What’s something you miss from the old days?

Just so you know, I am 60 years old now, and like most people my age, there are plenty of things I miss about the old days. But there is one thing I miss more than anything else: my sense of safety in the world.

I miss being able to walk outside without feeling anxious or afraid of the people I might encounter or the unfamiliar situations I might find myself in. I miss the freedom of going about my day without constantly feeling on guard, wondering what might happen or who I might run into.

It has affected even the simplest things in my life. Something as ordinary as making an appointment to get my hair cut became such a difficult task that it took me over a month to actually do it.

That’s what I miss most. Not necessarily the past itself, but the feeling of being safe enough to live my life without fear. To go places, meet people, run errands, and enjoy the little things without having to mentally prepare myself for every possibility.

I miss that freedom. I miss that peace of mind. And I think sometimes people underestimate just how much it means to feel safe in your own world.

The world has changed so much over the years, and even here on our little island, I notice it. There seems to be so much more violence, abuse, harassment, and outright cruelty than I ever remember. I can’t seem to go a single day without hearing or reading about someone hurting another person.

It’s difficult not to let it affect how you see the world. When so much of what we hear about involves anger, aggression, mistreatment, and people hurting one another, it can slowly change how safe we feel going about our everyday lives.

I know bad things have always happened; I’ve lived more than my fair share. I’m not suggesting that the past was perfect or that people were always kind to one another. But there is something exhausting about the constant exposure to it all. Sometimes I just want to step outside, enjoy my day, and not feel like I have to be on guard.

I miss a time when the world felt a little less frightening. More than anything, I miss being able to experience everyday life without carrying so much anxiety about what I might encounter.

My wish? That I get to experience that freedom again one day. I am trying!