What’s wrong with old school?

Urban Dictionary defines “Old School” as “anything that is from an earlier era and looked upon with high regard or respect. Can be used to refer to music, clothing, language, or anything really.” I was surprised when I read this because often when I hear the phrase it is in a negative connotation. I was certainly intrigued by the words “regard” and “respect” in the definition. I think old school is often seen as non-tech, not up with the times, or simple.

I would certainly refer to myself as old school most of the time. Having entered the workforce prior to computers, cell phones, and social media - I learned how to do things with pencil and paper, and I lived a long time without being in constant communication. I appreciate the advantages that technology has created, but I also see the pitfalls of our dependence on these tools and our inability to think for ourselves sometimes.

I also believe social media has given access to a lot of information about people, but I think it comes at the cost of really knowing people. That only happens by real, personal interaction.

So, let’s dive a little deeper into old school stuff that should be regarded and respected, as indicated in the Urban Dictionary definition. Old school things that shouldn’t be considered old school, but just what we should do. Let’s call them “Generational School” habits and practices. I think more practice of these simple things would make our world a little better, and make our parents a little prouder.

Treat women like ladies.

Open doors. Walk between your girl and the street. Watch your language. Be respectful. These are the things we were taught by our fathers. If we want the women in our lives to be ladies, then we better treat them as ladies. It has nothing to do with equality or independence, but has everything to do with manners and respect.

Make a call.

We have a thousand ways to communicate with people these days, but we seldom ever get a call anymore. It’s good to hear someones voice. It certainly is more personal and actually speaking avoids a lot of misinterpretation of what is in a text.

Write a letter.

When was the last time you got a letter from someone? How about one that was hand-written? Taking the time to sit down and write a letter or note makes people feel important. It communicates that they matter to you. It’s personal and authentic.

Read a book.

There are few things I enjoy more than sitting on our back porch in the summer time and getting lost in a book. Disconnecting from the world and diving deep into a story takes me away from the world and engages my imagination. Letting our minds create a reality, instead of technology creating a version of reality for us, strengthens our creativity and engages our minds.

I try to practice these four “generational school” behaviors as much as I can. They make my life a little richer. they improve my relationships. They help me have perspective. They keep my mind sharp. Hopefully, the make the world a little better.