I know I usually write about crafting, creativity, and colorful nails around here, but lately I’ve had a few thoughts swirling around that needed somewhere to land. With the start of a new year, I’ve found myself doing a lot of reflecting - on how things have changed, what we’ve gained, and what we may be quietly losing along the way. So today, I’m stepping a little outside my usual lane to share some thoughts that have been sitting with me, because sometimes reflection is just as important as creativity.
I was born in 1964 - right on that blurry line between Baby Boomers and Generation X. Technically? I could be placed in either group, depending on who you ask. But in real life? I relate far more to Generation X.
I grew up independent, adaptable, and resourceful - figuring things out as I went. I learned to adjust to massive changes in technology, culture, and the economy without expecting the world to slow down for me. I value hard work, common sense, and yes … manners.
What shaped that mindset wasn’t theory - it was life. I was pregnant at 17 and gave birth to my son just one month before my 18th birthday. He was born with a rare neurological condition, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, which brought seizures, developmental delays, and later glaucoma into our lives. I learned very quickly what responsibility, resilience, and perseverance really meant. I had my second baby at 20, and by 23, I was divorced and raising two children on my own. There was no time to wait for the world to be gentle or convenient - I adapted because I had to. Those years didn’t just teach me how to survive change; they taught me the importance of showing up, respecting others, and holding onto values that keep you grounded when life gets hard.
I remember life before the internet, but (although hesitantly) I embraced it when it arrived.
I respect tradition, but I’m not afraid of change.
I don’t need everything to stay the same - I just believe some things should still matter.
So while my birth year may sit on the cusp, my mindset lives squarely in Generation X. And honestly? That blend of resilience, independence, and grounded values feels like the best of both worlds. 💜
I recently came across a quote that stopped me mid-scroll:
“Traditions are not polite suggestions - they’re roots.”
And the longer I sat with it, the more I realized just how much those roots are being yanked out these days and led me to write about all of these thoughts.
Somewhere along the way, traditions stopped being seen as meaningful… and started being treated like optional extras. Like something you can opt out of because they feel inconvenient, outdated, or “not really our thing.”
Apparently now, traditions are “meant to change.” Or worse - “meant to be broken.”
Hard disagree.
When Did Common Courtesy Become Optional?
Let’s talk etiquette - because wow, has that ship sailed.
There was a time when:
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You said thank you without being reminded
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You didn’t leave someone’s house without saying goodbye
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Kids hugged grandparents, waved, or at the very least acknowledged the room
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If someone texted you a question, you responded - not three days later
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Invitations came with RSVPs (and yes, people actually answered them)
Now?
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Kids run out the door like they’re escaping a crime scene
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Messages sit unread while the sender waits for an answer
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“I forgot” has become an acceptable response
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Silence somehow counts as a reply
And if you dare to notice any of this? You’re told you’re being “too sensitive” or “old-school.”
Busy Isn’t a Personality Trait
The most common excuse I hear is, “Everyone is just so busy and stressed.”
Listen - I believe people are busy. Life is full.
But being busy doesn’t mean being oblivious.
A quick “thanks.”
A simple goodbye.
A two-second response that says, “I got this, I’ll answer soon.”
Those aren’t time-consuming. They’re basic human decency. Being stressed doesn’t cancel out manners.
Traditions Weren’t the Problem
Here’s the part that really gets me.
Older generations aren’t refusing to change - they’re refusing to pretend that respect no longer matters. Traditions weren’t about control or rigidity. They were about teaching values:
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Respect for elders
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Appreciation for effort
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Presence in the moment
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Accountability
Today, many parents have decided etiquette isn’t important - or worse, that expecting it is “too much.” Kids aren’t taught to acknowledge adults, say thank you, or follow basic social courtesies because we don’t want to make them uncomfortable.
But here’s the truth:
Discomfort is how values are learned.
We’re Not Raising Independent - We’re Raising Unaware
When we stop teaching traditions and etiquette, we don’t raise free-er kids - we raise disconnected ones. Kids don’t magically learn gratitude. They don’t intuitively understand respect. They learn it by watching and being guided.
Traditions were the framework that taught those lessons. And when we throw them out entirely, we shouldn’t be shocked when the results look … messy.
Roots Don’t Hold You Back - They Hold You Accountable
Roots don’t stop growth. They keep it upright. They remind us that relationships matter, words matter, and how we show up matters.
You don’t have to keep every tradition exactly the same - but discarding them altogether is how we lose the things that once held families and communities together.
A Not-So-Gentle Reminder
Maybe it’s time we stop pretending this is just “the way things are now.” Maybe it’s time we start asking:
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Are we modeling gratitude?
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Are we teaching kids to acknowledge people?
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Are we confusing convenience with progress?
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Are we expecting older generations to change - while excusing younger ones from learning?
Because traditions aren’t about the past. They’re about the foundation. And etiquette isn’t old-fashioned - it’s timeless. And honestly? The world doesn’t need less tradition and manners. It needs a whole lot more of them - served with intention and a little backbone. 💥💜
And let’s get one thing straight. Being told that we “can’t adjust to change” is laughable.
Generation X has adapted to more change than just about any generation alive.
We didn’t just witness change - we survived it!
We lived through political upheaval, shifting family structures, and the normalization of dual-income households.
We weathered recessions in the 70s, 80s, and 90s - and then got slammed again by the Great Recession.
We watched college costs explode and debt become a way of life.
Technologically? Please.
We went from:
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Vinyl, 8-tracks, and cassettes → CDs → MP3s → streaming
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Manual Typewriters → electric typewriters → personal computers
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Wall phones, pay phones → Pagers → smartphones
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A handful of TV channels → endless on-demand content
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The birth of the internet → dial-up → broadband → social media → everything online, all the time
We adapted to corporate restructuring, job instability, and the constant expectation to do more with less - all while being told to somehow maintain “work-life balance.”
So no - this isn’t about resisting change. It’s about refusing to mistake progress for the erosion of respect.
We’re not holding onto traditions because we’re stuck in the past. We’re holding onto them because we know what happens when everything meaningful becomes optional.
We’ve changed.
We’ve evolved.
We’ve adjusted.
We just refuse to believe that evolution requires abandoning gratitude, manners, and human connection. That’s not outdated. That’s grounded.
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read my thoughts. Whether you found yourself nodding in agreement, quietly reflecting, or even raising an eyebrow or two, I truly appreciate you being here. Conversations like this don’t have to be loud to be meaningful - they just have to be honest. If this post sparked a thought, a memory, or a different perspective, I’d love to hear it. Respectful feedback and real conversation are always welcome around here. 💜✨
Until next time!
Dawn
