In the Beginning

In the beginning I imagine things were easier. People lived simpler lifestyles and enjoyed the little things. It wasn’t about the house you had, the car you drove or the clothes you wore but about who you were. Not about comparing materialism and success, but enjoying the company of one another and the time shared with them. People cared about each other and made an effort to get involved in their lives, not only out for their own good. Helping one another out when times got tough was an instinct not a favor. Things weren’t done for the fame, fortune or acknowledgment but from the goodness within. Values and morals stood strong and abundant. People were happy about who they truly were, not creating a facade to believe they were somebody else. People were praised and idolized for being real life heroes and role models, doing great things to contribute the world, not for having money or status. People actually had time to spend with their families, not just consumed by work. People didn’t fly by with everywhere to go and nowhere to hide, but were able to slow down and take it all in. Chaos and commitments weren’t controlling lives. Technology didn’t take over and people actually communicated on a personal level. Stories and traditions were passed down through the generations, not DVDs. People entertained one another, not i-pods and wii’s. Family dinners were home cooked, not fast food. Families stayed together, not in different states. Reputations were something to be proud of, not something to give up on. Kids actually played outside, not zoned out in front of a TV or video game. Parents felt safe letting their children out in public not worried that they may go missing, get hurt, raped or killed. Houses were left unlocked, trusting their neighbors, never thinking about criminals, intruders or thieves. Sunday was a day of rest and religion, not another day to get things done. School was a place to learn, not buy drugs. People read books, not computer screens. People were living off of cash, not credit. Being in debt wasn’t the norm. Sex was for married couples, not kids. Assuming innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent. Punishment was brutal but lessons were learned. You did the crime, you paid the price. People had to work hard for what they had. Welfare and government assistance wasn’t available. Families bought houses, not struggling to pay rent. The ratio of births to deaths each year was relatively equal, not uncomparable. News was of actual importance, not celebrity gossip. Outer image didn’t distract from inner beauty.

Sure a lot of things have changed for the better from previous eras. Segregation, healthcare, technology, education and globalization. As the days go bye, the weeks pass on and the years turn into generations, everything transforms. When the times change, so do the people and so does society. Is it for the better or is it only getting worse?