Going back in time
If you follow and participate in social media, especially Facebook you will find many pages that are organized around the theme “If you grew up in …, remember when.” So many people have posted about the towns they grew up in and some of the best memories they have of a particular time in their lives. Not surprisingly most of the posts and information shared about the memories are usually spoken of very fondly.
Growing up and living in Hartselle was and still is something to be thankful for. Some of the things that I “remember when” involve a slightly different life growing up than what many consider to be the norm in 2011. Life seemed to move at a slower pace and it seems that we had more time to really make memories. Now life seems to be so busy that we barely are able to fit all of our activities into a 24-hour period. We still have the same length of day but we are all so busy that the days and weeks and even years go in such a blur that we may not even have the time to make memories.
From the time a child is able to walk and talk now they are involved in so many activities. Many young children are even involved in formal education by the time they are three-years-old. Also they are tuned into video games, television and other visual stimulants at a much earlier age. “I remember when” having three choices on television did not hold your attention very long. However being outdoors, making up your own games, riding your bike all over town, walking to the grocery store, and other activities time belonged to you. Summers seemed to last forever. Christmas vacations really gave you time to enjoy yourself.
However we have created the lives that we live now and we have to play by the rules. We have jobs that require a large amount of our time. Our children have busy lives that we want to be involved in. We have our special causes that we want to give our time to. The list goes on and on and sometimes we feel like we are spiraling out of control. But life is a gift and one that is meant to be lived and enjoyed. When we reach the latter time of our lives we all need good memories to look back on and be able to “remember when.”
Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.
