When God created this world, he sent Adam on this Earth and to take away his Loneliness, he sent Eve to give him happiness and care, the one to talk and to share feelings with which we name as Love . Love is a feeling which has yet not been discovered how it was shaped. It is experienced by all in life at least one time or more. It has been associated with the living beings from the beginning the world was created.
Love can be described in different ways for different relations and person and is interpreted differently by many people. It can be with a person, animal or a non-living as well. Love for a person is different from that with being in love with your pet or your very old pen, your personal dairy etc. It is a feeling of being possessive and caring towards that person or thing you love and want to have it in your life forever.
Let us take an example of having the feeling of Love with a person, for instance when we meet someone and spend some time. After few meetings if we find that person compatible to us and we like to talk to this person, we miss the presence of this person in parties or when we go out with our friends, we want to know more about them and develop an emotional connection in between. We want to know their likes and dislike, hobbies, their thought about being you around them and much more. When we are with this person we like to be completely involved in their thoughts and words and we are inquisitive to know what this person is feeling about us at that point. A few more meetings with a healthy conversation urge your heart to develop a feeling of care, happiness and possessiveness towards this person which we name as LOVE .
Now the question arise that why we have this feeling and why we like this person so much. How this embryo of Love begins and flows softly into each others heart. We then discuss this with each other and seek for an answer. We share views and concepts to satisfy that the feeling is really there and true. Once we are fully convinced that this person also have the same feeling for us we then want to disclose the reality and break the ice.
We have read and heard many Love Stories and have been also influenced by them. Love is that precious gift that one can ever have in life. Being in Love creates not only a feeling of care and possessiveness but it also evokes a feeling of humanity towards the society. True love gives strength to a person in all walks of life. Just a glimpse steals our heart and seems to communicate silently just like falling leaves and you develop a feeling of care and pain even if this person is stable but we cry for him and remains attracted forever then this is true love.
Love can be found in any culture and religion is boundless to any region. It is a feeling of tender, affection, commitment, attachment and joy. Love can be expressed for many things like for example Love for nature, love for fame and power, love for soul, love for money etcetera. But the most beautiful face of love is love for a human or say a person very close to your heart.
Love is free form envy and jealousy. It is pure as a running stream and beautiful like a blossom. It enriches our life with moods and glory leaving an everlasting effect on our mind. Sexual attraction also plays an important role to establish a new bond however, it does not stand prior in a relationship as love can be expressed passionate without sexual bonding.
Marriage is a relation that gives a new phase to ones love. It assures the true essence of commitment and sincerity. Once we are bound in a relation ship and make it stronger we then move to the next phase. Usually love is developed between opposite gender and therefore it also develops more close feelings by giving birth to offsprings and make the relation more strong.
Summarizing the above we can say that love usually starts with friendship, develops emotions and attraction, further enhanced by bounding it into a true relationship and commitment and reshaping it by passing through different phases in life. With the passage of time if the feeling of care, pain, affection, passion and attraction remains there then we can that true love persist as it gradually develops connection with each other souls and mind.
Love has the Power to change frowns into smiles and sorrows into happiness and joy. It frees our mind from stress and difficulties. Love provides the pleasure behold. I would end this with few words that if we love someone we should love them unconditionally because when there are conditions the true meaning of love vanishes and the connection between two people becomes feeble and unbound.
The family institution has always played an essential role in forming society, civilization, and culture. The definition of family has changed throughout the history, and the reason for this was various factors: from ancient religious concepts and philosophies to modern political ideologies and economics. However, this essay provides a look at a family from a particular perspective. The family both forms and changes the worldview of parents who have taken responsibility for people close to them, and it brings up the children born in it as well. Thus, a family is two or more people united by love for each other and, most importantly, by strength and will to take responsibility for each other.
Family values, in their essence, have several elements necessary to create a strong foundation of mutual understanding and dialogue within the group. The central family values include, for example, internal ones: the unity of culture and faith in the family, mutual understanding, love, and support between parents and children. Moreover, dialogue between all family members is significant because mutual understanding and communication are the essential elements of any strong relationship between people. External values are of no lesser meaning; these imply autonomy from the influence of the state and information coming from mass media. Additionally, public school education, school clubs, communities of children, and other activities imposed by the state fall into this category. The influence of these organizations alienates a person from the family, making them operators of political interests that encourage fragmentation within small communities and ideological centralization. To summarize, family values comprise adherence to its firm foundation, consisting of love, shared views and dialogue within it, and autonomy from external influences outside it.
Next, responsibility plays an essential role in the formation of a healthy family. First of all, the authority of the parents as the prominent family members is relevant to this question. Family life for many modern people seems to be a heavy burden, which is easier to quit than to continue the long and challenging building of a strong union. This view comes from numerous factors inherent in modern society, mired in infantilism, skepticism, and reckless atheism, depriving a person of any responsibility to himself and community. Parents are responsible not only for their partners or children. More importantly, parents are responsible for themselves and their will, which keeps the family together. Thus, each parents responsibility is to be a person who can maintain the familys coherence.
On the other hand, children have a colossal responsibility before their families. Sometimes this responsibility is higher than the parental responsibility even. Children might not meet the parents expectations to a great extent but instead accept the proper care, time, and resources that have been given to them. However, children succumb to the most crucial test of their will due to childish frivolity and youthful maximalism and the strength of those convictions that their parents helped them find. Therefore, children are responsible for themselves and the proper use of the familys opportunities, which is sometimes difficult and requires discipline.
As to the discipline, there is a misconception that it should be supported by a steady hand, violence, and emotional pressure on children and partners. This approach has shown its inconsistency throughout the entire history of civilized humankind. For example, research from Howarth et al. (272) reveals that domestic violence is associated with a significant risk to childrens physical and psychological safety and wellbeing across the lifespan. The key to maintaining discipline without aggression and trauma is dialogue, which includes communication, joint problem solving and discussing essential family members life details. In brief, a key to healthy discipline is dialogue instead of punishment and other violent actions among family members.
