The Absent Uncle: The times, they are a changin'

I think that most (with a few years under our belts) of us reminisce about the “good old days”. Days we remember with pleasure when it seemed simpler, everyone was happier, and certainly things were better. We speak longingly of those days and just feel that today’s generations are being cheated out of what we experienced. I know that I feel I grew up in the best time and best place ever. I was given chances to succeed – some I did well with – others – well, let’s just say I am glad other chances were in the offing.  

But the times they are a changing. As Bob Dylan wrote almost 60 years ago in his 1964 song “For the times they are a-changin” (fourth verse):

“Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand

For the times they are a-changin’”

Our good old days are hard for today’s generation to understand. The world has changed; the rules and norms totally different; and the pace… surviving (much less thriving) cannot be done by abiding by “the good old days” ways for the vast majority of our younger generation. 

But moving out of the way, understanding the pace and direction of today’s world is difficult for those looking backward. But truer words of advice have probably never been written (and I paraphrase from the lyrics): Get out of the way if you can’t lend a hand going forward.

Never seen a clock that ran backwards and showed the right time and date. Look forward; lend a hand – to the “new” good old days.