To think it’s not normal how much I miss the 90’s and my youth

Nostalgia is a bitch.
The priority should be focusing in the present and make the best out of it. Reminiscing about the past for too long can be draining.

Was just thinking about 9/11, not sure why. But yes I agree. It was like the positive view of globalisation and immigration from the 90s was soured by the war in Iraq and the concept of ‘terrorism’.

I think 9/11 was a real turning point in the world and for a lot of different reasons (many unconnected) things really did get a lot worse after that time. The 90’s was a fab decade for lots of people, whatever their age.

I’m 43 and completely agree. It’s worse because my Dd1 is 14 and is into 90s style clothing and seems to like the music too!

I'm about your age and no, I don't feel this way at all. Never have. I'm really excited about the future. I guess I'm an eternal optimist because something better is just over the next hill and I'm really looking forward to getting there.

I was also very ill in my teenage years/early 20s - for me there is little to look back fondly on in the 90s so I don't experience nostalgia in the same way as many people do.

I felt trapped when I was a teenager. The worst part about being a teenager was having to spend so much time with other teenagers. Ye gods, the stupid things I had to listen to them say! The stupid things I had to witness them do! The danger their stupidity would sometimes cause for the rest of us! The effing boredom of listening to them having endless discussions about which band or what kind of music was best, or which actor was the most attractive! Aaaargh!

Then apparently, I was a cool loner, and became popular. I think it was also partly caused by my sense of humour and partly my brother playing electric guitar and being in bands, and me knowing people in a couple of bands. Being popular as a teenager is great if you want to go to boozy parties and/or sleep around. I didn't. What I did get out of it was people who didn't as much want to be my friends, as they wanted to be seen with me. People who practically rolled around on the floor if I made a pun, and then they looked around to see if anyone had noticed that they had been having a laugh with me. Don't get me wrong it was a lot better than being bullied, which I have also tried, but still. Do not recommend.

I wouldn't go back even if I was offered half of Bill Gates' fortune.

Also there always feels like there’s a sense of fear almost like everything takes on apocalyptian proportions nowadays. I just don’t remember it being so multi directional when we were younger. I guess partly because we now have this junk food diet from social media of bullshit, fake news and world wide propaganda. In the 80s you’d maybe watch the news each day and read a bit of the daily news papers

I think maybe other generations before us were less nostalgic because life in many ways was harder in 50s and 60s , not so many mod cons etc. there’s nothing we have now that I’d miss if we went back to the 80s. You still have television, telephone, decent cars etc

There are lots of 90s nostalgia events eg butlins weekends you should go

I’m the same age as you OP and I completely agree. The music, going on wild adventures with your mates (and not even considering the potential consequences), those intense head over heels romances, the possibilities ahead of you. From the age of 14 until I left at 19 for university I lived in a small town in the north east, not too far from Newcastle, and was always sneaking off into the city to go to gigs and clubs, or spending weekends getting drunk in the countryside. I started going to raves as well, which was a whole new world of music, love and friendships (and mind altering substances).

I recently saw these intense feelings of nostalgia described as a form of grief, and I’m inclined to agree. I’m not aware of other generations feeling this strongly? But I may be wrong.

I do this a lot too. I would have had my teenage years in the 80's and they were the best. I sometimes long to go back for a week to have those days again. It's just a longing for the good old days. I usually have to drag myself back to reality and appreciate what I have now.

70's and 80's for me. I really long for the care free days of those times.

I’m the same, the 80’s was so good, I’m grateful I was a teen then. I wonder if it’s a combination of hormones from the menopause years, and realising that you’ve got less time left than you’ve had.

I think the 90s were the last of the good old days before social media and smart phones changed society.
I think this nostalgia is commonplace at the moment. You only have to look at Saturday night TV to see they are trying to recapture the good old days of fun, family entertainment. In recent years we’ve seen remakings of Blind Date, Gladiators and You Bet. We just need the Generation Game now and we can pretend the 90s are really back!

If you’re talking about Norman Cook, he’s still on Brighton’s seafront and Zoe has moved nearby. He still has a massive fan base!

I much prefer life/myself at 40. I look back at being younger sometimes but would never want to be there again.

I miss the lack of responsibility

No I've never felt nostalgic for the past. It was a pretty awful time and I wouldn't want to go back. The peace and freedom I have now is priceless. I have no interest in watching childhood cartoons or films or music. They hold none of the appeal that they seem to hold for others.

I'm the same age as you. I was a raver. Look back with nothing but very happy fond memories, even if I was off my tits for most of them.

Piano house is STILL my favourite music genre and I listen to it all the time, but that was then and this is now and I have a lovely life which I wouldn't swap for the world

I often have an evening when I put on YouTube videos of all my favourite songs from my youth, have a glass of two and enjoy myself! It's bittersweet, but I love how it's still all there to enjoy! In fact, I spent a happy few hours late on Friday night doing just that😁

I've been feeling like this for a while and your post has resonated so much. Thank you for putting into words what I've struggled to.

I loved my youth but much prefer being older, I feel happier with every year that passes so wouldn’t go back. You can still have fun OP, I go out all the time and have more fun than back then because of the confidence gained over the years.

My 20 year old DC is sleeping here tonight (completely knackered) after "one of the best weekends ever" being at their HS best friends' Uni They had an amazing time. Those times ARE amazing but they still have to get back to their Uni in time for an extremely important test, they're worried about their even more important exams and they have no money and hate eating shit. They're worrying the crap out of themselves because they don't yet have a summer internship and....the list goes on.

I LOVED being 20 but wouldn't go back at all. The art is in making life awesome for the entire time you are in charge of living it.

The 90s were just the best times. I feel so sorry for young people today that will never get to experience it. I feel even more sad because I've made such a mess of my life and I wish I could go back to those carefree days and start again.