S2 C1-C2 REDISCOVERING CHILDLIKE WONDER

to relish the silly moments – to deeply enjoy lighthearted experiences

whimsy – playful, fanciful charm

to propel people into states of reverence/awe – to inspire a profound feeling of respect and admiration/wonder

to look for awe in the mundane – to find wonder in everyday things

to zero in on sth – to focus intensely on a specific detail or target

collective effervescence – the shared energy/excitement of a group

to zoom in on moments of awe – to focus closely on wondrous moments

to shrink one’s ego – to reduce self-importance; become humble

life-changing epiphany – a sudden transformative realization or revelation

at our fingertips – easily accessible

to revel in the beauty of sth – to take great joy in sth’s appeal

to ground myself – to regain emotional stability or presence

awe-inspiring – so impressive it evokes wonder

rumination – obsessive overthinking

tethered to childhood – emotionally connected to childhood

to get out of an emotional funk – to overcome unhappiness

to enter a gleeful state – to become joyfully excited

indispensable – absolutely necessary

play-deprived – lacking opportunities for indulging in play and fun

to sample various crafts – to try different creative activities casually

to muse – to reflect deeply or daydream

unbridled enthusiasm – unrestrained excitement

to acknowledge the small joys – to appreciate the little things

to combat depression – to actively fight against low mood

to plague – to persistently trouble or haunt

reinvigorated sense of playfulness – a renewed feeling of playfulness

buoyancy – emotional resilience or lightness
good riddance – an expression of happiness or relief that sb or sth is gone from your life

to bawl one’s eyes out – to cry intensely and uncontrollably

to shove aside a part of yourself – to ignore or suppress an aspect of your identity

to gloss over the more uncomfortable realities – to avoid addressing difficult truths

a feud between – an ongoing conflict or rivalry

to belt sth out (inf) – to sing or shout sth loudly and energetically

vindicating – proving sth/sb right after doubt or criticism

lack of seamlessness in life – absence of smooth transitions in life

peppered with terrible dating decisions – filled with frequent

romantic mistakes

to pick up childhood hobbies – to revisit childhood pastimes

angst – deep anxiety or existential dread (often teen-associated)

aspiration – a strong ambition or goal

resentment – bitter feelings over perceived unfairness

to push feelings down – to suppress emotions instead of processing them

to flash sb back to sth – to suddenly transfort sb back to a particular memory

I feel a wash of relief come over my younger self – I feel like a weight

lifts off my younger self

to fortify confidence – to strengthen self-assurance

intrusive thoughts – unwanted, distressing mental images or ideas
to partake in activities for children – to engage in play or hobbies typically associated with kids

to go down the rabbit hole of – to become deeply absorbed in a topic or activity

to clock in more hours of ... – to spend excessive time doing sth

to dabble in sth – to casually try sth without serious commitment or interest

to take the plunge – to finally commit to sth daunting but desired

nostalgia-pegged – deliberately tied to nostalgic appeal, often to exploit sentimental connections for commercial or emotional purposes

invested in sth – emotionally or financially devoted to sth

to tear into sb – to criticize or attack sb harshly

disposable income – money left after necessities, available for leisure

to have the means to do sth – to possess the resources (money, time) for sth

to override sth – to suppress or dominate another thing

to tap into nostalgia – to bask in sentimental memories for comfort

mental health booster – an activity that improves emotional well-being

to bolster connectedness – to strengthen feelings of community or belonging

feel-good benefits – positive emotional effects

wistful – melancholic, longing for the past

bittersweet – mixing happiness and sadness, often about memories

to foster creative benefits – to encourage artistic or imaginative growth

to whisk away time and worry – to make stress and hours pass unnoticed

solely for sheer enjoyment – done purely for pleasure, without deeper purpose

contentment – peaceful satisfaction

to seek out play – to actively pursue fun, childlike activities

curmudgeonly – grumpy or resistant to fun (often humorously)

to have a leg up – to have an advantage in a situation

reminiscent of childhood – strongly evocative of childhood

to bring out the best in us – to inspire positive behavior in us
grating – irritating or harsh in a way that wears on one’s nerves

dispiriting – causing a loss of hope or enthusiasm

lodged somewhere within us – stuck or trapped within us

buttressed (by) – supported or reinforced by

to cause psychic distress – to create deep emotional or mental suffering

seamlessly forgotten and ignored – deliberately erased from memory and dismissed without visible effort, as if never existing

restless ghosts – persistent, unresolved emotions from the past

to soothe the pains – to gently ease emotional hurt

to take stock of the sorrows – to consciously acknowledge one’s accumulated grief

overcome with compassionate tears for our former selves – overwhelmed by empathetic tears for who we once were

to register a trapped sadness – to become aware of long-suppressed sorrow

to expunge sadness – to eliminate sadness from one's consciousness