Inspiring Thoughts About Life: Are We a Lost Generation?
72Inspiring stories make us reflect about ourselves and the generation that we belong to. Are we a lost generation? Do we have hope when we view life or do we see our case as a hopeless one? May you take the time to read this true story and come up with your own reflection.
The huge hole in the screen door spoke volumes. He did what?! The old skinny man, in his temper, had tried to hit our caretaker with a stick. He was angry because the young man, who was working part-time for a friend of mine, came home later than usual. Luckily, he was able to duck and was unharmed. The screen got the blow instead.
How could he? His dilapidated house was just beside our school. But out of compassion for an old, lonely man, we had taken him in to stay with the young man for companionship. Fear of violence had taken its roots and so we had no choice but to let him go.
I don’t even need to watch the evening news to know how much hate, violence, cruelty, bloodshed, warfare, broken marriages and families, loneliness, suffering, pain, rivalry, competition, betrayal is out there.
I remember when that incident happened; it stopped me on my tracks. An avalanche of painful memories came hurtling back. I don’t need to go far; I see it everywhere for it happens even in our midst.
Is it really true?
Is our generation full of lost souls, gone astray, feeling bewildered, not knowing where to go? Are we so lost that we are beyond recovery or redemption? Have we fallen into the trap of thinking that violence, cruelty, broken families is a now a norm?
Are we walking along life’s road with that lost, distracted, desperate, distraught, and hopeless look of a man trapped and afraid?
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I cannot deny these things are out there.
And yet I refuse to believe that we are a lost generation. I believe that we have it in us to change, to stop destroying ourselves; and instead rebuild our lives. I genuinely believe that man or woman is capable of expressing themselves as their highest thoughts, their grandest vision and be who they truly want to be.
As I knelt in the pew in church for Sunday mass with my two brothers and their wives, we bowed our heads in prayer as the priest raised the host up in the air. In between the priest words and the silence of the church goers, a tiny voice started singing. “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun twis to ride in a one horse open sleigh …Hey!”
His family went “ssssshhh” and he sang again! A smile spread from my face to my heart looking at him with his impish grin. I was experiencing the Christmas spirit in April.
As long as there are still souls who are determined to spread joy, we are not a lost generation.
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Our school secretary was sharing that one of our children had a wound on the side of her forehead because a classmate unintentionally pushed her. The angry dad was telling her that if he was around, he would have boxed the child. The little girl replied, “No dad, don’t do that. He is just a little boy.” Out of the mouth of a five year old girl. I couldn’t help it, I felt my heart clenched. I was so proud of her.
As long as there still souls who are compassionate and understanding, we are not a lost generation.
A priest was sharing how he was once stuck in traffic and was approached by a boy who was selling small pieces of cloth used for cleaning cars. He took pity on the boy, rolled down his window and bought a few. All he had was a thousand pesos in his wallet. The boy didn’t have any change and said that he will be right back after he gets the change from his father. The priest confessed that it crossed his mind that the boy would run off with his money. The boy proved him wrong. He expressed all this to him and got the simple reply, “I couldn’t do that sir. My father taught me not to take money that is not mine.”
As long as there are souls with integrity, we are not a lost generation.
"Internal and external are ultimately one. When you no longer perceive the world as hostile, there is no more fear, and when there is no more fear, you think, speak and act differently. Love and compassion arise, and they affect the world."-- Eckhart Tolle
There are hundreds and thousands of such stories. Little and big ones that make you believe and hope that we can make a difference. I don’t need to go far to look for them because they surround me everyday. There are untold stories of people helping, supporting, and encouraging one another. They do it quietly and willingly. They do it with love. It is those stories that give me hope.
As long as there are people who choose to live a life of love, harmony, and purpose...as long are there souls who live deliberately and with awareness... to help others find the light within them, to believe in the goodness of each person and to care...
...we are not a lost generation. The hope of the future lies in our hands.
By: Michelle Simtoco
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Hi M.A.D. what time is it in your end? It's midnight now and glad I caught your comment before I sign out. No way...we are not going to let that happen to us right? :-)
Some days I have my doubts about current integrity and compassion, but I'm usually reminded before the day ends, that there ARE in fact a few people that understand and administer love, compassion and integrity.
Thank you for the uplifting videos that are signature to a great article. I'm not as worried at this moment about my children's generation as I usually am.
No, I do not believe that we are lost, just think that all the media around drowns out the goodness in people. Bad stuff for some unknown reason gets the attention, perhaps someone ought to have the guts to write a 'good news ' PAPER.
