We spend our entire lives making memories, yet I often find myself avoiding my happiest ones.

When my family reminisces about our Disney trip, camping adventures, swimming in the ocean, or our travels together, I love hearing the stories and remembering the joy with them.

But when I stumble into those memories on my own, something very different happens.

The longing to be back in that moment feels so heavy that tears well up and I have to physically shake my head to stop myself from thinking about it.

Why does it seem most people can look back and simply say, “That was a fun day” and smile, while I feel a sudden flood of loss, sadness, and longing all at once?