The days I remember using a wood-burning fireplace to keep warm when I was a kid.
With today’s heating and air conditioning technology, using a wood-burning fireplace to keep me warm seems like a lifetime ago, and when I tell my kids that’s how I kept myself warm during the winter, they look at me as if I’ve grown two heads! I believe this is because they are completely spoiled for cutting-edge heating and air conditioning technology.
They’ve always had central air conditioning, and the two of them each have a space heater in their rooms. They have no idea what it’s like to have to rely on a wood-burning fireplace for warmth and a fan for cooling. So every now and then, when they’re complaining about how terrible it is that the air conditioner is broken and they’re not sure if they’re going to survive, I tell them about how I grew up, and they quickly change their tune as they realize how fortunate they are. If they continue to complain about the heating and cooling system, I might just take them to their Grandparents’ house for a while, my parents have an entirely old heating and cooling system that is exactly like it was back in the afternoon. Maybe then they’ll understand what it was like. It’s incredible how quickly technology advances and becomes the new norm, making previous ways of life seem like distant memories. However, it is critical to remember and appreciate past experiences because they can provide valuable perspective and gratitude for what we have today.