Paradise Lost: The Beauty of Belonging
By John Trent
Whatever happened to our small town values, our sense of family and community? For many of us, we had a feeling of belonging; an aspect of our culture that has slowly eroded and has been lost. Growing-up in a small town on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, everyone knew everybody. We all had different beliefs, we were different races, but we all went to the same schools and ate at the same restaurants. We all respected each other and we were fiercely protective of one another.
Unlike the ‘big city’, as children we were safe to roam the woods, the streets, and the shore. We could be mischievous and silly, only to be caught and scolded by a neighbor or family friend. Our town gave meaning to the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’
Though I have moved on and lived in the ‘big cities’, the values of our childhood have certainly changed. Impersonal and mechanized are the first words that come to mind when I think of our current state of world affairs. What happened to that warm voice on the other line when you called to make a doctors appointment? Press 1 for an appointment, press 2 for more options, and press # if you wish to be transferred to another automated machine. Now I must admit, I'm all for efficiency and cost savings; however, I can honestly say I miss the human interaction of speaking to a receptionist, ‘Miss Lucy’, who had known me since I was born. She was like a great aunt or even a granny.
In this age of modernization, we have allowed Facebook,My Space,and other sites to replace and displace our very humanity. Slowly and methodically, our youth are losing the ability to enjoy the wonders of belonging, the wonders of being part of a community. Instead we send messages like LOL : ). For those not IM savvy, that means ‘laugh out loud’ with a smiley face, which means I’m happy. Everything is so fast, impersonal, and mechanized.
Unlike many who live to read what someones 'status' might be or 'why did he or she post that', our community taught us to cooperate with others and we did without the help of the internet. We learned that accomplishments of the group were always greater than that of the individual. We learned how to rely on others and how others could rely on us.
Most importantly, we learned the importance of integration versus the assimilation of the masses. No matter what we achieved as a community, we were encouraged to walk life’s path independently while always, and I mean always, knowing we would be caught if we fell.
So tonight, instead of texting your friend, give them a call. Listen to their voice. Listen to the joy you hear when you say “I miss you” or “I love you”. Make life personal. Re-learn how to interact with other humans, face to face, and teach our youngsters the art of socialization. Life’s to short to be hiding behind a computer screen.
Unlike the ‘big city’, as children we were safe to roam the woods, the streets, and the shore. We could be mischievous and silly, only to be caught and scolded by a neighbor or family friend. Our town gave meaning to the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’
Though I have moved on and lived in the ‘big cities’, the values of our childhood have certainly changed. Impersonal and mechanized are the first words that come to mind when I think of our current state of world affairs. What happened to that warm voice on the other line when you called to make a doctors appointment? Press 1 for an appointment, press 2 for more options, and press # if you wish to be transferred to another automated machine. Now I must admit, I'm all for efficiency and cost savings; however, I can honestly say I miss the human interaction of speaking to a receptionist, ‘Miss Lucy’, who had known me since I was born. She was like a great aunt or even a granny.
In this age of modernization, we have allowed Facebook,My Space,and other sites to replace and displace our very humanity. Slowly and methodically, our youth are losing the ability to enjoy the wonders of belonging, the wonders of being part of a community. Instead we send messages like LOL : ). For those not IM savvy, that means ‘laugh out loud’ with a smiley face, which means I’m happy. Everything is so fast, impersonal, and mechanized.
Unlike many who live to read what someones 'status' might be or 'why did he or she post that', our community taught us to cooperate with others and we did without the help of the internet. We learned that accomplishments of the group were always greater than that of the individual. We learned how to rely on others and how others could rely on us.
Most importantly, we learned the importance of integration versus the assimilation of the masses. No matter what we achieved as a community, we were encouraged to walk life’s path independently while always, and I mean always, knowing we would be caught if we fell.
So tonight, instead of texting your friend, give them a call. Listen to their voice. Listen to the joy you hear when you say “I miss you” or “I love you”. Make life personal. Re-learn how to interact with other humans, face to face, and teach our youngsters the art of socialization. Life’s to short to be hiding behind a computer screen.
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