As a result, a particular foundation is needed for conducting a dialogue and determining the moral and ethical conditions. As such, religion dominates the family and acts as a vital factor in the consolidation and direction of family members development. In this essay, the suggested belief system is Christianity for several reasons. The basis of religion is love and compassion; this and the simple way of explaining humanistic values and Christian life in a community imply the importance of dialogue. Faith within the family allows for a discussion within the framework of common morality and ethics, allowing each member to reveal the essence of their thoughts and ideas. Thus, religion creates a moral and ethical consensus in the family, creating a general framework for discourse and setting its vector.
It could be seen that such a perception of the institution of the family is prevalent. In this context, the words of William Bennett (par. 5) are relevant: it is the values that a child is taught that will more determine that childs fate . Looking at modern society, one can notice that the influence of the family is the most critical factor of the personality, both in its initial period and in later life. In his article, Bennett reveals the issue of the family from the point of view, nowadays defined as conservative. This is reflected in criticism of the school system and popular culture in the lives of children. In short, Bennett considers the familys moral and ethical ideals and imperative concepts to be the familys foundation.
In addition, Bennett also expresses ideas about what positively affects the family in general and children in particular. His ideas include a strong religious and cultural unity within the family. Furthermore, he emphasizes a responsible and humanistic approach of parents to the upbringing of their children, i.e., guidance and upbringing with love and care, instead of harsh prescription and aggression. It also describes a critical element of the family: two parents, especially a father, in the process of raising a child. This is explained by the fact that in modern society, the irresponsible approach of parents to conceiving a child and forming a family leads to the absence of paternal guidance and maternal care. It is this that most fully corresponds to the definition of family discussed in this essay. Hence, Bennetts position insists on the fundamental factors of family formation in the face of a humanistic approach and love and the presence of fatherhood and motherhood in education.
In conclusion, the family is the foundation of society, allowing an individual to live harmoniously, develop and stick together with people close to her, based on personal responsibility, love, and mutual understanding. Family values are essential since they create relationships in a group, allowing the family to conduct a dialogue and understand each other. Importantly, dialogue requires mutual support; discipline and faith are critical for the comfortable living of several individuals in a unity named family. It is generally held together by the responsibility of both parents and children and the humanism and communication of its members.
Howarth, Emma, et al. Towards an Ecological Understanding of Readiness to Engage With Interventions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence and Abuse: Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis of Perspectives of Children, Parents and Practitioners. Health & Social Care in the Community, vol. 27, no. 2, 2018, pp. 27192. Crossref. Web.
Hobbies are favorite activities a person does for fun rather than for gain and does so from time to time, not as a regular business. In a way, one may define hobbies as ones favorite entertainment. Therefore, it is vital to understand the importance of hobbies in peoples lives. Hobbies are not innate passions that are already within ones personality at birth on the contrary, their development is a continuous and systematic process. The primary purpose of a hobby is to get joy from it, which is why a part of its definition is that people do not pursue hobbies to make a profit (Kettering University Online, 2019).
It is an important way to achieve mental and physical relaxation. While people may choose many ways to speed up their time, not every activity can restore their lost energy and invigorate them. One may argue that a hobby that suits ones interests, nature, and budget is the best way to spend free time due to having numerous benefits.
Stress Relief
Hobbies are frequently thought of as activities for people who live a calm and relaxed lifestyle. However, people with a busy and stressful lifestyle require them even more than an average person, and can benefit greatly from having them in their lives. Hobbies provide numerous advantages and are usually well worth the time invested. According to (2019), hobbies provide important psychological relief from the constant work-related responsibility.
It is particularly important for those who feel overwhelmed by their work-related activities. For them, it can be challenging to find sufficient time and opportunity and relax from a busy schedule, especially if they perceive hobbies as a waste of time. But engaging in hobbies can be a meaningful break where people are not merely sitting but doing something productive in their free time. As such, a hobby can provide a psychologically useful break during the working week.
Apart from that, hobbies are a great source of pleasure for those who are not overly stressed and may be lacking in stimulation. They provide the healthy type of stress-free offer that people require to continue enjoying their lives. When the rest of life is boring and hard to go on with, hobbies can give purpose and firmness, as well as break up monotonous schedules. More importantly, still, they do so without making people feel like they are working (Jachimowicz et al., 2019).
Group hobbies are particularly rewarding in this respect golf rotations, creative writing, and even knitting circles groups are all excellent examples. By bringing people together with others, they can provide much-needed social support. Acquaintances that one gets through hobbies have a considerable potential to become best friends, with all the psychological benefits involved. Positive psychology, which focuses on studying what makes life worthwhile, discovers that joy can be beneficial for relaxing and enjoying the present moment. Hence, Hobbies bring joy and relaxation into peoples lives, and maintaining them is beneficial to overall psychological health.
Educational Value
Having a hobby can be very educational, especially since education is virtually synonymous with training. Practicing different activities outside of ones professional field is a type of training for all sorts of things, and these hobbies can broaden ones horizons. By pursuing a hobby, one can acquire a lot of experience, skills, and knowledge and even become an expert on certain matters (Kettering University Online, 2019). Even watching a movie can be educational in many respects because cultural values, styles, and norms of a particular society can be effectively communicated through film. Moreover, the film is also an essential medium for communicating history, geographic information, and remarkable scientific discoveries and inventions and it is only one example of how hobbies can be educational.
Hobbies and interests other than work are becoming increasingly important in peoples lives, as more and more people remain single for longer periods of time or do not start a family until they are in their forties. Research has discovered that hobbies similar to his profession can make people less confident in their work. However, it is only true if the individual in question is extremely passionate about his hobbies and may not have had the opportunity to fully recover from similar job demands. In this case, it is not so much a hobby as a case of poorly structured time, with work-related activities taking too much of it (Kurtz, 2015).
People can still use leisure activities that are similar to their work, although these should ideally be more playful and less committed to balancing personal and professional life better. However, hobbies that are dissimilar to work generally tend to be more effective in both relaxing and educating. By engaging in activities that differ from the usual working routines, a person may ultimately become well-versed in things other than work while remaining psychologically satisfied at the same time.
Relaxation
Hobbies are essential in providing relaxation after periods of intense labor. Jachimowicz et al. (2019) point out that doing something a person likes is basically a necessity after a hard day of work. Moreover, non-paid work can be every bit as taxing as the paid one and necessitate relaxation upon completion as well. Hobbies, therefore, are an excellent opportunity to relieve the pressures of daily work, whether personal or public (Behson, 2020). They bring the mind away from the usual preoccupations and allow us to revel in something done purely for fun and pleasure.
