Hattie’s View: Who’s had the good life?

By Ellen Coffey

Last week I was on a soap box complaining about todays political system’s failure and fake news.

Maybe I just needed to vent. Looking back, I don’t think I would choose to have lived in any other period of American History.

Which generation of Americans do you think have had the best life? Certainly not the pilgrims, the pioneers, nor those post Civil War survivors or Great Depression Americans rebuilding their lives after extreme losses.

Pressures and stresses continued during two declared World Wars and mounted after several undeclared conflicts, nor forgetting pressures on families during epidemics and pandemics.

Who’s satisfied these days?

What’s the good life today? Hmmm? Chilling around a fire pit ? Using Venmo? Traveling around the globe?

You see, my maternal grandparents started married life in a dirt floor shack, lights from kerosene lanterns, water from a pitcher pump in the yard and, a crescent door outhouse that stood tilted at the end of a worn path.

My parents moved a rung up the ladder beginning with a rental house. Electricity running water, plumbing and back porch facilities followed.

My generation faired far better. Both material and spiritual blessings. We as entrepreneurs and home owners, have worked as hard or harder and longer than many folks in other generations.

I say Ive used my years well and have had a great life, yet I remain low maintenance. It’s not false humility, to consider oneself low maintenance.

Christians have Jesus, a devine roll model, placing love for mankind before materialism.

How many folks wanted to attain riches by age 40?

How many depended on government assistance?

What’s the good life anyway?

Which generation of Americans has had the good life.

Was it during Grandmas horse and buggy days? What I call the snowy jingle bell days, memories of covered bridges and ice skaters on frozen ponds.

Did they enjoy the good life?

Yep . . . I have lived long enough to say, “The best life of all probably is to be found in happy memories no matter the time or place.

Folks need enough money to be comfortable, eat well, have transportation, treasure any family you have.
To enjoy life smile anyway.

Have a Golden Rule mindset.

Don’t muzzle the voice of your faith.

Come up with a last minute reason to drive your own car to events. You’ll never be sorry.

Finally, use your camera, proof you’ve had a pretty good life, Y’all.