Current goals? In my experience, it depends on the speaker’s mood. If the person feel sad, they think of a cherrypicked happy moment in the past. Or, having a superiority complex and looking down on younger folks. I have read that the former response provides a natural antidepressant effect when one is feeling sad.
Schrodinger’s nostalgia - life was worse and better depending on the current goals of the speaker.
Had to walk to school, uphill both ways in -40C everyday, all year. Things were better back then.
Current goals? In my experience, it depends on the speaker’s mood. If the person feel sad, they think of a cherrypicked happy moment in the past. Or, having a superiority complex and looking down on younger folks. I have read that the former response provides a natural antidepressant effect when one is feeling sad.