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Fondness of times past just a memory

This week's reporter's column tackles the good ole days and advancements today.

There likely isn’t a week that goes by nowadays whereby a thought passes into one’s mind about how much better things were in the ‘good ole days.’

For me, I know there are many things I believe were a lot better or much simpler or easier to deal with in days that are far, far behind us.

Especially during my time out on the farm, not having to worry too much about finding stuff to do and have fun was far easier to do as was staying active and the knowledge that there’d be heat to warm yourself and plenty of food on the table when the time came.

As everyone grew older but not necessarily wiser a number of things did come easier. From being able to access a variety of food options at the grocery store to fast food, better roads and vehicles made getting to the city, and all that came with it, that much faster to the creeping of technological advances (for those old enough, remember the Apple IIe, Colecovision and satellite television) that brought the world to our fingertips.

That said though, many of those advances have brought with them troubles of their own that, ironically, have seen society either attempt to correct through going back to simpler ways or by trying to invent technological improvements to repair what’s been done.

For example, advancements in seed and grain production have led to genetically-modified foods that many now complain are the cause or significant increase in cases of several diseases or physical conditions such as food allergies and colitis.

The fast food industry, along with more convenient pre-packaged food items, are being blamed for contributing to an increase in the diagnosis of diabetes, obesity, cancers and a variety of other aliments.

Meanwhile, the continuing improvements among communication tools computers, smartphones, televisions, etc are leading to a better informed population. However, all of this is reportedly pushing society into one that is no longer very active and far less able to socialize or have the ability to display a caring, respectful, friendly or unselfish attitude.

By now, you’re likely wondering if I’d rather be back among the ‘good ole days’ when you still had to tap on the phone receiver to tell people on the rest of the phones that you needed to make a call, go back having only three black-and-white channels to watch or live in a period where safety wasn’t as much of a concern.

Well, while there are some things that I would love to have return to the former times including lower prices for life’s basic need and more nutritious food options plus more time to spend with family and doing things you want to do there are some improvements that I believe have to make our existence better.

Enhancements in communication have brought the world closer than ever and shown just how inequitable things are compared to what we have available. Cooking can be done faster with more food and recipe options due to better storage, shipping and growing techniques and advancements in the safety and medical industries have helped improve the way we work and the lives of those that may have been shunned or pushed into obscurity even as little as 20 years ago.

In this life, there will always be change and there will always be memories that will take you back to what you feel are times that you would love to see again.

However, living in the past and not looking forward to the future is likely to leave you lagging behind and alone, wondering where everyone else went or struggling to play catch up instead of working on enjoying the simple things in life and marveling at what lay before you.

But that is…just an observation.