So much has changed over the years in the history of human living. So much... such that it feels if you as much as blink, you might miss something. Society keeps evolving, new patterns of living, lifestyle trends, and of course, the big boss... technology. Which has in fact made life easier and more convenient to a considerable extent and fast too. Fast messages, fast transportation, fast medical services, fast everything. Even relationships now feel fast-forwarded.
And over time, the pace of life has changed so much that living no longer feels real. I was talking to my mom the other day and she was telling me how they didn’t even know the word "stress" existed back in the day. It sounded like a strange word because, what exactly would you be doing that would leave you so stressed and mentally exhausted? People took life slow then, in every aspect. Family life, education, relationships, 24 hours were just enough time to accomplish whatever you wanted. Now we barely rest anymore, and it feels like every part of our lives has been put on fast-forward with just the snap of a finger. We’re now always on the rush.
You wake up early in the morning and the streets are already so busy. Kids rushing to school, adults rushing to work, if you're not careful, someone might shove you aside unapologetically. So if there’s anything I would love to bring back, it’s definitely the slow ways of living. When people actually took their time and somehow, time was always enough. We had time to gather in the streets and play, time to notice the beautiful things around us, and time to breathe.
I hate that the life we live now feels like a race. If you’re not in a hurry, you seem to be lost. When I wake up today, it’s Monday, and the next time I blink, it’s Friday, and I’m thinking, how did it happen? Weekends don’t even last up to 30 minutes anymore, and just like that, it’s Monday again. No time to rest, no time to connect. Messages are either left on read, friends hardly see each other except on special occasions, and kids now spend all their time on tablets and PlayStation. The touch of real human connection is gradually fading because everyone is just too busy.
I remember enjoying stories from older ones, especially on full moon nights. There was just something special about sitting outside in the cool breeze and spending real time with the ones we love. Nobody was complaining about being too exhausted or needing sleep, and definitely no phones were interrupting the flow. The bonding was different then, more genuine and long-lasting. Not the “chat today, ghost tomorrow” kind of connection we’re seeing now because people are caught up with life and being busy.
I know the prompt said one thing, but you see that modest way of living back then? The way people were so graceful in everything, their dressing, their words, how they treated each other. It’s another thing I would love to see again. Those were the days when there was no pressure to impress. People were more content with the little they owned, and this whole aesthetics-driven lifestyle hadn’t yet made people lose their minds. Today, almost everything is a show. You need to upgrade to the latest trend, keep up with what’s happening, and post it, or else you seem like you're not up to date. It’s no surprise that people are more anxious than ever. Constant comparison is quietly robbing so many people of their peace of mind.
Rightly though, things weren’t all perfect back then, but the flow was different. The way people lived, the connections, and the peace that came with simplicity. I would bring that flow back without thinking twice if it were within my power to.
