Growing up, I spent many Sunday dinners at my grandparents’ place. I loved watching them fix little things around the house. My grandfather would sand a chair leg, while my grandmother mended socks with tiny holes. They grew up in the 60s and 70s when nothing was seen as disposable. To them, everything held value.
As I moved from a corporate finance job to writing, I noticed a big gap between their generation and mine. It wasn’t just about fixing broken things. It was about traits and values that seem to be fading away now.
In a recent book by Rudá Iandê, “Laughing in the Face of Chaos: A Politically Incorrect Shamanic Guide for Modern Life,” he said, “Fear, when understood, is not our enemy.” This reminded me how my grandparents faced challenges without needing constant validation. So, what did their generation have that we’re losing today? Here are nine traits that set them apart.
The Ability to Be Bored
Growing up, people often faced boredom without panic. They spent long car rides just thinking or chatting and learned to enjoy slow moments. This boredom fostered creativity. Kids invented games with simple sticks. Today, we struggle to sit in silence for just a couple of minutes, often reaching for our phones instead.Navigational Skills
My father could navigate without a GPS. It took effort to remember landmarks and play with maps. This ability gave him confidence. People learned to find their way and handle unexpected turns in life—skills that seem to diminish as we rely more on technology.Deep Focus
Have you seen someone from this era work? They could focus for hours, immersed in a project. They didn’t have digital distractions, allowing them to master skills deeply. This ability to concentrate has become rarer in our multitasking world.Financial Patience
My mom shared stories of saving for months to buy a dress. There weren’t quick credit options everywhere. This generation learned the value of money and the joy of earning something they wanted. A recent survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education shows that many young adults today often struggle with saving and budgeting.Genuine Privacy
Imagine keeping your thoughts and details about your life to yourself. Back then, privacy wasn’t just an option; it was the norm. Mistakes weren’t public knowledge, allowing space for personal growth without pressure. Today’s social media often blurs these boundaries, making true privacy harder to achieve.Hands-on Problem Solving
When things broke, the solution was often to fix them. There were no online tutorials or immediate expert advice. People learned to be self-reliant. This confidence in solving problems creatively is a skill we can still develop.Face-to-Face Communication
Disagreements were resolved in person. People had to look each other in the eye, which built emotional resilience and improved communication skills. Nowadays, it’s too easy to hide behind screens, avoiding necessary confrontations.Authentic Community Connections
Neighborhoods were tight-knit. People knew each other’s stories and shared resources. These real-life connections built strong support systems. Today, relationships can feel superficial, replaced by likes and shares instead of face-to-face interactions.Comfort with Silence
This generation was comfortable being alone with their thoughts. They could enjoy quiet moments without needing distractions. A study from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that silence can foster creativity and self-reflection, something increasingly hard to achieve today.
Reflecting on these traits highlights a generational contrast. While today’s youth have access to advanced technology, they often miss the deeper skills and resilience developed in simpler times. The good news? Many of these skills can be relearned. We can set aside our devices, embrace quiet moments, and restore a sense of community.
Ultimately, wisdom isn’t tied to age. It’s about being open to learning from the experiences of those before us. By recognizing what we might be losing, we can choose to foster qualities like patience, resilience, and self-reliance in our lives today.
