Warner Bros. lot I frequented so often as a “failed” kid actor I was hit with a strange pang in my chest. That feeling continued to grow as we whipped past location after location (many converted to new stores or eateries or torn down entirely) in the Los Angeles valley and basin I realized how much time as past since I called LA my home. I want to dive into something we all experience: nostalgia. You know that bittersweet feeling when you return to your hometown where it all drums up is many memories but simultaneously illuminates just how much has changed? It’s a mix of warmth and longing that can often catch us off guard. It’s NOSTALGIA. Let’s explore why that happens and what’s going on in our brains when we revisit those familiar places.

Nostalgia isn’t just a simple emotion; it’s a complex psychological phenomenon. Research shows that nostalgia can be triggered by various cues, like a familiar song, a certain smell, or—yes—stepping foot in our childhood neighborhoods. When we reminisce, our brain releases dopamine, the feel-good chemical that lights up our reward centers. It’s like a warm hug from the past, bringing comfort and connection.

However, that rush of positive emotions can also carry a weight of sadness. This duality often stems from the contrast between our past and present. When we look back at simpler times, we might yearn for moments that felt carefree and full of possibility. Yet, as we navigate adulthood with its challenges and responsibilities, that nostalgia can remind us of what we've lost or left behind. I am no longer than young girl with stars in her eyes hoping and praying to finally get the “big part”. I am no longer the USC student, avidly hiking Runyon or Mt. Lee to try to get space away from my brain. I am a new thing, slightly jaded, still a dreamer but more rooted in the fact that maybe my dreams and goals are not tied to a singular city like LA…because it’s up to me to build them beyond a singular cities limits.

When we return to those hometowns, it’s not just about revisiting a place; it’s about confronting the passage of time and the changes we’ve undergone. It can lead to a sense of melancholy, realizing that the person we were back then is not the same as who we are now. AND THAT IS OK. What was “your place” years ago, with growth, means it no longer has to be an identity marker to you in the current. You’ve evolved, you’ve expanded, and as my mom likes to remind me:

Time moves and we move with it.

But even in the solemn truth that “this too shall pass” there is a beautiful piece: nostalgia has the power to enhance our sense of belonging and identity. It reminds us of who we are, where we come from, and the connections we’ve forged along the way. I will be a little emo SoCal kid with those big starry eyes who would sit in the lobby of Chateau Marmont munching on French fries and eavesdropping while I tried to write those Cinema papers for my film theory class (this once led me to meeting Patti Smith & Quintin Tarantino so it does work). While that trip down memory lane might bring tears to our eyes, or those same roads you’ve traveled (*cough the 405, 101, 170 & the 10 especially) are more worn and ragged than you remembered previously, it also offers us a chance to reflect on growth and resilience.

The next time you find yourself feeling that “chiaroscuro” mix of joy and sadness in your hometown, remember that it’s a gift to feel it all; a true note on your humanity. Embrace the duality! Share the stories of your childhood antics, laugh with old friends at what once was and used to be, and celebrate the surely harrowing journey that has brought you exactly here. Nostalgia may tug at the foundation that build us, but it only serves as a reminder to how deep and how worthy your life is to have brought you to here and the structure you have build from it.

Somatic Grounding Technique: The 5-4-3-2-1 Method

The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique is a simple yet effective way to manage stress by reconnecting with your senses and the present moment. Here’s how it works:

1. Find a Comfortable Space: Sit or stand in a quiet area where you feel safe. Take a deep breath to center yourself.

2. Engage Your Senses:

   • 5 Things You Can See: Look around and identify five things in your environment. It could be a clock, a plant, or even a shadow. Notice their colors and shapes.

   • 4 Things You Can Touch: Bring awareness to your body and feel four surfaces. This could be the chair you’re sitting on, the ground beneath your feet, or the texture of your clothing.

   • 3 Things You Can Hear: Listen for three distinct sounds. It might be the rustle of leaves, distant voices, or the hum of appliances.

   • 2 Things You Can Smell: Identify two scents around you. If you can’t find any, think of your favorite smells.

   • 1 Thing You Can Taste: Focus on one thing in your mouth, whether it’s the taste of your last meal or simply the feeling of your tongue.

This technique is my GO TO for overwhelming times when I feel like it all is spinning (aka running between meetings this week!) Give it a go whenever you feel out of body and feel yourself settle. Happy counting!

03 PODCAST ROUNDUP

We've been chatting with a TON of epic friends this month! Check out some of my favorite conversation below to keep you company while you run errands, clean the house or sit in traffic. I’ve populated all the recent episodes in a Spotify Playlist so click the link below to listen or check them out on YouTube!

*(PS "YMH with Tom & Christina is NSFW and VERY funny for adults!)

04 SHOPPING

Shop my LTK site for EVEN MORE!

05 MERCH:

WANT TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?

Follow @NKOclub on IG and fill out this NKO Club Nomination form to submit a friend and fellow club member for their rightful place in the spotlight!