GENERATIONAL WISDOM
- Rhonda Todrick
- Dec 19, 2025
- 3 min read
Have you ever heard or been almost ready to say, “When I was young...?”
Cue the eye rolling! The “old oak bucket syndrome” is rarely welcome in a generational discussion.
No generation likes to hear that the previous one might have done it different, seen it different, or is completely indifferent to all the “new way of doing things.” But whether we like it or not, we are the sum of all of those who have gone before us.
I feel so fortunate to have been born in the early 50s — into a stereotypical family —
Dad worked and Mom stayed home. Watching my mom working at her chosen career was enlightening; she clearly loved doing what she was doing and I learned to respect her view of her world.
Both my parents have passed away, but so often when I am making a decision or dealing with a difficult situation, my thoughts turn to my grandparents or my parents, and what they might have done or how they might have dealt with the situation.
Sometimes it’s the little things;
“Call or write thank you notes!”
“Opening a door for someone doesn’t mean you think you are superior, it just means you’re kind.”
“Look someone in the eye when you talk to them!”
“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”
“Of course it hurts to have a baby! Think of the logistics!”
“No, we can’t afford it!”
“Don’t wear white pants after Labour Day.”
Clearly, some nuggets hold more wisdom than others,
but nonetheless my life is fuller because of the teachings that come to me from generations past.
As we dismiss the generational values that preceded us, are we dismissing some priceless lessons?
When we review accomplishments of the decades back to the 1800s, we take on an air of superiority and believe we have come such a long way. “It’s a different world,” I’ve been told by my kids, and it certainly is that.
We’ve added magical things like electricity, planes, phones and indoor plumbing, not to mention the amazing number of scientific and medical breakthroughs! We can build skyscrapers higher than ever.
But, have we truly learned anything new about being human?
We can now sit beside someone without looking at them and communicate via texting. We can access more factual information than ever before and yet choose to watch reality TV and sensationalized news.
We can desalinate water and use nuclear power to heat cities, but we have nations without water and those who use nuclear power as a threat to the human race.
We can run multinational corporations from a single computer and video links, but do we really know our neighbours and fellow workers better than previous generations?
Individuals now feel entitled to strip historic churches of their copper roofs because the metal is worth money. This astounds me, as throughout centuries, churches have provided solace and now provide a recycling opportunity.
There are great accomplishments humankind have made.
I take comfort in seeing the increase in charitable organizations globally trying to level the playing field a bit. It makes me smile to watch people passionate about what they believe in and then doing it.
I feel heartened by much, but can’t help but feel curious about what life would be like today if we weren’t so connected by technology, and returned to actually talking to each other, looking each other in the eye, borrowing some sugar and writing a thank you note.
I know, cue the eye rolling,
but it’s my fantasy!
By Rhonda Todrick . First Published in Island Gals Magazine . 2012 . Volume 2 . Issue 1 .
