It goes without saying that the world and the country have changed much over the past 50 years, and even since the Covid pandemic, and not always for the better. The advancement of technology, our instant gratification mindsets, and the Covid debacle have separated us from each other. We, as a society, seem to be more isolated, more self-centered, less trusting and less kind. How exactly we arrived at this point is less important than deciding what actions we are going to take to turn the tide and to be an example to the younger generations of a better way of living in community.

We can begin with some simple steps; if someone calls you or texts you (and they are not a scam or a crazy person) call or text them back. Some of these calls and text conversations can be difficult, annoying, or just plain inconvenient in the middle of a busy day, but it shows respect to the other individual as someone worthy of my time and attention. A recent newsfeed announced that Generation Z would prefer to breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend via text than in person – a symptom of how far we have fallen and the disservice we have done to our kids that they hide behind technology to avoid the difficult relationship side of life. If there is that person in your life that calls or texts too often, consider the fact that they may be lonely and that an in-person visit may be what they really need from you. We need to be continually reminded that whatever critical responsibilities or activities are going on in my life, people and relationships will always be my most critical life’s work.

In a recent conversation with Mike’s mother, she mentioned that ‘back in the day’, most who attended a Green Bay Packers game wore suits and fancy dresses (which was not always ideal for those frigid late fall games). That generation would never consider going to Sunday mass wearing shorts and flip flops or even going to Walmart in saggy pajamas and a torn T-shirt. Well, you might say, earlier generations were just trying to impress each other, and this generation is more comfortable just being themselves. Although that may be partially true, we have taken this approach to a new level. Many of us do not take even a moment to consider the other. Could what I’m wearing be offensive to a group of people? Would wearing a certain outfit create unnecessary distractions for some people or compromise my self-worth or my dignity? Do I have a part to play in uplifting my community by taking just a few minutes to change my clothes and tidy myself up before leaving the house? If I let my daughter leave for high school with an outfit that leaves nothing to the imagination, or my son in baggy sweatpants and smelling like a teenage boy, are we respecting the teachers, the other students, and the learning environment that we all agree is so important to our children’s futures? If you are invited to someone’s house for a party or a gathering, consider wearing something a little nicer than you would normally wear. Your appearance and your actions will demonstrate that you value the invitation, and you value the people there. Whether we realize it or not, our laziness and our I-can-wear-what-I-want attitude does negatively affect our society and reflects our level of respect for others.

The next point may be a bit of shocker for us in Wisconsin, but perhaps some of us need to drink less alcohol and stop the marijuana smoking. Most of us are not at our best when we over imbibe. We get sloppy, say things that may be inappropriate or offensive, and collapse into ourselves. No one around us benefits when we are drunk, and many are hurt, often for a lifetime, when we go down this road regularly. If you struggle to respect yourself enough to drink moderately, try considering the impact of your drunkenness on those around you. Are you making us all better, or dragging us all down?

Let men be men again. Hold doors for others, complain less, compliment ladies when they look nice and do the dirty work, even when nobody notices. Don’t talk about sex in mixed company and curse less if that is a habit of yours. If someone needs help, help them. And let women be women again. If you know somebody who is hurting, reach out to them – or better yet, go and visit with them. Put down social media and connect relationally with those in your circle. Smile more. For both men and women, talk about yourself less and focus the conversation on the person you are with.

And let’s start talking about religion and politics again. Constructive, respectful conversations about God and government uplift us and unite us. God should be our primary focus, so it is natural to talk about our relationship with God to others, and this relationship affects our view of our government and our laws. Think before you talk, and be joyful and kind, but courageously go down these roads and see where they lead.

To be perfectly transparent, the Voet family is by no means 100% on the above suggestions, although we have been making a conscious effort to implement many of these changes. We all have a role to play in getting our society back on track and we can all make an impact today in our corner of the world.