Summer gives us many opportunities to do things we normally would not have the time or motivation for. We have more time to get back to things we once enjoyed so much, but have lost time for as our lives have gotten busier. One of the greatest forms of self-therapy, for me, anyway, is getting back to the things I once enjoyed. In my case that is old television and movie clips on the Internet.
With the growing popularity of Google video and YouTube, it is increasingly easy to find dated television shows and cartoons that might have otherwise been lost to the ages. Videos I hadn't seen in at least 10 years are on the web, waiting to be seen, waiting to be appreciated once again. All we have to do is look.
The hard part is remembering what to look for. What was the name of that cartoon you used to watch every morning? Who was the singer in that music video you liked so many years ago? What was the title of that sitcom you used to watch every Thursday night? This is where the labor of it all comes into play. Working with Wikipedia and Google, there's almost nothing that can't be tracked down. After doing a little homework, you'll find what it is that you're looking for. This is where the fun can really start.
Hollywood, it seems, is getting into this same train of thought as far as bringing rebirth to tired old cartoons. "Transformers" is one movie coming out this summer that should touch the memories of many college-age people. Many of us can recall eating a bowl of cereal in front of a television watching Optimus Prime. These were the days of low stress. These were the days where our most pressing decision was whether we wanted macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets. Going online and watching videos, even if it is only the opening credits, brings us back to great days gone by.
Maybe "Transformers" cartoons weren't exactly your cup of tea. There are thousands of new videos being loaded on to YouTube at any given time. Anyone can find something that brings him or her to a great place, if only for a few minutes. We can't know the amazing treasures the Internet holds for us unless we are willing to go out and look.
As I mentioned earlier, music videos are also on YouTube, just waiting to be found and loved again. From one hit wonders to mega stars, music videos can bring us back to the days we miss and the time we may have forgotten. Musicians whose songs you once loved have videos online, waiting to be found once again and loved. All it takes is a little bit of research and you'll be back to days gone by.
Finding what makes us happy is so important for a happy and fulfilled life. We often can forget how really easy it is to rediscover what we once loved and enjoyed. As our lives become more and more entrenched by what is going on all around us, childhood memories can always bring us back. Now it is easier than ever before to find what makes us happy - thanks to that wild and crazy Internet.
Write to Alex at apcarroll@bsu.edu
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