My husband is always telling me that we don't fit in. I think he has a point. Watching Breakfast this morning, they are talking about kids as young as 10 carrying weapons in schools, and those of you who know me, follow me on twitter or are friends with me on Facebook, will know how I feel about certain aspects of this modern life. For all the benefits of living in the 21st century (and who now can live without their mobile phone, or the interweb?) there seems to be more reasons to despair, especially if, like us, you don't 'fit in' to the modern way of living and thinking.
It seems to all be about celebrity, vanity, money. We are inundated with 'talent(less)' shows, celebrity gossip, bling, keeping up with the Jones's to the nth degree. Crime and unemployment is sky high, people live on benefits, and some seem to like it that way! We are selfish as a society, putting number one first and who cares about anyone else? We gorge ourselves on junk food, junk telly, junk news. is this really civilised living? Somewhere along the line we have lost our identity as a society, and become dazzled by that false god that is bling.
Sometimes I think Tim is right. We don't fit in, we were born in the wrong decade (or even century!), the wrong place. My needs are simple, a roof over my head, food on the table, laughter in my house. i want my girls to grow up with respect for themselves and for others, and certainly not being encouraged to wear make up and become a mini adult at the age of 5! My one great fear is that our rich culture, thousands of years in the making, will continue to become diluted and our skills will be lost. The simple things in life: a roast dinner, making Christmas decorations, baking a cake. You get the idea.
Then sometimes I am reminded that we are not the only ones striving for that kind of lifestyle. All around you there are decent people trying to do the same things as us, thinking and feeling the same things, and there is the hope that actually there are still people out there who carry the torch for a simple life. Our British culture is not just being diluted, but being enriched by others as well, and people still make roast chicken on a Sunday, bake a cake for their children's birthdays, teach their kids that self respect is more important than having the latest Lelli Kelly slapper boots. People like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Kirstie Allsop show us this every week when you watch them on the telly box. So maybe there is hope for us after all.
I have been 'handmaking' this week, christmas decorations (thanks Ros!), Christmas presents, birthday cards, and my new found hobby of ATC's, which I'll share next time, but this week I just wanted to use my blog to share with you that you're not alone. If you're reading this blog, the chances are you think along the same lines as I do. Amd we can't all be misfits, can we?
Today I'm linking up with The Handmade by Me Bloghop, the link is in my side bar as I can't add links drom my ipad, so have a look at the other blogs taking part. Our handmade, domestic goddess skills are not completely at risk after all!
Til next time!
4 comments:
DH and I are always harping back to the 60's when things were simpler, less needy. I think the trouble is there is so much now to 'want' but is it really needed and agree simple handmade gifts mean far more than expensive bought ones. I still bake and cook from scratch, do not have prepared food except for M & S Chinese, our one weakness.
Stand by our principals, we know we may have little or no money now but are far happier.
I sometimes think I was born at the wrong time, I hate all the celebrity obsession, people being treated like they are special just because they have slept with some married footballer or appeared on some boring reality programme. Or when children are asked what they want to be when they grow up and they say "famous" instead of something that is actually important... *rant over*
It's nice to think that there are still people who take joy in the simple things in life. I love my gadgets but there is a simple pleasure in putting together some beads to make something beautiful or sitting down with a crochet hook and some yarn and just creating.
Great post.
LH
x
I am by no means anywhere near the domestic goddess that most of you ladies are, but I always aspire to be better, even though I don't have many creative bones in my body. I do what I can and Helen your post really struck a chord even with little old me, especially when it comes to my kids. I don't wish for them to have the best or the biggest or the most recent of everything I just want them to have lots of happy memories of their childhood and to feel loved and important their whole lives.
Ps am so with you re the Lelly Kelly thing.
The pressure from the media to buy, buy, buy is very intensive and more so for children, as they are made to feel 'different' if they do not conform to what every other child in their class does or wears.
As a child of, cough, cough, the 50s my brother and sister and I had to get on and make things, be that clothes, food and entertainment. I like my life as it is, with all the extras, but I did enjoy growing up in a simpler era. Particularly then as I had to get off of my backside and visit my friends, not FB them or email or txt them but see them/speak to them face-to-face.
Will today's youngsters look back in 20 or 30 years time and yearn for their life as it was?
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