This made me smile recently.

For those who didn’t grow up in the UK, a little context: Blue Peter is a long-running British kids’ TV show (it’s been on air since the 1960s!) that awards badges as recognition for achievements or winning competitions.

When I was a kid, I didn’t personally know anyone who had one of these badges, but I was fascinated by the idea that badge winners could get into attractions across the country for free. I’m not sure if it’s still a big deal for kids today, but for those of us who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, it definitely was!

What’s funny to me now is realising that the badge itself didn’t hold any magical powers—it was really what we thought it represented that made it feel so special. It’s a great reminder of how much meaning comes from our thinking about something and that perception, rather than the thing itself.

Here’s the clip that sparked my nostalgia: