Turning 18 is a core memory, but let’s be real: for most of us, those years eventually slip into a blur of forgotten details. One writer recently decided to see if she could pull a total main character move and literally time-travel back to her 18-year-old self.
The experiment
Back in 1990, the author lived in Worthing, a seaside town in England she describes as "God’s waiting room" because of its elderly population and constant ticking clocks. To reconnect with that past, she ditched her modern routine and leaned into a multi-sensory reset. She brought along a bottle of vintage Poison perfume, a bag of salt and vinegar Discos, and a literal collection of old letters and poems from her teenage years.
Why it matters
According to science, she might be onto something. Research suggests that "mental time travel"—using sensory triggers like specific smells or tastes—can actually help people better embody their younger selves and recover childhood memories.
While visiting her old neighborhood, the author found that despite the changes (like her old college being turned into housing and the local newsagents vanishing), her muscle memory was still highkey intact. Walking those streets triggered instant flashbacks to her youthful dreams, her obsession with poetry, and the specific, dramatic intensity of being 18. It’s a reminder that even when the town changes, our core vibes stay rent-free in our brains.
