Is that really "living"? Is that living with a purpose?
There are stores on every corner that contain everything your can imagine. Farm markets will be in every community soon (not necessarily a bad thing). There is E-Bay, Etsy, Amazon, and just about all grocery stores at the click of a few buttons now. I know there are busy people in the world that love these options. I know there are people who are non-abled that need these services, which is wonderful for them.
I am NOT there yet. I have never bought from E-Bay or Etsy ever - I don't belong to Amazon Prime - and nobody is doing my shopping for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not yet any way!
I think we have just become too complacent about technology. Truthfully, I hate most of it.
I want to live a life OF PURPOSE - ON PURPOSE!
I want to grow things, fix things, and make things. I want my life to be rich with meaning - NOT stuff.
I think it is so important that we keep the older ways alive. What happens if life changes for all of us? I could get by, you may be able to get by, many of my family could get by, but soooooo many people could not. They don't have a clue how to survive without technology, or without absolutely everything being SO EASY!
We so need to teach the old fashioned values and ethics and ways. We need to be leaders NOT followers. We need to volunteer when we can. We need to teach.
I want the younger folks to know how SATISFYING it is to grow what you eat. I want them to know how to FIX things - NOT purchase new. I want them to know how to MAKE things - whether it be cooking from scratch or mending clothes or creating a gift. I want them to know there is SO MUCH MORE than money. I want them to slow down.
I want them to know there is PURPOSE AND MEANING IN LIFE!
How do we do this? I try to spread the word as often as possible. I try to show and tell as many folks as possible. But I can't reach everyone in my community, nor can you. Things like this blog and many of yours, help spread the word further - but so many will still miss out.
That truly saddens me.
I learned from my parents and grandparents. I read and learn from history. I want to be a sponge and absorb all I can, even at this stage in life.
WE ARE THE HISTORY AND THE ANCESTORS of tomorrow!!
We each need to do our part to teach values. We need to do our part to teach living a simpler life. We all need to be part of the solution and of the purpose of a LIFE WELL SPENT.
I pray we all let our lights shine and share the wisdom we have.
Tell it, write it, share it and embrace it.
It's an everlasting gift for the future.
Love this post. So true that we should be teaching the younger ones. I learned so many things from my older family members. Wish I would have wrote more down. Great post!
ReplyDeleteNOW is your chance - write stuff down yourself. The younger generations will think the same as us "wish I had written that down". YOU DO IT for them.
DeleteEnjoy your weekend.
Great post. I try to teach my kids how to do everything whether it is my son or daughters. They all help with cars, repairs, cooking, cleaning and yard work. They all need to know how to do it.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear it. IF we all take time to teach, just maybe the simple ways won't be lost.
DeleteGlad you are teaching both son and daughters!
Take care
Well said post! I have hope for our future kids. My 8 year old grandson wants nothing more than for Grampy and I to buy a farm close by him so he can come care for the farm animals. We just might do it!
ReplyDeleteOh how cool is that! If you can do it - it would be wonderful for all of you.
DeleteBlessings
I am not good at technology but do enjoy some of it. I wish more of the younger people were interested in learning sewing, knitting, gardening, canning, etc. Now that we are older and have health problems I am enjoying the ease of ordering from a local grocery store and having it ready for us to pick up! Nancy
ReplyDeleteI do agree that there are great options for the elderly, infirmed, dis-abled, etc. Not a thing wrong with that!
DeleteIt just gripes me that young people are too 'busy' now - even for their kids sometimes. Everyone needs to get a grip and realize what is important - isn't money.
Have a great day
This is a great blog post, Cheryl. Do you read the Down to Earth blog from Australia? I think you would like her views on homemaking. They are very similar to yours.
ReplyDeletehttps://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2018/05/weekend-reading.html
Belinda I used to read her all the time. It has been a while now. I need to get back into reading her blogs again.
DeleteIt just makes so much since to me - but I get called "old fashioned". That's OK - that's one name I don't mind being called.
Blessings
Well said, Cheryl! When all is said and done, it is by working side by side that we truly share our experience and knowledge so that the good things in life may continue. My daughter and son in law are learning about house maintenance from my brother and my husband, like a sponge they soak it up! And I learned too from my mother and my husband, how to fix/paint/repair/etc. You tube is nice, but nothing like someone right next to you, working beside you, demonstrating the finer details.
ReplyDeleteAMEN. Experience is not only great for learning - but it becomes a part of us. The sharing of our time, personalities, experiences, etc. I love one on one experiences. They will be with me always as they will with the kids.
DeleteSomeday they will be glad to have such memories!
Have a great weekend my friend.
Great Post. I too think old skills are important. I want me kids to make bread and garden and reuse. I am constantly enforcing these skills.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. Don't give up!
DeleteIt is important.
I, too, have never bought anything from Etsy or E-Bay or gotten an Amazon Prime subscription (I hear the price of that is going up). I have ordered from Amazon, but enough to not have to pay for shipping.
ReplyDeleteI used to be in the Flea Market business for 14 years. Online shopping has hurt the small town businesses as much as WalMart. Glad I retired and got out when I did.
My grandmother, who died at the age of 102, never bought a pack of ground beef in her life. She would go to the little (and I do mean little) country store with the wooden floors that creaked and asked the butcher (who also owned the store) to grind up a round steak she had picked out. I can't believe the price of pot roast and beef stew meat. They must be feeding those cows gold pellets! Haven't bought either of those this past year. Shrimp is cheaper! We've also been eating more pork and chicken.
I have a good crop of rhubarb, so will follow in my grandmother's footsteps and can rhubarb juice this year. Fond memories of that from my childhood years. Summer is the time for homemade mint tea also. She used to make a lot of that also.
Unfortunately, my granddaughters scoff at my "old fashioned" ideas such as canning our own tomato juice. But when they would come over, they always asked if we still had some!
Thanks again for a wonderful post! Good old memories always seem to pop up!
Kris glad to hear I am not a lone wolf with on-line shopping. I agree that it has really hurt small stores sadly.
DeleteI buy ground beef as it usually has a decent price here, but very seldom buy the other 2. I used to love to go to the meat market. I remember going as a child and even after G and I married. Just loved being able to pick each item.
Hmmm - never heard of rhubarb juice - that sounds good.
Funny how they think it's old fashioned yet love the taste!!!!
Glad you got a chance at some memories.