We Had it Better (A Poem)

 

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Our bullies remained at school.

They weren’t blowing up our phones late at night.

The 24/7 news cycle didn’t yet exist

Giving us a chance to process and reflect

Instead of being in a constant state of media-inflicted fright.

We didn’t have information at our fingertips

And library card catalogs were far from convenient.

However, we could trust our sources

Knowing the fact checking wasn’t so lenient.

We could take chances and make mistakes

Without embarrassments being uploaded and immortalized.

Kids could be kids

Without total strangers from halfway across the globe finding a reason to criticize.

Our celebrities were famous because of their accomplishments.

Not just because of a goofy stunt or lack of clothes.

Our heroes could remain our heroes

Because not every minor indiscretion was exposed.

Schools remained unlocked but were still safe

And teachers could teach without worrying about politics.

If someone had something to say, they said it to our face

Not from the safety of their laptop, anonymously being a dick.

First dates were scary but exciting

Not ruined by social media searches and unrealistic expectations.

We had friends, not followers

And understood the importance of positive relations.

I know I look at the past through rose-colored glasses

And probably don’t remember everything down to the last correct letter.

But while today’s generation has a lot of things we didn’t have.

I still think, in many ways, we had it better.