Just some generations ago, there was a feeling that people would get which is becoming a whole lot more elusive these days. It was the feeling that would come with a job well done, once the necessary work had been completed. Specifically, there was a certain preparation and provision that many families needed to accomplish just to survive through the long, cold winter.
Not all that long ago, in the grand timeline of things, life may have been a bit more labor intensive, but there was a real connection to the world and the things in it that now is being lost, for the most part, these days. A family would often have to grow a garden in order to provide enough food for themselves; not only for the summer and fall seasons, but to make it through the winter as well. The whole family would often be involved planting, weeding, harvesting, and canning, fermenting, or dehydrating the produce.
Even the children were able to be involved in the success or failure of the family, and they had a portion of the work that was dependent upon them.
Firewood would be needed to heat the house through the winter, so trees had to be chopped, and the wood split and stacked. Often the meat that family ate would have to either be raised and butchered or hunted and dressed. Whatever clothes the family was to wear were at least mended at home when repairs were needed,and sometimes the outfits were even completely homemade. For all members of the family, there was a lot of work to be done, but there was also a reward.
As I compare (normal First World) life these days to how things frequently were not all that long ago, I can’t help but see some serious differences. Things are considered to be easier and better for us these days, but, in reality, is that actually the truth? What effect has there been on our attitudes and the attitudes of our children because of these changes?
Personally, I think that there’s a difference in the level of appreciation for something that has been lost in our modern age. We have become disconnected from the source and origin of things, and therefore lack a certain level of respect, appreciation, and gratitude that once was far more commonplace. A child who has tilled the earth, planted the seeds, weeded round the plants, harvested the produce, and helped preserve some green beans (for example) has a much different perspective than a child who saw Mom open up a tin can of them and dump it onto a plate.
The child who has at least observed the process, if not completely being involved in it, has a deeper understanding of the effort behind providing the food and a greater sense of its worth, even if it is just a vegetable. Since the child being offered the cheap green beans from a can has no connection to the food, and no frame of reference to instill a greater appreciation for it, often they do not appreciate it.
There certainly may be a difference in flavor and freshness between these two types of green beans (for example), but I think that there is a deeper issue here. We have simply become consumers these days, and have grown accustomed to sorting through the shelves at the local grocery store to find appropriate food. We may consider the blessing of no longer needing to be hunters and gatherers, but I think that we’ve been duped. We have somehow been so wrapped up with running around in this life, that we now outsource everything.
Even the things that were once some of the most precious and meaningful duties in life have now become "someone else's job".
Now, someone else is responsible for raising my children. When I see signs at the local “Head Start” that state “Now accepting applications 6 weeks and up”, I wonder exactly what a 6 week old is getting a “head start” on. Most likely, it is being the responsibility of the state and not my responsibility. Basically, from the time that a child is born until they are grown, there are many options available to me to have others be raising my children, and they are all accepted as "normal".
Out sourcing our food supply is another example. I may no longer need to gather food in the woods, but gathering it at the grocery store isn’t really any better. For one, it’s not as natural or organic any more. Another difference is that rather than gathering food for free out in the woods, now I’ve got to pay for it.
Finally, if you’ve ever wandered through the woods enjoying the gentle breeze as the birds chirp in the distance, and picked a few edible plants to enjoy, you’ve probably noticed the difference in the food finding experience.
To wander through endless aisles packed with people pushing carts under the artificial lighting of the local grocery store is certainly not as pleasant of an experience as the wild one I just mentioned. Then, at the checkout, you get to wait in long lines while people search for pennies and shuffle through coupons. I’m not complaining about the benefits of having a world of foods available at our fingertips for a few bucks at the local store whenever we want it, I’m just realizing that we are still gathering, but it is no longer in the same way that we once did.
Do I think that poison ivy, venomous snakes, mosquitos, and ground hornets are better things to be dealing with than other shoppers and long lines at the checkouts? Personally, yes. I don’t remember the same high-stress and tense atmosphere and attitude out in the fields or the woods that is often present (at least in myself) at the stores.
For the meat eaters among us, though we still have the opportunity to hunt our food or raise livestock, most of the meat supply has been outsourced too. We just pay someone else to grow it, kill it, butcher it, and package it. True, we don’t need to be a hunter just to eat meat these days, but I cannot say that the situation has improved. It may be easier for me to punch a clock and buy a burger, but easier is not always better, and I think it leaves us distanced and disconnected. Also, the CAFOs and other animal raising processes that are so common these days cannot really be recognized as a great improvement.
To bring this thing full circle and attempt to wrap it up, I think that we are losing some of our humanity and connection to the world upon which we live. This loss of connection is having a negative effect on our attitudes and appreciation for things, which can easily be noticed in our children as well. Since we no longer really work for things but instead just work for money to buy things, we have become disconnected and are passing an "Entitled" mentality on to our children. Too often they feel that they deserve so much and that they shouldn't have to be required to do any work to it. Sound familiar?
It may be in our best interest to implement just a few simple steps to reconnect us to the reality of life.
Thanks again for your time, and please let me know what you think, even if you disagree. - @papa-pepper
