Tall Chick, I think that a part of the problem is that, like so many of the big words, the meanings of "individualism" and "freedom" have changed. Individualism for me conjures up images of Davy Crockett or Alexander Solzhenitsyn, men refusing to be broken by nature or evil totalitarianism. Today it has much more narcissistic connotations: dying your hair blue and suing bakers out of existence because they use the wrong pronoun. Same thing goes for freedom: It used to mean doing what hell you wanted in life unless it harmed other people or encroached on their rights. These days, "freedom" means getting to choose which arm you get tattooed or what TikTok vids you can download. Many kids are unhappy because of the harmful changes in the meanings of these two vital words. I've had depression many times in life and, funnily enough, found that the anti-deps helped a lot. They gave me a window of time to make some positive changes. I fully agree though that they are vastly over-prescribed. Stay strong and carry on being the great parent you obviously are!
Spot on! And I did find better living through chemistry, so there were indeed physiological factors, but the doctors throw stuff at the wall to see what sticks, and sadly it kills some people in the process. Almost got me and convinced it got my mom.
Excellent take on how these two ideals have changed. I should add that people now greatly prefer safety, or at least perceived safety, over freedom. Have had they exact discussion with progressive (former) friends. But like the current generation who has never lived without a cell phone or the internet at their fingertips, how can they imagine our former existence? We can’t imagine life without electricity or cars and I’m sure our elders were frustrated with us. They must learn to live the best way they can with the new normal and we owe it to them to guide them as much as possible. I can only hope they find their way. It’s scary as shit though.
Tall Chick, I think that a part of the problem is that, like so many of the big words, the meanings of "individualism" and "freedom" have changed. Individualism for me conjures up images of Davy Crockett or Alexander Solzhenitsyn, men refusing to be broken by nature or evil totalitarianism. Today it has much more narcissistic connotations: dying your hair blue and suing bakers out of existence because they use the wrong pronoun. Same thing goes for freedom: It used to mean doing what hell you wanted in life unless it harmed other people or encroached on their rights. These days, "freedom" means getting to choose which arm you get tattooed or what TikTok vids you can download. Many kids are unhappy because of the harmful changes in the meanings of these two vital words. I've had depression many times in life and, funnily enough, found that the anti-deps helped a lot. They gave me a window of time to make some positive changes. I fully agree though that they are vastly over-prescribed. Stay strong and carry on being the great parent you obviously are!
Spot on! And I did find better living through chemistry, so there were indeed physiological factors, but the doctors throw stuff at the wall to see what sticks, and sadly it kills some people in the process. Almost got me and convinced it got my mom.
Excellent take on how these two ideals have changed. I should add that people now greatly prefer safety, or at least perceived safety, over freedom. Have had they exact discussion with progressive (former) friends. But like the current generation who has never lived without a cell phone or the internet at their fingertips, how can they imagine our former existence? We can’t imagine life without electricity or cars and I’m sure our elders were frustrated with us. They must learn to live the best way they can with the new normal and we owe it to them to guide them as much as possible. I can only hope they find their way. It’s scary as shit though.