There was a time—not that long ago—when “good morning” wasn’t optional, when walking past an elder without a greeting was considered a silent rebellion. A time when children didn’t interrupt adults mid-conversation, when “please” and “thank you” weren’t cute additions—they were required manners drilled into us before we could even ride a bike.
Back then, the dining table was sacred. You didn’t scroll through phones at dinner because… well, there were no phones. But more than that, you listened to your parents, grandparents, even your neighbor’s grandmother, with a level of reverence that felt natural. Elders weren’t just “older people,” they were walking encyclopedias, storytellers, protectors of wisdom. They could stop you in the street to correct your posture or ask why your shirt wasn’t ironed—and you listened. You apologized.
Today? It’s different.
We live in an era where authority is questioned instantly, often online. Kids call adults by their first names. Boundaries are blurrier. Parents are afraid to discipline, and teachers are sometimes scared to correct. Respect isn’t always assumed—it has to be earned, explained, debated.
The difference is deeper than manners. It’s cultural. It’s generational. Respect used to be the foundation—now it’s often the exception.
Maybe we were too strict. Maybe today is too relaxed. But somewhere in between is a balance we still haven’t quite found.
Because those of us who grew up during that time… we feel the shift. And sometimes, we miss the weight of those quiet rules that shaped us.