It is also important to remember the sense of ability and accomplishment that a hobby can provide. Ideally, people choose their jobs based on their preferences and abilities, but external factors, such as wages and education availability, play their role as well. As a result, many people end up with jobs they do not particularly like. Hobbies, on the other hand, are chosen based on peoples desires and inclinations to a much greater degree. While there are still objective limitations one would not be able to pursue the lifelong goal of becoming a space sourest without sufficient money and health they are still not as relevant. As a consequence, hobbies can promote a sense of flow the immensely satisfying feeling of doing something that a person is good at with relatively little investment (Kurtz, 2015). It is a very rejuvenating feeling, and hobbies are one of the best ways to achieve it.
Companionship
As mentioned above, a hobby is an opportunity to meet other people with similar interests and make friends. Despite the widespread use of information technology and its use for social purposes, there is no substitute for human intercourse. Most would probably agree that spending free time with like-minded people is one of the most satisfying activities there is. Communities provide health benefits by relieving stress and anxiety and providing opportunities for healthy social interactions and activities (Kurtz, 2015). Keeping in touch with groups of people with similar interests can also help to avoid isolation and loneliness and, as such, serves as a causeway to a more fulfilling social life.
Moreover, research suggests that participating in activities other than work increases community ties and civic engagement. For example, volunteering in ones free time is known to strengthen connections between community members and foster collective pride (Jachimowicz et al., 2019). Moreover, there is also an evident correlation between hobbies and civic engagement, as the two tend to increase and decrease simultaneously (Kurtz, 2015). Given that, one may reliably conclude that hobbies are not only essential ore personal well-being but also help to foster more tightly-knit and efficient communities.
Conclusion
As one can see, hobbies enable people to develop as individuals and realize their potential to the fullest. To begin with, they are very psychologically satisfying, and engaging in ones hobby is a particularly effective way of relieving stress. In a similar vein, the benefits of the sense of relaxation and self-confidence that hobbies provide are not to be underestimated. Apart from that, hobbies have a significant educational value that enhances their usefulness and importance even further. Finally, the companionship of like-minded people that are associated with hobbies is one of the best ways to strengthen community ties and instill people a sense of belonging. With this in mind, there can be no doubt that hobbies are not a frivolous waste of time but a valuable and important part of ones life that is definitely worth pursuing.
Once upon a time there lived a very beautiful and innocent girl Chunhua in a small village of JiangSu province. She was the only baby of her parents, Gao and Biyu, who belonged to Xingjian family. At first, her parents had no child after many years of their marriage. Once a soothsayer visited their village, who told them that they would surely have a baby-girl, but they had to set out a long journey to meet a recluse living in a thick jungle hundred miles away from their village. They decided to embark upon their long excursion immediately. But since it was 7th of the month that day, which was considered as an ill omen to start an important task, they waited for the next sun to commence their journey on 8th to seek the support of the recluse for getting a baby. After spending twenty-five days and nights, they saw the dark hill on crossing which they could have an access to the jungle. It was 25th day from their departure, which was also an ill sign but they could not wait anymore in a deserted area and their edibles were also scarce. It was utter dark in the thick jungle and the howls and growls of beasts made the atmosphere extremely horrible, but it could not mitigate their passion. After little effort, they reached the place from where dim beams of candle-light were coming out of his hut. They knocked at the door and a small fox came out of the hut. For one moment, both the two scared, but to their astonishment the animal gave them the way to enter. They passed through the small corridor and reached the hall, which was more gorgeous than a palace. The pageant walls, and enchanting curtains and carpets had been placed in a highly glamorous way. There were hanging tube lights and the round dining table presented the image of a princes castle. Soon, very old man entered with bent back and both hair and beard entirely snow-white, carrying a golden bowl in his left hand. The wrinkles on his countenance and hands were also telling about his old age. After formal greetings, they asked them to sit down and ordered them to pick one glass each from the dining table. He poured some liquid into their glasses and asked them to drink. He also drank from his bowl and they were surprised to note that during his drink, his chin hung like fox and he spread both his elbows too on the chair while drinking. The taste of the liquid was sweeter than honey containing the flavor of pomegranate and it diminished all their hunger after taking only few drops. After it, he inserted his hand into the bowl and picked the sprout of pomegranate out of it. He gave the sprout to Biyu and told them that they would get a baby-girl soon, name of which would be Chunhua. Without listening to their reply, the recluse got up to go inside the house. Both Gao and Biyu looked very happy on their return. Time went on speedily and the day came when Biyu gave birth to a very pretty doll-like daughter. She was named Chunhua as described by the recluse. Years passed and Chunhua turned into a graceful damsel of seventeen years. Her parents were worried about her marriage and looked for a suitable match for her. Though all the villagers respected and loved them, yet they could not get their daughter married to any of the local boy because all of them belonged to the same Xingjian family. It sometimes perturbed them and they became worried and anxious in this regard. Chunhua was very brilliant; she had developed special interest for books, flowers and plants. Pomegranates and their fragrance always bewitched the charming maiden and she always maintained its sprouts under her pillow. One night, she had a dream while sleeping in which she found a very old man drinking from his bowl like cats and foxes. After completing his drink, he gave Chunhua a bright red pomegranate. As soon as she received it, it changed into a fox immediately. She got up at once from her deep sleep and called her parents in anxiety. On coming to know all about the dream, both Gao and Biyu became extremely concerned regarding the health and safety of their beloved daughter, but they did not want to disclose anything to her regarding their meeting with the same old man before her birth. The next day, Auntie Huan, Chunhuas next day neighbor, called on them with a handsome boy of twenty years, called Hong. The boys complexion was also bright red like his name. Auntie Huan introduced the boy as the son of her family friend from Jin tribe. It could be an ideal match for Chunhua, and her parents welcomed him with open arms. The boy had lost his parents in his childhood and the uncle of his father had brought him up, who had also died ten months ago. Since his conversation and attitude was polite and humane, they were no objection regarding the betrothal of their daughter with him. But they had to wait for two months for the completion of one year since the death of Hongs grandfather. Hong stayed at the village in his own hut-like house and paid regular visits of Chunhuas house to meet the family. Hong was also fond of pomegranates, but seldom ate them in the presence of Chunhua and her family. In addition, he had never accepted any offer of dinner with the Gaos family. One day, Chunhua requested her mother to accompany her to meet Hong at his hut. When they reached the hut, Biyu was startled to observe that Hong was lying on the floor with a big bowl before his long lips. On examining his features closely, Biyu got the clue that his features resembled too much with that old man who had given them sprout. She asked Hong to disclose all about the place where he had brought up. Surprisingly, he indicated the same area that mentioned the very fact that both the old man and Hong were not only relatives, but foxes too. The next day Gao and Biyu cancelled the betrothal leaving Chunhua in a state of confusion and perplexity. On hearing about the cancellation of the betrothal, she ran amuck towards the Hongs hut, but there was nothing at all but an empty piece of land& All her dreams, schemes and wishes regarding marriage dashed to the ground; mere two drops from her deep pretty eyes and a dreadful scream could come out of the mouth of the poor girl&!!!!
