Gone or Coming Back?

I’m not a fan of the slogan “Make America Great Again” for a myriad of reasons: America was never ‘great’ for everyone; the past is gone for a reason; resurrecting what had worked in former eras is like reanimating a corpse - it doesn’t come back like it had been or like you wish. The “good old days” may be better in your memories of them than they actually were; that’s nostalgia, but that wistful affection for by-gone days is just the spin you choose for the memories. What are some things that have gone and appear to be coming back in reimagined ways?

1. Flip phones

2. Vinyl records

3. Physical books

4. Board games

5. Paper planners/calendars

6. In-person conversations

7. Community - I especially love this.  For example, take a look at what’s happened in Minneapolis after ICE murdered at least two innocent people and detained lots of others.  The great people of Minneapolis / St. Paul have come together to take care of their community.  This is the energy we need everywhere, all the time…without having the tragedies reminding us to come together.

8. Pot-luck gatherings - Feeding a crowd is expensive, so asking your company to contribute a dish to the meal makes sense.

9. Individual and community gardens for growing food

What are some things that have gone, but you feel / think need to come back in new ways? Here are some from my wish list to stimulate your ideas:

1. Basic decency

2. Manners / positive social behaviors -  For example, thank you notes don’t have to be hand-written and sent through the mail, but thank you notes are important - email your thanks and be specific rather than just saying, “Thanks for the gift.”

3. Common sense

4. Honoring diversity, equity, and inclusion, honoring higher education

5. Compassion, empathy

6. Respect given when earned

7. Intelligent, scientific, medically-trained head of Health & Human Services

8. Sending postcards

9. Longer attention spans - They are so short now!

10. Real dates - that are planned and paid for by the person asking out the other person, that don’t expect sex in return, that demonstrates effort, that are planned around genuine activities - play pickleball, hit golf balls at a driving range, play cards at a local coffee house, go on a picnic, TALK, take a class together.

11. Kids playing outside

12. Rule of Law and adherence to The Constitution by everyone, especially by sworn in government officials

13. Media that is trustworthy, authentic, facts-based, not bought by big corporations / governmental regimes / influencers

14. A robust Middle Class

    
    

What are some things you feel / think ought to be gone and stay gone? I’ll share some of mine:

1. Racism, xenophobia, generalized hate

2. Cruelty toward other humans, against animals, against the Earth

3. Traditional religions - The source of many wars, of suppression of women, of control, of touting guilt and shame, and of God characterized as capricious / genocidal (in the Christian tradition) [I claim being spiritual, not religious.]

4. The patriarchy - men making decisions on women’s bodies and autonomy, misogynistic ideals / speech / behaviors, red-pill men/ manosphere, whiny incels

5. Capitalism, “trickle down economics”, expensive healthcare - We need universal healthcare for everyone

6. Laws that allow politicians to accept and be bought with money and favors

7. Government leaders who ignore the Constitution - Everyone who wants to serve in government must read and pass a test on the Constitution.

8. Supreme Court judges who can stay on for life -  Limits on how long the judges can stay on the Supreme Court are needed. Additionally, age limits are needed; how about theyy must retire at age 70?

9. Too-old, entrenched politicians - I’m not an agist; still, we need younger energy in charge; we need age limits - how about ages 30-60 can run/hold office and at 70, politicians must retire?

10. ICE!, Concentration camps / deportation centers, American Nazis, MAGA extremists, oligarchs’ influence, Christian Nationalists, The Heritage Foundation, theocracy, authoritarianism, fascism, Turning Point USA, right-wing hijacked patriotism

11. The 1%  and corporations getting huge tax breaks - Fair tax for everyone; once we reach 70 years old, no more paying state and federal taxes because we will be on limited incomes.

12. Expensive higher education and preparation for a trade - Free college or trade school for everyone is needed

13. Cutting human services for people who need a helping hand

14. Bullying, ‘mean girl’ behavior, judgment of others, body shaming

15. Dumbing down of education and rewriting history

16. AI having free-rein without checks and balances

17. Those odious ‘red hats’ and the arrogance, hate, exclusiveness, unenlightenment they stand for

18. Two polarizing political parties - in America, the Democrats and Republicans are passé’ -  Independent thinkers who are not ‘married’ to a political party and don’t just ‘play on a party’s team’

19. Hoarding anything - Minimalism is freeing in so many ways.

20. Fake / plastic / silk plants - These are dust gatherers; their colors fade with time, and don’t benefit people like having live plants do.

21. Throw pillows - why? Just why?

22. Outdated electronics - including frayed and tangled chords, stuff that doesn’t work

23. Too many collections - Okay, you like & have, for years, collected matchbox cars, Lego people, and Hummel figurines.  Consider their worth, value to others and to yourself.  Maybe you don’t need ALL of your collections.

24. Accent walls - especially in bright colors

25. Landlines

26. Neckties and too much formality in dress

27. Expensive weddings - Forbes reports the 2025 stats on marriages ending in divorce: “…when it comes to first marriages, only 43%… are dissolved. Second and third marriages actually fail at a far higher rate, though, with 60% of second marriages and 73% of third marriages ending in divorce” (https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/divorce/divorce-statistics/ ).

28. Automatic assault weapons for personal use - No private civilian needs an automatic assault weapon for home protection or hunting.

I could keep going, but, these are the basic things I’d like to see be gone and not come back.  Yes, these are idealistic; I’m okay with that because I refuse to be jaded.

What are some other things that have gone but you’d like to see come back?  What are things you’d like to see go away and stay gone?  Please share your stories, thoughts, insights, and suggestions by either commenting below this post if you are reading this on social media, or, if you are reading this through your email subscription, please share, by emailing me, at reimaginelife22@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading and participating in this blog essay; I invite you to subscribe to my blog at www.reimaginelifecoach.com.