Perspectives On Aging
What Society Was, and What it is Today
We that have lived so long cannot avoid comparing the present with the past.
In present times, technology and science have advanced to such a level that we now live longer and healthier. We also live more comfortably with technological advances such as television, air conditioning, etc. But we also crave the return of many habits, customs and values of the past that make us remember with melancholy “the good old days,” the lost paradise of our youth. It was not only youth that we had in those days, but so many other things that we then took for granted that are now almost lost.We used to be romantic in those days. When meeting a girl we liked, we started a courtship that was long and romantic, knowing that sex would come later at the proper time. The anticipation of sex made it more desirable, and the romantic interlude was life in paradise. The young generations are missing all that.
We used to enjoy listening to love songs in those days. Where has the melody gone? Now we have to listen to rap, which is the crude expression of anger accompanied by a beat.
We used to have something called will power. It allowed us to postpone the immediate gratification of our animal instincts. It allowed us to be in control of our lives, not allowing alcohol and drugs to control us. Because of will power we did not squander our money, saving for times of need and allowing us peace of mind. Where has will power gone? Nowadays medications attempt to substitute will power.
The pace of life was much slower in the past, permitting us to experience the delight of being alive and enjoy the present.
As we can see, the younger generations are missing so many of the good old things, that it is not surprising we have so many depressed and ever suicidal young people who don’t know who they are or were they are going.
Someone once said that faith is the substance of men. They are what their faith is. In modern times we are experiencing a crisis of faith. Many have lost faith in God, in their country and in themselves. We all have to work together for the return of faith and all the other values that made this society strong and healthy. The media, television, newspapers, etc. have to stop reflecting only the chaos of present society and instead become proactive in an effort to recapture the old values and virtues, which are still there but lie dormant waiting to be awakened.