That Was Then. This is Now. It's Still About Love!

That Was Then. This is Now. It's Still About Love!

When it comes to Love, there really are no wrong answers. Love, through the ages, may have changed faces, but the essence of love will always be the same. Love is truly what gives life meaning. At the end of the day, our finest moments will be those times when we have experienced love of one kind or another.

Back in the day when my parents met (in 1950), they were geographically challenged. My Dad lived in Portland, Maine and my Mom lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My mother said that they “fell in love through writing love letters.” Sweet, right? When she told me that, my mind went reeling. That would almost never happen in today’s age. Texting, Facetime, Zoom and Social Media have dramatically changed the way we all communicate...and even fall in love.

My mother said that they “fell in love through writing love letters.” Sweet, right?

When Senior Circle Stories (a personal nonprofit project) held one of its online events, “It’s About Love,” seniors were encouraged to share their love stories during a Zoom event. After all, who doesn’t love a good love story? We learned that many couples had met under very difference circumstances. One couple had met at the VFW (Veteran of Foreign Wars) Hall and danced the night away to the jitterbug. Another couple had met on a canoe trip and a year later arranged a date to have coffee at a local coffee shop. Yet another couple met at a club when he was on leave from military duty and went out to ‘paint the town,’ so to speak. Things may have moved a little slower back then. Online dating was not yet in existence. People had to rely on meeting each other organically. Family members were more involved and the need for acceptance was greater. So many things were different. Was it better then? Worse? Who is to say? I believe that regardless of the changes in technology and our faster pace of living, in general, certain factors will never change. We all still thrill to hear from the one we care about. We all still yearn to find lasting love. And we all still rejoice in feeling loved and accepted. In short, even with the dramatic changes in communication, LOVE will never go out of style.

Beth Douglas is an experienced marketing communications professional who is passionate about promoting quality, compassionate senior healthcare. She is a contributing writer and independent contractor with Douglas Design & Marketing.