Yesterday, I sat simply but quite contently on the front porch talking with my oldest son. We shared laughs, smiles, and exchanged some very witty remarks. Our conversation then drifted to a more serious nature. I watched him speak, and even though our topic was that of the condition of our country right now, I found myself smiling because I watched the fire in his eyes, the passion of his beliefs rolling from his tongue as If he had lived twice my age.
Last night, I found myself outside once again with now my youngest son, recapping his day, his report card, the oddity of what they do in gym class these days, and a few stories of our own personal klutzy moments. As with my other son, our line of conversation went to that of more sober subject matter.
Last night, I found myself outside once again with now my youngest son, recapping his day, his report card, the oddity of what they do in gym class these days, and a few stories of our own personal klutzy moments. As with my other son, our line of conversation went to that of more sober subject matter.
Both my children are very different, but looking back at the time spent yesterday conversing I see a united thought from both of them and I beam with pride. They both share a very educated view and perspective of what the world needs, wise beyond their years and they practice it as well.
As Luke went about his routine this morning before school, I found myself still pondering the thoughts he and his brother had shared with me, and as I attempted to assist in making his natural curly hair stay in place, I began talking about a solution to the problems of this world.
I know some people think I am some free spirited, free love, new age hippie, and well, you might be right but I do have stance and take on the happenings as of late.
As we did a back pack check, and headed for the door, I looked at Luke and said, “You know, people think they can’t change the world, so they just follow along, but we all can at least change our own world.”
Right up until he jolted on the bus, smile intact and a trailing “I love you too Mama”, we talked over our theory of how to make a change and why in its simplicity it can’t be put into action.
In the early 1930’s my grandparents met, and they faced a huge obstacle for that time period. They lived almost an hour apart. There was no email; car travel on a daily basis was for the wealthy, phone calls, yeah right. People left their doors unlocked and Sunday was for “visiting” after church.
How did they ever make it? They wrote letters to each other. I have read them, and it touches me so deeply to have read the words that led to my existence upon the earth.
I found such beauty in their words, the playfulness, the polite way he would tell her how pretty she was or call her a pet name, and his promises that if he got paid and found a ride he would meet her at the church singing. In fact in one letter he writes, “I am going to come up there Sunday and asked your Daddy for your hand in marriage.” Her feisty response thrills me, “Well now Walter Reeder, maybe you should ask me first!”
Letter after letter, visit after visit they found a true love, and their life together began, but it took effort and time.
I still remember partaking in the old fashioned ritual of “visiting”, not exclusively on Sunday, but going with Mom and Mimi to see a neighbor who was ill, a friend in need or just someone we knew to sit on the porch with and talk to for no reason other than to be social and kind. As a child I used to roam around the neighborhood and stop and see people, some I am sure I wore out my welcome with but that act still delights me to this day.
As we did a back pack check, and headed for the door, I looked at Luke and said, “You know, people think they can’t change the world, so they just follow along, but we all can at least change our own world.”
Right up until he jolted on the bus, smile intact and a trailing “I love you too Mama”, we talked over our theory of how to make a change and why in its simplicity it can’t be put into action.
In the early 1930’s my grandparents met, and they faced a huge obstacle for that time period. They lived almost an hour apart. There was no email; car travel on a daily basis was for the wealthy, phone calls, yeah right. People left their doors unlocked and Sunday was for “visiting” after church.
How did they ever make it? They wrote letters to each other. I have read them, and it touches me so deeply to have read the words that led to my existence upon the earth.
I found such beauty in their words, the playfulness, the polite way he would tell her how pretty she was or call her a pet name, and his promises that if he got paid and found a ride he would meet her at the church singing. In fact in one letter he writes, “I am going to come up there Sunday and asked your Daddy for your hand in marriage.” Her feisty response thrills me, “Well now Walter Reeder, maybe you should ask me first!”
Letter after letter, visit after visit they found a true love, and their life together began, but it took effort and time.
I still remember partaking in the old fashioned ritual of “visiting”, not exclusively on Sunday, but going with Mom and Mimi to see a neighbor who was ill, a friend in need or just someone we knew to sit on the porch with and talk to for no reason other than to be social and kind. As a child I used to roam around the neighborhood and stop and see people, some I am sure I wore out my welcome with but that act still delights me to this day.
In this day and time we are fueled by greed, power and the need for easy, speedy access to whatever it is we desire. We don’t take time for anything at all.
I hate drive thru windows, I hate self check outs, I hate automated systems, I want to see and talk to a person.
We are so consumed with rushing around and getting somewhere better and faster that we have lost sight here. We hurry by the pick up window for food, we drive quickly to the pharmacy and drive thru, we use the self check out at the big retailer to get out faster, and all the while we are texting and being social on our phones and laptops. We breeze in the door at home, the family goes in ten different directions, to the tv, the computer, the game system, and as the screen is the only light in our eyes we as a world have forgotten what we were in a hurry for; To sit in separate rooms and shut out our real world? What was the point of all that hurry? Oh I know, you needed to download a new app, or email someone without ever thinking of the personal touch, or to buy the newest device because you saw Todd at work with one and you will not rest until you have equal or better, or heaven forbid you might miss the sale online of some fashion must have.
There is unrest in our country because we practice unrest every single day in our daily lives. We don’t know what peace is, we have become machines who strive not to touch another or care and we are consumed with dollar amounts and whatever everybody else has.
If more people took the time to sit down at the family dinner table and engaged in conversation with their children, if more people would stop texting and drop by and visit someone, even toss a casserole in, if more people would slow down and pull up a rocking chair on the porch and get to know their neighbor or even their children, friends and spouses I think we would see a surge of change.
I hate drive thru windows, I hate self check outs, I hate automated systems, I want to see and talk to a person.