Superstitions and beliefs of Chinese people
It is fact beyond doubt that magic and superstitions contain universality in their fold and no human society can be declared as free from false beliefs and notions. People consider some specific numbers, digits, dates and incidents as ill signs. Breaking of mirror, sight of black cat, seeing some poor fellow earliest in the morning, marriage on some specific date or year are thought bad and ghastly things in different cultures and societies. These superstitions vary from one society to the other. For example the number 13 is considered bad in some societies, while some astrologists and numerologists think it a highly fortunate and lucky number. In the same way, number 7 is viewed as one of the greatest numbers, yet Chinese take it the most dangerous one, as it has been viewed in the above story where Gao and Biyu delayed their journey because of this number. Similarly, presence of ghosts and metaphysical objects is also an essential part of Chinese superstitions. The Chinese superstitions are based on the myths of ancient Greek, Indian and Buddhist civilizations. They also follow the stories of various dynasties including Wei, Jin, Tao, Tang, Song and others. The Chinese take their ancestors as the spiritual ones and worship them to seek their metaphysical support and supernatural help. They also state that the ghosts can change their forms and shapes which can be of animals and non-living things too. The Chinese believe that foxes are the most mysterious animal, which can adopt various guises. They also believe that if a person has died with so many worries and tensions in his mind, his ghost will remain restless forever. Similarly, if the family, children and descendents of a dead person are suffering from some difficulty, it may also cause pain to the ghost of the dead person. The ghost can take on the shape of animal and insect too to watch the activities of his family. Fox is one of the most significant animals in Chinese superstitions. They strongly believe that fox can lead a peaceful life in human form like other members of society, as has been narrated in the above story where recluse and Hong did never harm to anyone. The Chinese contain their own sets of beliefs, traditions, conventions, which are valid all over China without discrimination. The Chinese scare sending the pregnant woman alone outside the home when the delivery of child is at hand. In the same way, thrashing and hammering of nails and using scissors and glue during lunar eclipse in pregnancy are also thought the activities which could harm the coming child. If there is any defect and deformity in child, his mother is blamed of carelessness and negligence during the pregnancy. The Chinese are also very conscious in respect of naming the newly born child as well. Often, the parents of a newly born consult soothsayer and get the horoscope drawn to estimate the childs fate, which has also been narrated in the story of Chunhua and Hong in which the formers parents sought soothsayers help before the birth of their daughter. Fragrance of fruits and flowers is always welcomed by the Chinese. They use perfumes and send to the family members and friends as a gesture of love and regard. Innocence and simplicity are considered as the best qualities among Chinese. The customs, norms and traditions of the Chinese people regarding betrothal, engagements and marriage are really remarkable and worthy to note. It is really hard for the Chinese to select the month, day and place of their marriage. They have to look into many matters while determining the matters related to matrimony. A Chinese woman cannot enter into a matrimonial relationship in a month in which any member of her family has been born. Similarly, the Chinese have to observe their own calendar year while making a matrimonial relationship. Cousin marriage is also forbidden among Chinese people as the story relates that Chunhuas parents were unable to marry their daughter in the whole tribe. Similarly, a Chinese man cannot marry the member of his distant relatives and ancestral lineage even. Moreover, Chinese people cannot make matrimonial tie with the person who obtains the same surname. This condition is applied to avoid any possibility of blood link between the two. The place and time of the marriage is also determined while keeping in view the date and time of the birth of the couple. No marriage can take place in the family within one year of the death of any of the members from either side. Religious beliefs have also left their indelible impact on the social life of Chinese people. The concepts of recluse, soothsayer and fortune-tellers became the part of Chinese traditions, conventions and superstitions from Confucianism, where a spiritual leader maintained significant influence in the life of individuals. Moreover, he was considered the source to solve all problems and difficulties. The Chinese believe that hurting, harming and misbehaving with others always bring pains and sufferings. This superstition has been extracted from Buddhism, which preached love and tolerance to others and stress for special care of the neighbors and relatives. Some of the Buddhist and Hinduism teachings believe in rebirth but interestingly in the form of an animal. They believe that the virtuous would lead a happy life in the next rebirth, while the wicked would have an adverse life due to their misdeeds. Hence, they view that each rebirth offers new style and nature of life, which is quite unpredictable and is based on the performance and activities made and conducted in present life. Consequently, man could become an animal, a tree, or a metal in his next life. The Chinese beliefs also reflect the same in their social life and superstitious beliefs.
Life of the future looks very different from what we are surrounded by these days. The progress in all spheres of life is moving really fast (Bardoel, 2012). In the years when our parents were born a simple cell phone would seem like some alien super technology. Five years may change the face of our digital world drastically. It goes without saying that in fifteen years our lives will no longer be what they are now.
A morning in fifteen years will still begin at home, an apartment of the future does not need to be too spacious as most of the furniture will be easy to transform, fold and hide. A kitchen can be easily turned into an office or a living room, or a bedroom (The Future of Work, 2013). The age of heavy furniture that constantly occupies half of the room is over. TV sets and music players are gone; they are fully replaced by the new computers. Showering, making a breakfast and washing the dishes can be quickly done just by pressing a couple of buttons. The future household appliances and devices are also multifunctional and easy to transform. In the life of the future everything is about time and speed- the faster you move, the more successful you are.
