I should probably have broken this up into two posts. That’s what smart bloggers do. Ah, why should I change now?
What Baby Boomers Think Is Cool?
A millennial penned a post regarding things that baby boomers think are cool and are not. One of the first items was Crocs. Now, I agree with this. Much like those jelly shoes that found their way around I never completely understood Crocs. The smirking point of this for me was that the few people I’ve seen wear Crocs were Gen-Xers and not boomers.
And, the reason why I am writing about this post that I actually read a month ago (or more, let’s face it, time and I no longer know each other) is that the forward-thinking millenial added cursive writing to the list. Today with my notebook in hand, I brainstormed on a story I need to write. I started writing in block letters which immediately skidded into cursive. Cursive is quick and sometimes illegible, but that’s on me and that non-existent desire to be a medical professional.
I wondered if this very forward-thinking millennial ever actually used a pen and paper. Perhaps she uses her phone and briskly thumbs her way through every thought she will ever have. Or maybe she uses a computer that she stealthily carries with her EVERYWHERE. Imagine wanting to take discreet observations as you pull out your laptop or tablet and start clacking keys.
What does one’s signature look like if one doesn’t use cursive? (Okay, I know. There are these “docusigns” these days so we may never actually ever really need to sign our names again.) Are we reverting to the days when the illiterate X’ed their way through life? Will there be one day when those of us in the US who still know cursive and the Europeans, of course, because they respect and understand tradition, will have a secret language that millennials and younger don’t understand because they believe cursive is a waste of time?
Perhaps cursive is to me what shorthand was to the office professionals decades ago. A dying art of writing quickly.
Now For Something Sobering
Every 40 seconds someone kills him/herself.
What a staggering bit of knowledge!
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day.
Four people I’ve known have committed suicide. Two of them were very close to me.
It used to be that people were judged. The family was judged. It was a sin against the church. People didn’t talk about it. Effectively, not talking about it, sliding it under the carpet, is the worst thing we can do.
The next worst thing we can do is act as judge and jury of the person who commits suicide. I can assure you that you have no idea what they are going through unless you’ve actually had the thought in your mind.
If you’ve thought about suicide, you believe that your loved ones would be better off without you, that you’ve become a burden, a ray of darkness in their sunshiny world. I know this because recently I’ve felt that.
Depression feels like an alien, the alien from that movie, who has suddenly set up home inside of you without your permission. You feel like you have no control. That your joy and the best of you is gone forever. And you don’t talk to anyone about it because it’s…alien.
The world won’t be better without you. Knowing that, you must reach out. Find support.
If you think someone else has those feelings, reach out. Even if you’re wrong, they will appreciate the knowledge that someone cares. Who doesn’t want to feel like someone out there care about them?
Care. Be that someone who cares.
Here is information about World Suicide Prevention.
The world is not better without you.
My kids can barely write their names in cursive. I think they are in the minority of even being able to do that for kids their age. It kind of blows my mind what kids do and don’t learn in schools right now.
The topic of suicide is still one of those dark topics that people are not comfortable talking about. We are way better now than we were even several years ago, but too many people are still really uncomfortable with it. Probably because we aren’t taught how to talk about it and what to say and how to actually offer help to those that need it.
The one thing I’ve been aware of as far as a difference is the inability of college students to string together words to make a coherent thesis. How they get through high school without writing skills is beyond me. I can see where cursive *might* be considered unnecessary since computers are doing everything, but…
re: suicide
I think there’s a lot of guilt, probably misplaced, that goes along with it. All of the: how could I have not seen this coming?
They get through school because school is geared to pushing kids through no matter what. I know this for fact as my oldest would have probably graduated if he didn’t drop out even though he never put in the work and he had appalling written skills. I’m talking most 2nd graders could have probably written better. I’ve seen the education system from both sides with him and with my younger two who find getting exceptional grades something that THEY want for themselves and strive hard for them. They are constantly paired with kids like my oldest who just flat out refuse to do the work or can’t grasp the material for whatever reason. The smart kids carry the others just to ensure that their grades aren’t impacted. Classes that should never have group work or projects have them as the norm. The times there aren’t group projects, kids get every opportunity to get the work in whenever they want or to retake tests to get better grades with little to no impact to them grade wise. Yes, I’ve got a few issues with the current school system.
The guilt with suicide is multifaceted, too. I saw a lot of it when my aunt attempted it several years ago. There was a lot of anger at her and over the whys behind it all which was followed by guilt at being angry. Almost all of that came from a real lack of knowledge about depression and a genuine lack of desire to truly understand. I think that the understanding of suicide and depression go hand in hand. You don’t “get” the one so you certainly aren’t going to be able to look at the other without any kind of personal biases. Then you toss in a bit of denial because if people admit to something like this being beyond control, then they also have to admit that it could impact them and everyone wants to believe they are invincible.
People don’t sign their names anymore? Really? I still send thank you letters and birthday cards, etc, all of which require “writing.” I know I’m old-fashioned, but c’mon! How about legal documents? They all still require signatures and notaries. Driver’s license, passports, etc., still require signatures. Weird.
I spent 12 years working at a psychiatric hospital. There’s an old saying about suicide: It’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem. But when you’re in that moment of despair, it’s hard to see the future. 🙁
A lot of legal documents, documents to sell a house, for instance, can now be signed electronically. As for checks, I don’t know about other people, but I write maybe two a year (and cringe to think that my bank has just joined another and I might have to get new checks when I still have a zillion).
You have gotten around. Being in despair is like having blinders on. No other feelings, no rationality. A frightening place to be.
Apart from real crocodiles, I have no idea what a croc is … and I certainly wouldn’t want to wear the toothed variety!
here is a link: crocs.com . If you visit it, they started with the clogs that had the holes in them and then extended their brand. I have never worn them. They could be quite comfy for all I know. 🙂 And, yup, I wouldn’t mess around with the toothy variety.
Churchill spoke of having the “black dogs circling”.I like that image for depression. I agree that those who want to take their own lives thing that those who are near and dear to them would be better off without them. I was there many years ago. But not now thank heaven.
The Churchill quote is perfect. Thanks, Anne. I’m glad that you got through difficult times.