Prestalgia

I heard the term "prestalgia" today, and I found it really interesting.

To understand it, imagine the feeling of nostalgia. In those moments, you remember a time in your life when something beautiful happened. Somehow, you wish you could go back and experience it all over again. It's a warm memory that pulls you back.

Prestalgia, on the other hand, is a completely imaginary concept. There may not even be such a word, but let me explain...

Imagine yourself five, ten, or even twenty years from now. Close your eyes for a moment... Can you imagine yourself? Where are you? What are you doing? Are you there alone? What are you wearing? What do you hear or smell... And now imagine looking back at this exact moment of your life...

For example, I picture myself somewhere in southern Italy. My book has been published and it's sitting on a shelf. I'm having a coffee on the porch of my house, I'm looking out at the sea, I can smell the pine trees in the air, I can hear the waves washing ashore and the fishermen laughing... And at that moment, suddenly, I remember myself writing this article. It was quite an adventure, I think to myself. I remember all the hopes I had at this point in my life. My head was full of dreams, and I would tell my younger self: "Keep going. You're doing well. Keep dreaming."

And then — click – I'm back here at my desk, writing this article with my head full of dreams about future adventures. I keep going. I'm in a prestalgia kind of mood, and I'm enjoying it.

With love, M.