Live in the now and not ‘In my day…’

We all think that the world is falling apart and that we’ve got very little to be happy about, but the truth, in fact, the exact opposite? Read Pat’s article and let’s stop being pissed off about the way it was… 

What really makes me see red is the number of times comments are made on SAS articles “In my day…” we did not get a baby bonus or paid maternity leave, or we all had to get a job and so forth. It goes on and on. Well, today is 2014 and the world has changed. Changed so much we can all make comments on this site on our smartphone.

Are some people resentful that their children have things a bit easier in some areas? I knew someone who was quite resentful of the lovely house her son and his partner lived in because in her day she lived with two small children in a small cramped flat. Why couldn’t she be glad that his life was different.

Well, I am very pleased that many things have changed. My mother was forced to leave school just before her 14th birthday to work in the family business. Her brothers were put into trades but no training for a girl in her family. She was very happy and proud that three of her daughters graduated from University. Happy that things were no longer like they were in her day.

I was one of these daughters but in my day the majority of girls still left school in year 10 and I was told by the then Director of Education that 2 years teachers training was right for girls as we would get married. I refused to accept that so went on to university. The Head of the School of Engineering at my university would not accept female students. Well I am certainly pleased these things of my day have changed.

It was in my day that single girls who became pregnant were sent to homes for unwed mothers, were treated like public sinners and had their babies forcibly adopted. I am very pleased this has changed.

In my day most people I knew got jobs straight from school. The worst that we were threatened with was working in Jones Jam Factory. Well Jones is now the Art House Hotel five stars and jam is made overseas. So no jobs there. Others got jobs in shops but how few are employed in shops today, or a ‘safe’ job in a bank. Well we know how safe those jobs were.

In my day my sister in law was forced to resigned from the State Public Service when she was married. Just as well this has changed.

In my day before polio immunisation there were frequent epidemics where children and adults were forced to a life of legs in callipers or worse. I taught a boy who was severely deaf due to measles. I am happy vaccinations are not still where they were in my day.

In my day conscription sent young men to fight in Vietnam. Well we all know the legacy this has brought and the difficult lives of those who fought and for their loved ones.
I am happy this is no longer the case.

So I am happy for the improvements and support offered to my children, but in so many ways their lives are harder and are much likely to become harder.

I do believe that we should start focussing on the good instead of the bad about our lives today. If we can’t appreciate the good in the world then what hope do any future generations have?

What ways are you happy that life is no longer as it was in your day? Tell us in the comments below…