Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Confessions of an Old Soul

I am an old soul.

I collect old magazines. Old photographs adorn my walls. Old music plays from my old-looking stereo. I like old movie stars and old books, old houses and old cars. I like browsing in antique shops for old lamps and old knick knacks and old tea cups. I like old statues weathered by time.
I like old buildings and roaming around old villages and towns and taking pictures of old things.
I listen to old radio shows.
I like old letters and old diaries.
I like old people. One of my favorite persons to talk to is my grandmother.When I was in England, I enjoyed talking to old people the most. They actually wanted to talk and didn't have a set of ear buds in their ears, tuning out the world, or a cell phone glued to their fingers.

I like listening to old stories from my old relatives. I like thinking about old times and how the people lived.

But even more than that, I am "old" down to my soul. I like old-fashioned values. Family. Church. God. Loyalty. Hard work. I keep my eyes open to the modern world, but eschew its influence in many ways. I do not have cable. I often sit in my living room and listen to music while I embroider or read a book. My daughter does the same - though it's usually art or tiger research that she's working on. She plays with her toys and uses her imagination, creating these fantastical worlds where she loses herself for hours.

I take joy in the simple things of life - a cup of tea, a conversation with a friend, a nature walk, a bird's call, playing UNO with my daughter, watching my cat chase a bug or watching my daughter feed the ducks.

I don't text. I don't use my cell phone for anything other than phone calls. I don't have an iPod and when I take a walk downtown for lunch, I open myself to the world around me - all the noise and beauty and wonderment - instead of lifting myself above it and drowning it out with music.

Sometimes, I feel out of place in this constantly evolving world, one where modern technology has often taken the place of a simple conversation using complete words and voices.

I cringe when I see a young kid showing no respect for his elders or when I witness simple manners being replaced by a misplaced sense of entitlement. (I've been cringing a lot lately).

I've come to embrace this about myself. This is who I am - a mixture of old and new. After all, I love the Internet (oh, the old things I have found using it!). I love email. I love modern medicine. I love indoor plumbing!

But at my heart, I am old-fashioned. And that's ok.

10 comments:

  1. Great post, Mel. You know, I don't think we appreciate the wisdom of our elders enough. I was talking to my mom today and was blown away by how much she knew about herbal medication.

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  2. Other than old radio and movies and antiques adorning my house (though I do appreciate them)...we are practically one in the same :).

    I love old people and old values. I won't get started on how upset most young kids make me today--the lack of respect and disconnect--because it infuriates me. It's sad because a kid learns from his/her parents and those obnoxious parents out there are ruining society--see don't get me started ;)...

    Melissa, I bet you have a very wonderful and respectful and interesting daughter!

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  3. I love that you know who you are and are happy that way:) I too love old things--love antiques, love personal history about a person--the stories they tell about what made them who they are.
    You are one of the best kind of moms--the kind who cares more for the little girl before you than the other stuff of the world that could draw you away.

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  4. Anonymous4:14 PM

    It's better than okay, it's wonderful! And one of the things I love about you the most. You're not only an old soul, you're a peaceful soul.

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  5. I've never considered myself an old soul, yet I gravitate toward and love all the things you mentioned. I tend to think I just have a connection to the past - the early 1900's specifically.

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  6. Rene, your mom's knowledge just staggers me. ;-)

    Aw, thanks, Jenna. I'm trying to raise her with this mentality and I hope I succeed!

    Terri - Thanks for your kind words. :-)

    L.T. - I never really thought about it before, but you're absolutely right - I DO feel peaceful. For so many years, I wasn't at peace (of course, that could have been the bad marriage!). But when you truly come to embrace who you are, that brings about an immeasurable comfort to your soul.

    Amy - I think I was born with my love for the past. Odd how the historical periods I like have changed over time, though. It began with the Civil War, progressed to the French Revolution, Regency England, and now World War II. Of course, I'm still a sucker for anything from the 18th and 19th centuries.

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  7. I like old people too. Some of them anyway :)

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  8. I think its okay too. I think maybe we'd be better off if more people thought that way. :)

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  9. Wonderful! I love old stuff too. I recently checked out Hollywood Homes from our library and just couldn't put it down. Many early screen star's homes were featured. Fascinating!

    Have a great weekend!

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  10. Toni - Agreed. *grin*

    Kelly, I think we'd DEFINITELY be better off! But that's just me.

    Jill - Oh, that sounds like a great book! May have to get that one.

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