Travelling the way from home to the office is considered a huge waste of time. It only has to be done for three days a week for social purposes. Working process is exactly the same when an employee works from home, plus no time has to be spent for getting ready and putting on office clothes. There is a new type of dress-code for online office employees. A worker must wear their avatar for communication with the clients and co-workers (Maitland & Thompson, 2011).
Avatar is a special computer designed look made by a program, it helps making work more effective. Avatar program of an office worker is something like a personal advertisement campaign socially oriented, worldly, pleasant, designed to attract larger number of clients and represent not only the worker wearing it, but also the company the employee is working for. Avatars help in creating a company image for the clients and other companies. A worker has to design their own avatar the quality of avatar will be reflected directly on the productivity of this workers future success. Being able to design a profitable avatar is a necessary skill an office worker has to possess.
Going to the office is obligatory for social purposes the co-workers must be able to socialize not only through the technologies. A day at the office is much less productive than a work day at home. A standard shift has three necessary breaks to make people go out to the park, have meals together, participate in recreational activities. The look of offices has changed too. Since future offices are all about communication and socializing the cubicles are gone, replaced by joined tables to make people sit in groups (Waters-Lynch & Butcher, 2013).
Offices have lounge zones for the break periods, balconies, cafes, lawns, rooms for yoga exercises. Offices still have secretaries, but these jobs are no longer done by humans. Instead there are intelligent robots that work like answering machines capable of sorting the calls, receiving messages and directing them to the employees, answering frequently asked questions. Employees that are involved into making calls must be educated and skilled at communicating with these robot secretaries in order to achieve the best results.
Another crucial part of office management of the future is improvement leisure time and communication between the co-workers. While working from homes the employees are constantly connected by video conferences. This creates an impression of being around many people, but it does not replace real communication. There are committees involved into planning every offices social program full of physical activities as office employees do not normally lead a very active lifestyle. As the life of future is all about multitasking most employees become too involved into the work process which influences their health in a negative way and damages their quality of life (Skinner, 2013).
Social program committees are designed to distract employees from work and help them relax and switch to other activities. A typical workday in the office is full of various activities and it is shorter than eight hours. A work day at home is very productive, full of information, learning and keeps employees extremely busy on the mental level.
The city of the future is not as busy. Traffic problems are minor because in big cities personal vehicles are unnecessary; this is why public transport is working twenty four hours a day, very actively, so that the citizens do not have to wait in traffic lines. Cities are equipped with air improving devices as air pollution has been noticed to increase. The sizes of the cities grew more people moving to the urban areas required more housing. The cultural faces of the big cities have developed more diversity and became more eclectic (Urban Development Plan 2025, n.d.).
Love is a basic instinct seen in all creations alike. It is passionate, supportive, attentive and understanding in nature. It could be quite misleading if two people, who believe to be in love, would want only sexual pleasure, and are termed as lovers. In fact, it could be infatuation, sick addiction, self- interest or a momentary pleasure. Then what exactly is true love? According to The Bible,
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self seeking; it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4 8a. (What is True Love and How do you Know When you have Found it?).
The above paragraph suggests the nature of true love. When two people feel alike, seem to know each other for ages talk endlessly and understand each other without words and are never uncomfortable in the others absence, they are in true love. The partners are complete in one another, their life is peaceful and while the world is in woe, nothing happens to them. The basis for true love is sacrifice and selflessness. The one and the other are in unison, cemented by trust, faith, hope and perseverance
Main Text
In true love, there is an understanding in which one trusts another more than him or herself and feels ready to satisfy every little need of a partner. This understanding doesnt require words or expressions. It arises out of mutual understanding of the souls as their love is devoid of selfish interest.
It is always the partners interest above ones own One would do anything to see that the other is happy and may even do things that may go against ones belief. This is called sacrifice and true love is nothing without it. Jesus Christ, lover of mankind sacrificed his life for the sake of redemption of mankind. He is the ultimate healer who saved many a life in peril and in abject poverty. How could one not mention the way he cured pestilence- stricken multitudes from their plight.
It was not for the quest of power, or to establish ones supremacy over the others that Christ led his followers. His principle was based on forgiveness and acceptance of people as they were. Christ neither hurt nor punished the wrong doers. Instead, he prayed to God Almighty to save them. This is the finest illustration of the perfect lover. This love cannot be compared to any other form ever. It is to be borne in mind that on earth, human beings, full of foul and wrong, wreck vengeance on the others to establish their rights and satisfy their ego. What a pity!
Love, where there is no jealousy or hatred for the other, is perfect. There is no punishment for the mistakes committed and the partners trust each other. No force can ever destroy the bond that is built on mutual commitment and self acceptance. By mutual commitment, I mean the whole- hearted acceptance of the partner and the readiness to accept the imperfections that he or she may find in the other. It is rather difficult to accept the others mistake and very easy to point to it. Grounded in the feeling of superiority or in establishing ones opinion, nobody gains anything out of their living together except growing frustration.
To be more exact, the opinions of true love is always the same one opinion, uni-directional. Everything is mutually shared friends, enemies, interests, problems etc. The partners retain their own identities and at the same time see themselves as part of the other. They are ready to let go of the self. There is complete surrender of the self to the other.
One is reminded of Meera Bai, the Indian saint of Mewar, whose surrender to her Lord Krishna was complete and she gained immortality. In spite of opposition, blame and cruelty in the hands of her in-laws, her steadfast love for her God never once failed to reveal itself. She was ultimately accepted by God, never to return back to sing kirtans of the Lords glory. Such is the power of true love which is based on bhakti (devotion) and Prema (high love) Meera was not attracted to her Lords physical features. She wanted to attain eternal peace through her devotion. When one loves another for the sake of carnal pleasures, it is the manifestation of Sneha(low love), based on bodily desires which breed disease, decay and death.
