Comments on: Not Either-Or…But With-And

By: Dr. Julie-Ann

Dr. Julie-Ann — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:31:43 +0000

*whew!* I was so stressed out last week from the situation at my in-laws that my writing didn’t flow from me as usual and I was afraid that I had ended up sounding high falutin’.

Your women’s group is going to LOVE the farmhouse and the picnic!

By: Kathy Warnock

Kathy Warnock — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:59:57 +0000

High falutin’? — No, no. I was just pointing out — hopefully — how our varying points of view meld. (I’m cleaning the farmhouse this week to prep for a womens’ group coming out from town next week for a picnic. We’re doing things we haven’t stepped up to heretofore — like hanging pictures. Inspiration welcome!)

By: Dr. Julie-Ann

Dr. Julie-Ann — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:17:55 +0000

I agree with you, Kathy (and I hope I didn’t come off high falutin’ about being a psychologist…my awkward point was that my fascination with how people tick is what led me into studying educational psychology)

By: Kathy Warnock

Kathy Warnock — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:36:49 +0000

“how to live by those core values while living in today’s world.” Wonderfully put — and so succinct.

I am not a psychologist, so I don’t call it “inner core.” I call it spirituality. Whatever you call it, Grandma cultivated it — developed it. I believe “Grandma” was a deep thinker — a person of depth and strength of character. Whatever you call it, it transcends education. In speaking from the heart, these people could be eloquent, and many were not educated as we think of it today.

By: Dr. Julie-Ann

Dr. Julie-Ann — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:34:46 +0000

Kathy, I think you bring up a good question–how did they cope? Of course, as a psychologist, I have a tendency to be fascinated by the “inner core” that enables people (especially women) to overcome hard times.

I truly believe that part of the fascination people have with the past is a feeling that the “old values” are slipping away…creating a sense of instability. My personal desire to figure out how to live by those core values while living in today’s world.

By: Kathy Warnock

Kathy Warnock — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:30:33 +0000

I’ve been thinking about the online community and what it means for several days. If you just consider this site (Modern Retro Woman), I think we are like-minded about this topic but quite diverse in other ways. For instance, I know that we don’t all attend the same church, but we lay that aside and discuss values instead of religion. Have we not found a common thread in our lives? We might say the same thing about politics and on and on. I think when it comes to fundamentals as presented by Coach Wooden, there’s not much to dispute.

I consider myself a student of the mid-20th century — it’s look and it’s feel — with focus on certain aspects. But I know it wasn’t all good. People had trouble, but how did they cope? There was a depression, a horrible “dust bowl,” a Hitler, McCarthyism, racism, gang warfare and crime, etc. I wouldn’t wish to go back, but what carried “grandmother” through it? What were her values? What was her day like? What did she know about her world? What was she thinking about? And of course, what was she cooking and what was she sewing? Those are the things that fascinate me.

By: Hairball

Hairball — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:27:11 +0000

Great post, Dr. J!

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:29:22 +0000

I heard on Good Morning America the other day that Thoreau said when post offices became prevelant, people would stop there 5 or 6 times a day – they were making a parralell to technology dependence today, and I thought it was a good point – it was less about being ‘in touch’ or communicating, then being excited by a new technology and distraction.

My in-laws are absolutely in love with the 50′s – they grew up in Philadelphia, and while I understand how cool that must have been – I also think we inherited our worlds ills, and that (from a religious perspective) if living in the 50′s was just the apex of human experience, then the heavens would open up and we would all ascend, but apparently we have some more work to do! ha ha… Ann