Hi Jmell, I too have my days of doubts BUT there are people who do love, show compassion and integrity. And I want to celebrate these people! :-)
Hi John, I loved those videos too. Thanks for taking the time to watch them. We should write more about the good things people do... :-) I enjoyed reading your 50th hub, "Hang in a Sec" http://hubpages.com/_143/hub/Hang-on-a-Sec LOL good one!
Michelle: We are not a lost generation, there is power in the acts of kindness, mindful living, or just simple living without violence of those who practice it, it adds to the consciousness of the world; your hub reminds me of this.
To Hawkesdream: I agree with your comments, totally. There is a good news site that is doing just this!
Hi Hawkesdream, I agree with you too. :-) Let's join hands and create more space for goodness to be shown and known.
Hi VioletSun, you reminded me of your hub which I would like to share the link here: Why I Choose to Not Connect to Negativity: http://hubpages.com/_143/hub/Why-I-Choose-to-Not-C
You said it so beautifully...and thanks for sharing the good news site.
Thanks, for sharing the link here. Very sweet of you! :)
This is one of my favorite hubs of yours so far ripplemaker. And that video was sooooooo awesome! Thanks so much for sharing this message.
I felt like something was gripping my heart as I was reading this, Tich. :O And the video sent a simple yet very powerful message. :)
Hi violetsun, it is people like you who inspire me to be a better person too. Thank you from my heart to yours. Hugs...
Hi Frieda, I loved the video too...and I am super glad I stumbled upon it. The message is just beautiful. Did you also watch the other video? The amazing softball story made me cry too. I'm such a softie when it comes to people shining their light... :-) And thanks for the continued support ....
Hi Teacher Susan, I guess kids do that..they give me hope when they show their love with such simplicity and purity. And to all those who show their love in little and big ways...it does create ripples and make a difference in someone's life. We should celebrate that. Thanks for watching the video too as I really wanted to share it with everyone.
Very nice one. There is need for all to be join hands and be one.
Ripplemaker two thoughts came to my mind as I read your hub .
1 We could learn alot from children
2 We on this planet will only change when the pain of staying the same Is greater then the pain of changing our ways .
We could stand a makeover of our mindset to be sure . Fortunately there are good hearted Individuals on this planet like yourself and I have no doubt that you make a positive Influence In your world . And that Is where It starts Is with us as Individuals , and we try to spread out to our friends and community . Thank you for being one who tries to spread some goodwill .
That being said I am going to write a hub about peace later today .
Michelle
We are not a lost cause and if there's at least one person who carries a light - then there's still hope. Thanks for sharing this insightful hub. Joy and peace to you always.
I didn't, I got so engossed in your words and that last video just got me thinking. I'll watch in now. Thanks for bringing that one to my attention!
Okay watched it. How did you find that! How amazing, touching, emotional, ... miraculous. THAT, what those girls did, was so honorable. Stuff like that should be on the news every day.
Huh, I love that picture with the baby; looks deep in thought! Already at a young age he will be taught by his caregivers which way he will growup believing; part of a lost generation or not.
The softball video was unbelievable, tissue please! Thanks for your continued sharing that make positive ripples! :)
I agree we are not a lost generation, and the ironic thing is for hundreds and thousands of years the older generation has been saying this about the younger generation. Older folks forget their were problems during their day too, but the world has many good people and we shall not fall to demise that quickly. People that constantly look for the bad news will usually find that, and those who look to make a positive difference will find the good things.
Hi Philipo, yes, the more people focus on the good, the more we bring it into our lives. :-) Thanks for reading and commenting.
Hi tony, you expressed that so well! Yes, it does start with us and I look forward to reading your hub for peace. I'm making that one too. LOL Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights. As long people think and believe an individual can still make a bit of difference, we are not a lost generation that's for sure.
Hi Cris, a little light shared can light so many candles...let's never say what we are doing is ONLY a small thing. LOL I think I also need to remind myself of that. Joy and peace to you too...
Hey Frieda, glad you stopped by and watched the other video. That made me cry too. People still do a lot of wonderful things and that said..we are not a lost generation,that's for sure!
Hi Dottie, I'm passing you some tissues... and the baby is thinking..."why in the world are these women crying?" LOL
Hi SweetiePie, yes, I do notice that too..."in our generation...but in your generation..." statements! LOL I agree with you. Let's keep on focusing on the great and wonderful things and many beautiful things will happen to you too.
I am happy to say that all people who care about our generation are reading and even commenting on this hub.
I hug you all dearly for caring...
I agree...people seem to have lost focus on what's important these days. As long as there's people like you that seek the good and spread goodwill, the world will survive. I think there's lots of good stories out there. Unfortuantely, the media tends to focus on the negative ones and this is what most people see. So, this fear that the world is going to hell speads. A simple child's smile has been known to make me forget about stupid trivial deadlines at work and reflect on life.
