I’ve spent the day reading the current news, cleaning house, and doing exercises for my knees and spine. Somehow along the way I found myself wondering why anyone would want to go back in time. I began to think about how different my experiences would be without the progress that has greatly improved life for me and so many people. I began to contemplate how dangerous it is that that much that we have accomplished is being threatened by folks who seem intent on yearning for an era long past. 

It’s extremely hot outside in Texas in July. I’ve been able to water my yard and my plants with a few commands to my smart phone which plays a huge role in making my days so much easier than they once were. Aside from taking care of my flowers, my phone allowed me to learn about the death of a wonderful woman who had an enormous impact on my life. I was also able to send a quick message to my daughter about my upcoming cataract surgery along with ordering household supplies that will be delivered to my front door. All of theses things took under a minute to achieve but there is so much more that is making my life run more smoothly than ever before. 

I use videos from physical therapists to change up my exercise routines and I must say that they have produced remarkable results. I mostly work on stretching and strengthening the muscles in my legs and my core. The actual regimen can be a bit boring so I usually insert my iPods and listen to podcasts or music while I go through the regimen.. Sometimes I stream a good show to keep monotony from overcoming my desire to keep going. The air conditioning in my home keeps me cool even as I work up a bit of a sweat. 

I have a treadmill and a bicycle to add to the workout and while I’m making myself stronger my two robotic vacuum cleaners are sweeping up my floors. Of course I can’t imagine going back to the days when my only source of respite from the heat was an attic fan which moved around the hot air in our house. As my dishwasher whirs away I remember all of the times I rotated with my mom in cleaning up after meals with a sink full of hot water that dried out my hands. Somehow I found myself thinking about how awful it would be to go back in time. I began to fully understand my grandfather’s mantra that these are the good old days. 

When I began college I had female friends who were being harassed for daring to major in engineering or architecture. I admired their courage greatly and I would hate for young women today to endure the same kind of pushback for daring to aspire to working in what had once been traditionally male careers. When I hear people insisting that women should first take care of the home and and children I cringe. Those days are gone and I see little reason to go back to them. 

I like my computer that allows me to type text without a bottle of white-out close by to mask my mistakes. It once took me hours to put my ideas onto a paper. Now I can whip out a blog in a few minutes time. Why would I want to return to an era when virtually every aspect of life was so much more difficult? Why would I want to repeat the prejudicial impacts of the past? How can anyone think that the backward thinking of those now in charge of our country is a good thing? 

Our goal should be to keep progressing, not longing for a time when so much was missing in our lives. Sure there were a few things that we might try to do like spending more time with family and friends and working fewer hours chasing money and power. We can gain much by interacting with nature, encouraging innovation and progress, making sure that everyone has opportunities to work and thrive. We certainly are not perfect but the idea of looking to the past for answers that were not nearly as wonderful as we sometimes seem to think they were is not the right way to keep everyone feeling safe, secure and happy. 

No matter how much we wish not to be, we are an incredibly diverse group of people living on a planet that has mostly been good to us. What we need is a bigger tent to include everyone, not turning inward and ignoring or even persecuting those who dare to think differently or look differently from ourselves. We were very much that way not so long ago when I was a child. It was ugly and even seven year old me was able to see it. We would do well to pay attention to what is happening to innocents in our midst whose lives are being torn asunder in the name of being “legal.” A much better approach would be to think about what is morally right and just. 

I had a good morning getting things done even as I understand how many people are so much less fortunate. Instead of going backwards, doling goodies to only a select few and wishing for a time that no longer has any reason to exist, let’s instead evolve in a positive direction the way we were slowly doing before a charlatan convinced voters that only some of us are good enough to be given love in America. We can’t look away or pretend anymore. The whole world can see what is happening here and I think we can as well. It’s time to admit that we are walking in the wrong direction into a very dark and ugly way of living. Let’s do what we can to stay in the light of progress, hope and kindness.