In so many ways our lives today are a vast improvement over those of our grandmothers’. We now have technology to fulfil our every need, and even some systems – like the much-vaunted ‘Cloud’ with its ‘big brother’ aspects – which George Orwell himself could not have imagined.
But in some ways, we still have much to learn from our forebears. Yes, life was harder in their day. However, the essential difference was in how they dealt with each other. They knew how to recognise, respect and deal with old age, in all its forms and frailties.
One can only wonder when that attitude is contrasted with today’s much-hyped media bombardment of all that is young, beautiful and famous. For females, in particular, to be seen as old today is catastrophic! Just ask Arlene Phillips, Selina Scott, Moira Stewart to name but a few. Many are the women who are forced to resort to plastic surgery, foolishly to keep up the appearance of youth. The media instil a fear of growing old within us with daily articles about how to look young and eliminate wrinkles.
