Yesterday, I was thinking just how complicated our world has become. Each day it becomes more and more difficult to maneuver through the happenings in the world without saying something or conveying something that is going set someone off. We have never been more divided as a people and that naturally makes one long for a simpler time.

I grew up in the 1960’s, which certainly had it’s own issues during that era. But the things that I remember are the things of which I am most fond. We lived in a neighborhood where we never locked our doors. My brother and I could be out after dark and my parents didn’t have to worry whether or not we would be home. We respected our elders, we always said yes ma’am and yes sir. Milk still was left in the cooling box by our front door and we always had dinner together around the same table.

Our lives did not evolve around television, cell phones, computers and much of the technology we have today. We created our own games, we played outside, we were creative in our hobbies and most importantly we talked with each other. Of course we had our disagreements, but at the end of the day we were bound by a familial love that got us through difficult situations day after day.

Sometimes I miss sitting at the soda fountain and having root beer float. I miss going into the five and dime and having the owner give us a piece of candy. I miss the church socials where you got to eat some of the best southern cooking on the planet. I miss the annual movie theatre outing where the owner had a day where Santa would come and visit and everyone got popcorn and candy for free.

Maybe I am just feeling a little sentimental as I get older, but when things get difficult in our current world, finding solace in those times gone by seem to bring about a little peace and tranquility that helps to get through the day. There is no question that we are living in complicated times. However, we have the ability to make each day our own and block out the negative around us if we just find our own unique way of doing it.

I hope this post inspires you to revisit some of the good memories of your past. Sometimes all it takes is a little reminder to visit our true selves to bring things back into perspective. With that, have a great day and remember to be the reason someone’s smiles.

Ron