Do you remember when
By Barb42
@Barb42 (4214)
United States
February 11, 2009 3:22pm CST
Life was much more simplified than it is today?
You didn't have to worry about locking your doors because you were afraid of your neighbors? Or, anyone else, for that matter.
The last thing you'd think about would be your demise? But now terrorism has risen to such a height that you could be expecting it to come your way any day.
You didn't have to worry about where your children were or with whom they were with? You could trust them out of your sight with most everyone.
You believed everything anyone told you and you could bank on their honesty?
You knew that gay meant being joyful, cheerful, merry? You didn't have to be careful of when you mentioned being gay.
There was a time that you could take your job for granted and didn't have to have the thought in your mind that you could be the next to receive that pink slip?
There was a time when we could actually believe what the government officials said and they actually did what they said they would do? They could be wrong in their principles, but they were usually honest enough to go ahead with them.
Life wasn't lived in the fast lane? You actually had time to have friends and entertain. There was time to relax and actually have fun without worrying about money.
I know there are lots more of those kind of things. But today, I want to remember that life goes on regardless of the circumstances. We can either look back with a longing, or forward with expectancy. I choose to look forward, knowing that I have a good relationship with my maker and nobody can take that away no matter how much they try! 
6 people like this
15 responses
@SukiSmiles (1991)
• United States
11 Feb 09
I don't think my life was simplier, maybe I was just more ignorant. When I look back when I was younger, I really didn't know what was going on in the world or even in my own backyard. As I have matured I have learned so much in caring for people and actually to be more trusting of some and less of others. My life has always been busy, but I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I just know that I should take time to be with my family and that sometimes not doing something is okay too. And I don't worry about things that I can't control.
2 people like this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
11 Feb 09
Suki, I don't think it was because you were ignorant. We just didn't recognize how simple life was when we were younger. We took life for granted and our parents took care of everything else. You didn't know when they didn't have money or had too many bills. Now days, kids can't help but see when parents are struggling. Their life isn't as simple as mine was when I was young. Even when my children were growing up, life was much simpler. Now they have children, some whom are grown, and it's not safe for them to be out alone. Like you, I don't worry about those things, either. But it's those that need to be controlled that bother me and we can't do one thing about them except to speak out.
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
11 Feb 09
As a single mother for years I had a hard time getting 'out of the moment' and looking forward. When my kids were old enough, I set about simplifying my life, and in doing that I found I simplified my belief system too. So now I can look forward and it's a much more peaceful and fulfilling picture than I could have imagined.
I have come to terms with what I believe, what I will tolerate and what I will expend my energies on, and at this stage of my life, I have put regrets behind and am a much more loving, giving and happier person because of it. I can't say I don't miss the 50's though! LOL
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
11 Feb 09
Handing you back 2001! LOL
How's the hip? ROFL
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
11 Feb 09
Good thoughts, Sparks! Life is too short to spend it worrying or depressed or upset over things we can do nothing about. I tell my husband all the time to change his attitude and quit worrying. I tell him ALL things are possible - just that some people want us to believe otherwise. And they can drag you down in the dumps. But I have to say, I miss far more than the 50's, with the way things are shaping up today. Just give me back 2001 before I broke my hip! 
But you are right; the 50's were great!
But you are right; the 50's were great!1 person likes this
@xboxboy (5576)
•
11 Feb 09
you have a great outlook in life.
i remember at new year going round friends houses and walking in.
today they would be locked.
times change....i guess we have to change to.
I find mylot a microcosm of life filled with the good, the great and some not so good!
i hope you continue to be so positive.
1 person likes this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
11 Feb 09
Thanks, xboxboy. To survive in the world today, you have to take a different approach than when you did when I was younger. I've learned not to let things worry me to the extent that I get depressed. Most things we can do nothing about. Those that we can, help us to change those things. Otherwise, we have to do the best we can in this world. And you are right; there is the good, the bad, and the ugly on Mylot. But we'll get through that, too.
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29086)
• United States
11 Feb 09
Yes, things have changed so much from a long time ago. And it gets more worse as the time goes on.. And it is very scary, because we don't know what tomorrow brings.. Things are good one moment, then the next it is bad.. So, we just have to trust God to protect us at all costs.. I am living for God.
1 person likes this
I try not to even worry about things now. There is nothing we can do but speak out and nothing will be done anyway. So why worry? Just gets us depressed and nobody cares. Let's be happy.
