The Times They Are A Changing. Take Stock!

Today's post, below, is from Well Words group member Lindsey, who has been reflecting during the lock down.

The lockdown that we are experiencing at the present, gives us time to think. We should also give time to rethinking what our needs and values are.

People of my generation have seen a great deal of change in the lifestyle we have lived. The technology that we have used and use has changed enormously.

I can remember at the beginning of the sixties being in the Cubs. One of the first parades I went too, we were taken by one of the leaders to make a telephone call. In the early sixties few people had a telephone where I lived. The telephone was considered a luxury item. We walked from the scout hut to a call box about five hundred metres away. This was an exciting day for us. We were given tuppence which we put in the telephone. Then dialled the arranged number. There were two buttons A and B, when we made our call we pressed button B. Button A engaged the call and B rejected the call. We pressed B so as not to spend all of the packs petty cash. This sort of thing would not happen now days. Most young people would have experience with mobiles from a very early age.

I had a penfriend in Australia called Robin. We exchanged letters which would take four weeks or more to get a reply. After three weeks or so the tension would increase till finally the letter arrived. It was really exciting opening that letter. Letters are special! Unlike many modern methods of communication, the person sending the letter has actually touched the paper. The writing formed and written by a real person, real ink and a real pen. There is a form of intimacy in a letter that you just do not get in electronic mail; it is a personal thing between friends.

Lets take stock of our lives and what we do. Try slowing things down taking time, savouring the moment and enjoying life. Removing some of this need for speed in the things that we do. I enjoy going back in time and consuming a wonderfully prepared traditional meal, maybe three or more courses. You take time to taste and feel different textures, smell the heady captivating aromas. It is so much more civilised than the fast foods we are so often eating. Even at home we compromise quality for speed, in our instant high speed life. How many times do we eat processed foods from some sort of packaging. Some people do not know how to prepare fresh ingredients. This not the fault of individuals, some is that we just have no time to pass on skills anymore. Another element Is schools often do not have room in their curriculum. These skills are everyone to know, we all eat.

Lets take the opportunity to invest in ourselves. Enjoying our lives and sharing our experiences with our friends and those that we love. Make people our priority and regain the true quality, that life can give us. The quote “more haste less speed” can be so true in life. Trying to get things done quickly to achieve something, can mean rushing and getting nowhere.

Let us take stock, rethink the future and live life for its quality, rather than speed and quantity!