Of relevance is the story of Gautam Buddha whose quest for truth led him to nirvana and his love for his fellow- beings to cure them from the pleasures of the earth. The state of his soul was in complete rest as he traveled across the length and breadth of the country spreading values to be inherent in the life of man. His miraculous powers to cure not only physical but also mental ailments and his power to enlighten the lives of aggrieved souls was indeed the revelation of true love. Where there is true love, there can never be pretence. The mind, body and soul are one, never giving room for divided aims and opinions.
It is particularly interesting to note the Love Economics Definitions of Soul mate ,
Soul mate Ratio = Total Love Benefit / Total Love Cost.
Soul mate is the person who will maximize your soul mate ratio and vice-versa.
No one in this world, including being yourself could make you happier than being
in love with your soul mate. True love is the love you share with your soul mate.
The higher you are in love with your soul mate, the higher the soul mate ratio
becomes. (Definitions of Soulmates, 2006).
An in -depth study of ancient scriptures of all the religions reveals that true love is the basis of the life force in human beings. Endowed with the faculty of reasoning, the ability to emotionally react, the faculty of discrimination, man finds himself the sole key to unlocking the human heart. Endless conquests for power, lust and avarice have reduced man into a savage feeding on his own fellow beings.
Conclusion
Where there is hatred, man has to be able to sow the seeds of kindness, love and passion. Where there is true love, there is the control of the five sense organs which are the Pandoras box to ultimate sufferings. True love can be recognized among people where there is the spirit of oneness, single minded- aim and selflessness.
The world has seen incarnations, divine glories and human deeds which spread true love. It is sad that only an insignificant number of people seem to realize the power of true love. If one can readily accept the other, be able to forgive and forget the others mistakes and be a part of the others life without expecting anything in return, he, has definitely made his maiden step to the foot of the mountain of true love. In this case, and always, true love can be compared to a mountain, high, mighty and strong, standing firm, braving all odds and yet maintaining its strong hold on the ground.
Works cited
True Love. Search Your Love. 2004-2006. Web.
What is True Love and How do you Know When you have Found it? ChristianAnswers.com. 2008. Web.
Definitions of Soulmates. Solve dating. 2006. Web.
As a Chinese proverb goes, there is no easy luggage in a long way. Life is considered to be away, and the luggage in this way is or knowledge and experience. But to gain it, people need to improve steadily. Asian philosophy suggests that only by following ones own way can a man improve.
It happened so that accounting has always played a crucial role in my life. I have liked to count since my childhood and had been winning all the games which required mathematical skills and rapid oral counting. That is why, as soon as circumstances allowed, I started working as a Restaurant Manager in Arang-Korean restaurant. My task was to investigate and create a statistic program that has information on daily income, distribution of tips, attendance of employees, the flexibility of customer numbers based on hours and days to optimize the business management system. I collected income and disbursal data and compared them to maximizing profit. After I had gained some working experience, I started participating in training employees in customer service and explaining procedures, and further mediate problems between customers and staff. It became one of the steps of my spiritual improvement, as, except accounting, I learned how to communicate with people and settle conflicts. Most probably, I would never cope with it if I had not been working in Hui Lin Dysgnosia Service Center, where I had to Guide an autism patient, and Beijing North Catholic Church, where I collected and donated clothing and daily supplies for Josephs Handicapped Children Hospital. Luckily, these places were a kind of preparatory school of communication where I realized that the world consists not only of pragmatic calculation. These jobs taught me to support people who really need it.
Such life affairs only help but never harm. I attained some leadership skills, which I successfully used in the Institute of Industrial Engineering. As a group leader, I had to Record financial flows and journals and also provide and analyze financial statements.
As for my education, I have been studying at Mesa Community College and now applying to the Accounting professional program at Arizona State University for Spring 08. If everything I great, Ill graduate in 2009 with a Bachelors major in Accounting. I presume that my life (my way) taught me to be not simply a calculating machine (in spite I am still a passionate fan of accounting) but also have a heart. And I do my best to improve my skills. While studying at Mesa Community College, I participated in the Colleges annual math contest. Unfortunately, I got only second place. It shames me to confess, but it happened because of my excessive self-assurance.
The GPA level which I have earned (GPA (4.0), Cumulative GPA (3.97), and Transfer GPA (3.97)) while studying in High school, as for me, fully reflects my abilities and diligence in my studies. I always get the highest grades on the subjects which I like most. I try to do my best on all the subjects, but it often happens so that I devote more time to studying my favorites, and less time stays lefts for the others. I am easy to be carried away person, and sometimes it may be merit, and sometimes it harms my study.
The fact is, I never stop at the achieved level. Even if I consider that I know enough in any sphere, I always try to find additional information; that is why it is sometimes difficult to find me at home, as I usually disappear in libraries and internet cafes.
Now I feel proud of being able to ASU, as this would promote my further improvement as a specialist and as a human. As a Russian writer, Anton Chekhov said: Everything should be fine in a man that is why I hope to continue my studies, get acquainted with new people (it could sound a little bit childish, but I can affirm that it is sincere).
Modern children live in an extremely digitalized environment characterized by the availability of information and specific ways to spend free time. Today, most young people prefer to spend time in front of the computer, either doing their homework or socializing by using social networks. Another trend of contemporary society is the high popularity of video games that become more complex, similar to reality, and demanding much time. The constantly updating content along with the ability to play with friends online attract children. In such a way, videogames replace other activities such as running, walking, or socializing in the street. The given change of priorities triggers vigorous debates about the possible effects of games on children, their physical and mental development, and long-term consequences. For this reason, the given research is devoted to the issue of videogames and how they influence children. To investigate the problem, the following thesis is offered:
The adverse effects of videogames on children might include the development of anxiety, depression, changes in brain functioning, problems with weight, socialization, and trigger the evolution of chronic diseases; however, they can also positively influence children increasing visuospatial cognition, attention, creativity, and reducing aggression levels.
Background
The development of the videogames industry resulted in the emergence of complex games that create attractive images and exciting tasks to engage players and hold their attention. Statistics show that 66% of children aged 8 to 12 years play video games about 2 hours per day, while teens aged 13 to 17 play about 2,5 hours per day (Halbrook et al. 1097). However, in real life, the numbers can be even higher because of the inability to trace the amount of time spent on such activities. It means, for children, videogames become the main type of activity practiced every day.