@VorTy01 (36)
• Romania
11 Feb 09
Hehe, my friend, I have to say you have a good impression about the past and how people were living those days. Well it wasn't just like that. Since "greed" came up in the dictionary, more and more people, specially fat people on a big chair, started to influence our life mostly negatively.
Life wasn't that pinky before either, and never will be :)
All we got left is to fight for what he have at the moment, and hope for a better living :)
1 person likes this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
11 Feb 09
Oh, but that was life when I was younger here in America. I can't speak for your country since I've never been there. I'm not saying there weren't people with troubles, but there was nothing to compare then with the things going on today. Being fat has nothing to do with the things I talked about in my post.
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
11 Feb 09
I like your attitude. Let the politicians do their worst. It doesn't have stop us from having a good life.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
11 Feb 09
Amen, to that, Red! Doesn't matter how much we become depressed over the situation, those politicians are still going to be living the high life and doing what they think is right for the other people out here. So why worry or be depressed! Enjoy life.
1 person likes this
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
14 Feb 09
Yes when I was a kid it was simpler, Mom's mostly stayed home and dad worked. Everyone sat around the supper table and ate together as a family. You could ride in the back of a pick up truck and no one was worried about it. There were no car seats for kids and people did just fine for the most part. If a kid had an attention problem a trip to the woodshed convinced him to mend his ways. Adults were addressed as Mr. and Mrs. or Miss and or Ma'am and Sir. If invited to a party you sent your RSVP and did not show up without letting the hostess know if you were coming or not and not with 5 extra unexpected guests. It was okay to let kids age 10-12, and older pick strawberries or cherries for extra summer income especially if they were with mom or dad. You did NOT live together you got married and kids were given a legal legitimate name. There was more honesty and respect and common courtesy then than now. You went to school to learn about reading, writing and arithmatic and it was not about sports and parties and homecoming or prom that was special and you did not play unless you got the grades to play in sports. Now many cheat their way through and they do this with jobs and job applications to get hired as well. Seems immoral and amoral behavior is the norm now. Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better again. Christ is indeed coming and needs to.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
28 Feb 09
I'm afraid most of that stuff was before my time, considering I'm a teenager still.
I listen to my parents and grandparents reminsc about it often.
I have to agree, from what I've been able to put together about the time period before mine...things were alot simpler. So much less was hidden and dastardly...you didn't necessarily know less than my generation, it's just that so much more was up front and there were less people scheming in the shadows, hiding behind money and a curtain of influence.
The problems were simpler...you could solve them yourself and everyone wanted to solve them themselves, less people were confused about their own ability to influence their world, their society.
I think all the complications make alot of us today feel like outsiders to our own world. Apart. Seperate. But still affected. It's this quality that helps make things so much less simple and so much more...strange, baffling, I think.
Even though I wasn't around for them, all this is enough to make ME miss those "good old days".
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
12 Feb 09
Yes my friend, I know exactly what you mean. Although my mother used to say the same things many years ago and I'm sure our kids will one day say it too! It makes me realize that I'm getting old and turning into my mother which is something I swore I'd never do in my teen years. I even tell my kids some of the same things she said to me. Serves me right I guess.. Have a great day!
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
12 Feb 09
I remember those days well.
I was young and innocent and had no idea my country, Trinidad and Tobago, could end up like it has.
No matter what they say and they say a lot it was never as bad or dismal as this.
We have a totally distended and amoral society and the prejudice is miles more than it could ever have been before in the old days.
You're right. Peace with your maker is the only answer and no one can ever take that away from anybody.
@ch88ss (2271)
• United States
21 Feb 09
AH yes the good old times.
Too bad it quickly came and quickly went away.
I am with you, look ahead. I expect myself to look ahead because I want my children to be able to enjoy the goods time I had growing up.
Well actually I should say my grandchildren (when I have any) my kids are growing up in the horrible society right now where they should not even go into their neighbors house for candies or even accept candies from stranger. They are not even allowed to walk across the street anymore.
@danrunsfast614 (1396)
• United States
12 Feb 09
I don't know. Right now I think it is the simplest I have ever seen it. Surrounded by people I like, no drama, and enough time to do what I want. I hope I am never saying "remember when" to these times.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Feb 09
this is a beautiful and well thought out post. i'll join you on the walk. forward that is! blessings
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
11 Feb 09
I miss the days where the only thing I want in life is to play with my friends. Right now, life seemed so complicated for me. So many tasks to do and should accomplish. There are times I want to scape from reality by spending my whole day with family in a far flung place like beaches.
