Golden Rule

One of the first lesson we learn in life is to have love for one another. Treat others with kindness and respect and always remember to say please and thank you. As a kid growing up in the South, This rule was fairly easy to maintain. Growing up in a small town, you treat everyone like family. In most cases they were. There were neighbors who would cook for you and look out for you. There were school teachers who knew you from church or just from the neighborhood. Then there were your friends. We would play from sun up to sun down without a worry in the world.  Back then we knew who our friends were. We all had a fascinating place in each other lives. These times were so easy and carefree, so genuine and honest, so fearless and well maintained. The only serious issues back then were writing the perfect letter to Santa, trying to be nice instead of naughty, waiting for that longed for Christmas day in hopes of getting everything on your list. Most of the time out of the thirty things on that list, we would only get about half that, if not less. Were we disappointed? Oh yeah! But, as a kid, we knew how to bounce back. We never stayed mad at anyone for long, never gave up too quick, never made a situation bigger than what it was. Besides, Christmas was coming back. There was always next year. And chances are, we weren't going to want those same things again anyway. It would always be something new. Something more exciting. Something we just had to have. 
During those days we knew our mistakes, our faults, our comfort zone. Looking back on those days, I remember how happy I was. I was free to play all day in the heat during the summer. In the fall we would rake leaves in piles and then jump on top of them. During the winter, we would pray for snow. When it came, we would have snowball fights and build snowmen until our hearts were content. Springtime was always the best. The temperature was just right, as though the sun and the wind were dancing in sync with one another.
Everything that we experienced as a child and growing up has led us to this point in our lives. Those family values that were planted in us have formed and shaped the person you see everyday in the mirror. We were taught right from wrong, good from bad, naughty from nice.
When did we lose our way?