Question time: Nostalgia

Sometimes I wonder about things. Sometimes I ask questions that seem to have no immediate bearing on things, but ultimately help me to resolve and explain my feelings, experience and put some kind of perspective on them. Last night, after grappling with (futile) thoughts of a nostalgic nature, I asked the question:

"Why do we think about yesterday with nostalgia even though tomorrow will be better?"
Some of the answers I received:
N: Because we have memories. We have experienced yesterday and know how good it felt. We are not so sure we will ever get those feelings again. That's what we hold on to.

Me: But it's sad, isn't it? And maybe futile too. Surely if tomorrow is better there is no need to cling to the past?

N: It is human nature to yearn for whatever is certain. Yesterday is certain; it happened, it was real, you had an experience. Tomorrow, for many, is not certain. We cleave to that which is definite, simple! Yes it's kind of sad but that's the nature of humankind.

C: Because the future is uncertain and often unreliable. The past is a known variable- always easier to think about.

Me: But I wish sometimes that I could be coldhearted enough about the past. Why think of it if it's out of reach and you can't have it back? Even if you could have it back it wouldn't be the same because you've changed yourself. It all seems such a waste of time.

C: It is part of being human. That's why we tell stories and remember the past. The experiences that we've been through shape us. Don't be hard on yourself.... Maybe allow yourself to hope that similar experiences or feelings will come soon?

Me: I've now come to the conclusion that nostalgia thrives where there is dissatisfaction with the present. As long as the need supplied by memories of hte past is not met in the present, nostalgia helps the soul to cope and the mind to dream again.

R: We know the past not the future...so it's only people who are confident that their paths can only shine brighter that look to the future...

B: ...tomorrow is definitely better. When others cry woe, we say we have a lifting up. Keep smiling....

Y: What a question!

Me: What an answer!

OG: Probably we want to always feel young again...

What do you think?