Why does nostalgia stir our hearts and minds? It is a fascinating thing. Our brains tend to remember the past as we choose to remember it. Good memories stand out, while bad memories are often glossed over. Sometimes, bad memories are repurposed towards the good (“it made me tougher!”). We can glorify the “good old days” without examining whether they were as “good” as we remember.
Essays from West of 98: Instructive Nostalgia
Thanks for this, James! Do you remember the title of the Wendell Berry book you're referring to? I've been looking for that essay.