We are so consumed with rushing around and getting somewhere better and faster that we have lost sight here. We hurry by the pick up window for food, we drive quickly to the pharmacy and drive thru, we use the self check out at the big retailer to get out faster, and all the while we are texting and being social on our phones and laptops. We breeze in the door at home, the family goes in ten different directions, to the tv, the computer, the game system, and as the screen is the only light in our eyes we as a world have forgotten what we were in a hurry for; To sit in separate rooms and shut out our real world? What was the point of all that hurry? Oh I know, you needed to download a new app, or email someone without ever thinking of the personal touch, or to buy the newest device because you saw Todd at work with one and you will not rest until you have equal or better, or heaven forbid you might miss the sale online of some fashion must have.
There is unrest in our country because we practice unrest every single day in our daily lives. We don’t know what peace is, we have become machines who strive not to touch another or care and we are consumed with dollar amounts and whatever everybody else has.
If more people took the time to sit down at the family dinner table and engaged in conversation with their children, if more people would stop texting and drop by and visit someone, even toss a casserole in, if more people would slow down and pull up a rocking chair on the porch and get to know their neighbor or even their children, friends and spouses I think we would see a surge of change.
This week I was standing and talking with an old friend, and it came up that we no longer visit people, we don’t take time anymore to know someone. Why bother I guess, we can read about it on facebook, or shoot a quick message and call it done, but what did you gain? Ok so you know what they had for dinner and their current nail color, do you know if they are ok? Do know look them in the eyes and share a deep, hardy laugh? Nope.
Before you stress to me how vital email is, I will stop you, yes the internet is a wonderful tool but it can be misused much like my former coffee creamer addiction, anything can be replaced and right now we focus on convenience and lose sight of each other. I email, I do my social network thing, I am guilty too, BUT how do we stop this madness in our world, and yes I know what you are thinking. I am one person, I can’t change the whole world and you are exactly right, you can’t, but as I told Luke, you can change your little world.
Step away from the screen, put the game controller down, walk in the pharmacy, go visit a neighbor or friend, and I will dare you here, write someone a card or hand written letter. You will not only feel better about the world but you will put into practice the old fashioned values that our grandparents and great grandparents knew and the world was a much more simple, happy place.
If you want my address, ask and write me, I will gladly put my pen to work and write you back.
Before you stress to me how vital email is, I will stop you, yes the internet is a wonderful tool but it can be misused much like my former coffee creamer addiction, anything can be replaced and right now we focus on convenience and lose sight of each other. I email, I do my social network thing, I am guilty too, BUT how do we stop this madness in our world, and yes I know what you are thinking. I am one person, I can’t change the whole world and you are exactly right, you can’t, but as I told Luke, you can change your little world.
Step away from the screen, put the game controller down, walk in the pharmacy, go visit a neighbor or friend, and I will dare you here, write someone a card or hand written letter. You will not only feel better about the world but you will put into practice the old fashioned values that our grandparents and great grandparents knew and the world was a much more simple, happy place.
If you want my address, ask and write me, I will gladly put my pen to work and write you back.
In order for us to escape this power tripping, out of control mess we live in, we have to put down the greed to win the Monopoly “Real Life” version and focus on how we ever got here. There is nothing better than an old fashioned visiting.
I don’t know what next month holds for me, heck even tomorrow, but if I take it day to day, and stop for a little while to indulge in simple rituals of our yesteryears, then I would say my future will turn out just fine. I know two young men who find goodness and delight in those rituals and that restore my faith in the future.
No you can’t change the whole big world, but you can change yours, you can change someone else’s and then it goes on and on in a continued ripple effect.
Big shocker here, we are all going to leave this earth at some point, be remembered by your family, your friends and your world by a legacy of simple grace and kindness, it will outlive the practice of someone who can only claim multiple houses, a powerful position and a fat bank account when they depart.
Also while you are at it, stop and thank those service people, our law enforcement, our fight fighters, our military and our paramedics for making it their job to give us the brightest life we can life and be shielded and protected from all the ugly and nasty they see every single day. Shake their hand, write THEM a letter and be thankful that we have a choice because of them to live our lives knowing someone is out there protecting us and they work for us to have the freedoms we participate in every single day.
Ok I am off my soap box for now, I will now go sit in the swing, wave at strangers and enjoy this gorgeous spring day, I urge you to do the same. Pull up a rocking chair and sway with me.
Make that change!
Here are my thoughts.
©
Teresa
I don’t know what next month holds for me, heck even tomorrow, but if I take it day to day, and stop for a little while to indulge in simple rituals of our yesteryears, then I would say my future will turn out just fine. I know two young men who find goodness and delight in those rituals and that restore my faith in the future.
No you can’t change the whole big world, but you can change yours, you can change someone else’s and then it goes on and on in a continued ripple effect.
Big shocker here, we are all going to leave this earth at some point, be remembered by your family, your friends and your world by a legacy of simple grace and kindness, it will outlive the practice of someone who can only claim multiple houses, a powerful position and a fat bank account when they depart.
Also while you are at it, stop and thank those service people, our law enforcement, our fight fighters, our military and our paramedics for making it their job to give us the brightest life we can life and be shielded and protected from all the ugly and nasty they see every single day. Shake their hand, write THEM a letter and be thankful that we have a choice because of them to live our lives knowing someone is out there protecting us and they work for us to have the freedoms we participate in every single day.
Ok I am off my soap box for now, I will now go sit in the swing, wave at strangers and enjoy this gorgeous spring day, I urge you to do the same. Pull up a rocking chair and sway with me.
Make that change!
Here are my thoughts.
©
Teresa
So very true... and I do love sending note via US Postal!
ReplyDeleteThank you so sincerely for reading Sharon and I truly love writing a card, it says so many things! We need to bring this lost art back!
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