Addiction and Accessibility
Another problem linked to videogames is their ability to precondition addiction. They affect the brain similarly to drugs as they stimulate the pleasure center and trigger the release of dopamine responsible for the emergence of specific behaviors (Paturel). In such a way, playing videogames, children feel the need to spend more time. The problem is complicated by the fact that today, games are spread globally, and there is hardly an area, excluding the poorest ones with no Internet or computers, where children are deprived of a chance to play (Paturel). The combination of addiction and accessibility contributes to the spread of videogames and the growing topicality of the question of how they impact the physical and mental health of a child.
Mental Development of a Child
One of the main problems linked to videogames is their influence on the mental development of a child. Childhood is the period fundamental for the mental development of a child, and numerous factors might have either a positive or negative effects on their brain and behaviors (Lobel et al. 885). In such a way, the fact that videogames become the central way to spend free time, replacing the previous activities, attracts the attention of researchers as it has a direct impact on the psyche and health of an individual. However, there is still no consensus on whether videogames have only negative or positive effects.
Brain Functioning
One of the popular fears is that videogames can affect brain functioning. Some researchers assume that excessive gaming in childhood can physically rewire the brain and introduce irreversible changes into its work (Paturel). The recent Chinese research presupposing two control groups showed that gamers (individuals spending about 10 hours a day online) have less gray matter if to compare with people who spend less than two hours online (Paturel). In such a way, gaming can be dangerous as it affects various brain areas, depending on the type of game and reaction it cultivates.
Depression and Anxiety
There is also a belief that games might precondition the development of depression and anxiety in children. The given states are mainly associated with failures in online games, the inability to get some achievement, or bullying, one of the common practices on the Internet. The research shows that excessive gaming might precondition dopamine exhaustion, emotional suppression, and the lack of motivation to achieve various real-life goals (Paturel). Moreover, people with depression might suffer from the deterioration of their states caused by addictive playing (Video Games and Children: Playing with Violence ). Analyzing the impact of videogames on anxiety, researchers also offer various assumptions. First of all, gaming can be a normal and healthy way to relieve stress and decrease anxiety levels by engaging in online activities (Pellissier). However, for children with gaming disorder, using gaming as the anxiety coping mechanism can be dangerous and contribute to the accumulation of negative effects and increased risks (Pellissier). In such a way, video games have diverse effects on depression and anxiety, including the positive and negative ones.
Lack of Socialization
The lack of socialization and contact with peers in real life is one of the most popular fears among parents. Today, most games demand much time; moreover, they are focused on cooperation online by using the Internet, which means that children do not have to leave their houses to communicate with other people. It preconditions the increased time they spend at home. The recent research states that there is a direct correlation between the time spent online and social skills, or the higher the gaming addiction, the less the social skills (Lobel et al. 885). Children might demonstrate the inability to communicate in real life because of the absence of the demanded experience.
Weight Management and Chronic Diseases
Excessive gaming can also result in poor weight management. Gamers usually have snacks consisting of unhealthy food such as sweets, chips, or soda (Halbrook et al. 1100). The given dietary patterns create the basis for the emergence of several problems. First, they might acquire extra weight and suffer from obesity. At the same time, spending much time in front of the computer with decreased physical activity and wrong posture might result in the development of scoliosis and other problems with the locomotor system (Lobel et al. 885). Moreover, there is an increased risk of acquiring chronic diseases such as gastritis. From this perspective, videogames can be dangerous for children.
Nature-Deficit Disorder
Spending much time at home and playing videogames, children devote less attention to real life and the world surrounding them. Thus, Louv states that the threatening tendency towards the decreased exposure of children to nature can be observed in Western countries today (23). The given nature-deficit disorder has a negative impact on children and society as for health development, they need to interact with the environment and acquire all benefits from this cooperation (Louv 45). The inability to remain in contact with the world affects all systems of the child body and prevents them from healthy evolution. For this reason, videogames should be viewed as the factor limiting childrens access to nature and triggering the growth of the nature-deficit disorder.
Enhancement of Brain Capabilities
However, it is critical to mention the fact that there are also positive effects linked to videogames. For instance, studies show that by playing action games, players improve their visual capabilities, including tracking multiple objects, reaction, storing, and manipulating them in specific memory centers in the brain (Paturel). Because of the need to consider several factors at the same time, players have to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and make immediate decisions, which affects their brains and makes them more flexible (Paturel). These positive effects differentiate gamers from other children and help them to cope with diverse tasks while visiting their educational establishments.
Playing action games is also directly correlated with reaction speed. Investigations show that gamers who spend much time in this sort of activities have a lower speed of reaction (Paturel). It is explained by the fact that their gaming sessions can be viewed as training, which results in the formation of bonds in the brain and the development of skills (Pellissier). Because multiple repetitions of the same actions are an effective form of learning, gamers acquire new capabilities linked to similar situations (Paturel).
Imagination
There are also different opinions on how videogames affect the imagination. Thus, most studies conclude that modern role-playing games (RPG) contribute to the development of creative and imaginary qualities of the child brain (Halbrook et al. 1100). They offer a person a unique world, and a player should use his/her imagination to dive into it and associate his/her hero with himself/herself. Additionally, quests and strategies might precondition the rise of strategic thinking and the ability to resolve problematic puzzles or questions (Halbrook et al. 1100). For this reason, videogames can be viewed as a factor stimulating the development of this aspect of the brains functioning.
Recommendation
In such a way, there is no unified opinion about whether videogames should be viewed as a positive or negative factor impacting the mental development of a child. This complexity comes from the fact that there are both positive and negative effects associated with gaming. However, all sources emphasize the dangerous nature of excessive gaming and addiction. It means that parents are recommended to control their children playing patterns to avoid spending too much time in the virtual world and guarantee that they interact with the world and their peers in real life.
Conclusion
Altogether, videogames have both positive and negative effects on children. They might precondition the development of chronic diseases and extra weight, high anxiety, and depression levels, along with the changes in brain functioning. The highly-addictive nature increases the risks of spending too much time in games. However, there are also positive effects, such as better reaction, motor skills, visuospatial cognition, and creativity, which are trained during gaming sessions. For this reason, it is vital to continue the further investigation of the problem to outline more effects and conclude whether childrens brains suffer critical damage from games or they can be a tool to stimulate its development and optimal functioning.