There is so much lost from our generation though. I'm not saying we are, but we are missing some of the fundamental elements that existed in a former time. I have spent a decade with youth, and I agree with many of the sentiments that their smiles bring about a hope that is deep within me. On the other side of that is the understanding that today's youth do not have the same make-up as I do. I am not in a matter of speaking - old- though there is in me the idea and feeling that there is so much more to life than cell phones, and facebook, texting, and getting by without doing anything for yourself.
The generational gaps that occur are happening at a more rapid rate, and there's no time to bridge these gaps... sometimes. I had a priviledged life to a point, though, I must say, anything I have in this life I worked for it.... blood sweat and plenty of tears. That's no pat on my back...an editorial of how I came to be me if you would.
The little things in life are slowly becoming obsolete... like an 8 track... and no that's not a CD with 8 songs... the little things like human decency, like opening a door for the elderly, like helping someone pick up a bag of lost groceries... like standing up for those who cannot stand for themselves.
I do hope that the lost generation (whichever that one ends up being) has history books and people who share their knowledge, and are able to comprehend the sacrifices of others before them in order for them to have all of the opportunities they see before them.
Hi kea, I used to feel really low and depressed and hopeless...it seems such a vicious cycle. And when I began to start seeing the positive things, life became more beautiful...and it fueled the fire within me to keep that alive. And it is so true, it takes little things to remind us of life's miracles. Thank you for reading and commenting. :-)
Hi Enigmatic Me, oh I love that idea absolutely...to pass on wonderful things like human decency as you have said.. "like opening a door for the elderly, like helping someone pick up a bag of lost groceries... like standing up for those who cannot stand for themselves." I would love to teach that to our kids in school. And I hope parents and grandparents continue to be models of all these things to encourage and inspire the youth of today. I am all for that! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it. :-)
You are a beacon of light for the world with your unrelenting sunny, positive outlook. Keep spreading the love. It helps.
I'm of the "glass is half-full" philosophy, not half-empty. It took a long time to get to this point, but there are snippets of joy and hope *everywhere* if one just looks for them. Unforntunately, the media bombards us with stories of death and destruction, because that's what sells. There was once a newspaper (in California, I think) that published only good news. Stopped publishing after only a month or two because nobody read it. I've often wondered what if the the mindset would change if media *as a whole* concentrated on "nice" or "happy" stories.
Hi James, there are days when I become down but then I get uplifted too by those around me. And it is such a beautiful thing to be able to give and receive. As long as people care about each other, we are not a lost generation, I am mighty certain of that. Thanks for shining your light my way. :-)
Hi JamaGenee, I wondered about that too. And I realized along life's way that there is perfection in the imperfection. Light will need darkness in order for light to manifest. So I no longer "hate" the imperfection but see it as a way for us to shine more of our light unto the world. Glad to meet another person who believes in the "half full" philosophy. It is a joy to connect with you. :-)
Great hub and great videos. I tried to add them to Mixx, but they were already there. Keep Up!
I always love the way you retell your experience and using it to illustrate your points in focus and then feed us with hope and love. That is your gift and I am honored to be your friend:) Thumbs up!
Hi daveearley, that was so sweet of you. Thanks for your thoughtfulness. ;-)
Dayzeebee, thank you for the constant support you give me and the thumbs up too! :-) With all the many angels around on Hubpages and around the world, we are not a lost generation that's for sure! :-) Hahahah
This is a generation like all others before, facing lifes ups and downs the best way we know how...lost is not a part of the struggle but what is most the focus of the media etc...
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Cobraski. :)
I had to remove the football video..the link was broken. :(
An excellent piece. I'm glad I read it.
Amazing... now you got me thinking!
Hi Spook, so nice of you to drop by. Please go and make the world a better place. A helping hand, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a warm smile shared...goes a long, long way. Thank you for the gift of your presence in my life. You take care... :)
Hi My Digest, thinking is good...lol feeling too. Lovely of you to drop by. :)
I think to some extent every generation has said the one proceeding them was the lost generation. Change can be paralyzing to people, but embracing that change and conquering it with a positive attitude is the order of the day. We reap what we sow, and there is no need to be a lost generation. I never understood the glass half empty crowd, and I refuse to ever fall into that mindset :).
This is very inspiring, and "you" too are very inspiring. Yes, we are not a lost generation if we are aware of our own actions and are responsible towards it. Thank you Ms! Best regards to Ms. Daisy. GOD bless you! ! !
men are dorks 2 years ago
No ways are we a lost generation, but if we dont look out.... soon