Works Cited
Halbrook, Yemaya J., et al. When and How Video Games Can Be Good: A Review of the Positive Effects of Video Games on Well-Being. Perspectives on Psychological Science, vol. 14, no. 6, Nov. 2019, pp. 10961104.
Lobel, Adam, et al. Video Gaming and Childrens Psychosocial Wellbeing: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, vol. 46, no. 4, 2017, pp. 884-897. doi:10.1007/s10964-017-0646-z.
Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books, 2008.
Planning ten years of my life seems like a kind of challenge now. We cant predict what will happen to us after several months. However, I believe that great success is impossible without personal motivation and clearly defined goals. Thus, my life plan essay should start with a clear objective.
In ten years, I want to own an event company that can be the best in its field. I have always been fascinated with this idea. The following 10-year life plan essay will consist of three parts that can help me structure my future and achieve all my goals.
I would like to organize great performances at different events every day. Can you imagine a holiday that never ends? And this will be my work. I will make people happier. Now I need to plan all the steps to help me achieve my dream.
Educational Plan
The first step of the way of my goals achievement is education. My education will be done at the University of Nevada, where I am planning to study hospitality management as a major and event management as a minor. I am sure of the importance of hard study for my future work. I need to get at least a 3.5 GPA. The multiple locations can help me gain a diversified background and extend my knowledge.
Therefore, I want to do some internship while studying. Perhaps, I will visit different countries to explore the modern tendencies of business start and its future development. Swope says: I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody (Swope).
Therefore, I am planning to get experience in different fields because I am sure of their future importance for my business. The examples of some international companies can help me understand how to make my business prosper. To extend my experience, I will start my practice during the study.
I think that education is very important. The lack of knowledge can lead to the businesss incapacity and collapse. Today, the diploma plays a significant role. It gives an appropriate status and respect. A man with a diploma looks more confident and, of course, qualified.
Accreditation provides much more opportunities in life. Therefore, I am planning to study hard and get as much knowledge as possible. I am sure that the university I chose can help me achieve my goals. My education will give me the base for my future business.
Work Plan
It is the most important part of the life plan, which should clarify the goal and approaches to its achievement. Nowadays, the leaders of all companies know the value of settings achievable and understandable goals. Such issues are called smart goals, which need to get better results. These smart ideas help me share my vision of the business with the possible assistants ( Life Planning ).
My attention is turned to the use of certain tools that may help my project. For instance, I need to identify and list all the barriers that may be between me and my goal. I shouldnt be scared of possible problems because it is an integral part of my future success. Being realistic, I realize all the difficulties I should overcome.
In the beginning, I have to clarify who will be involved in my business. This can be a family company, or I can cooperate with a wide circle of partners. What results do I want to achieve? I want to own a successful company that will be famous around the country.
Choosing the place location, I prefer my native city because it will be easier to find clients and partners. Thinking about these questions, I can clearly understand all the important keys to my goals achievement. I will get so many opportunities, so I shouldnt be lazy in its use (Ashton 8). This is why I think it is the most important period of my life.
Lifestyle Plan
My lifestyle should accomplish my educational and professional background and skills. I am planning to do a huge social work and to promote equality among people. I want to help everyone that I can. But I have to learn more from the closest one.
My business will be closely related to people from different communities. Therefore, matching my wants, I should be ready to keep my mind open to different cultural issues and views. I plan to visit many countries to learn about cultural features. This will help in my work with clients.
According to Bukofsky, even my religious and spiritual conditions are very important for my business (34). Family relations also play a huge role in the business success achievement. Life planning is a process that may lead a person to take a more active role and to think about the future. Thinking about my future, I imagine a family that will support me and give me more motivation.
I totally agree with Carlson that self-actualization is the key to self-help (9). Although no one can control all lifes events, it is better to try being over random chance and fate.
There is a difference between the person who goes to ones goal and the man who can easily be influenced by random events. I will structure my life according to the daily plan. This will allow me to follow the main idea, which will lead to success. The life plan is a perfect method to figure out what is really important in life.
I have so many ideas and interests in different fields. I am fascinated by people who can concentrate on the most important idea and follow the plan. However, I should follow my own life plan for the future result. I agree with the statement of Barnett that people should discipline themselves. Following the main idea of life, it is possible to get better results and to make it fast (Barnett).
I have always been a goal-setter. Thereby, my Ten Year Plan is focused on achieving my high ideals and realistic goals. From time to time, it seems that goals are something that we strive to achieve but fail due to personal reasons or social barriers.
However, I am completely sure that a good life plan and motivation can lead to success in spite of all problems that may occur. My Ten Year Life Plan helps me to specify my goals and to see the key moments and the most important steps which can lead me to success.
Works Cited
Ashton, Robert. The Life Plan: 700 Simple Ways to Change Your Life for the Better. 1st ed. UK: Prentice Hall, 2006. Print.
Barnett, John S. Discipline Yourself for Godliness. Tulsa, OK: Mullerhouse Publishing, 2007. Web.
Bykofsky, Sheree, and Richard Carlson. Me: Five Years from Now: The Life-Planning Book You Write Yourself! 1st ed. New York: Hyperion, 1999. Print.
A relationship between a grandchild and a grandparent is nothing short of special: by the time that people have grandchildren, they tend to be more knowledgeable and accepting. While grandparenting has always made an essential part of old age, lately, the world has seen new trends in raising or helping to raise grandchildren. These tendencies are tied to the changing economic landscape that influences the ways people work and build their families. This essay will discuss how grandparenting has changed due to the new economy and provide two profiles of grandparents from different periods.
Nowadays, grandparents seem to be more actively participating in their childrens lives. Even though in 2017, a typical adult retires much later from work, he or she has as much time to spend as a retiree as their counterparts from the 1950s due to the increased life expectancy (Buchanan & Rotkirch, 2018). Moreover, as recent statistics have shown, senior citizens refuse to live in retirement homes and prefer to be independent and self-managed. Sometimes, they even become the heads of their households: if in 2000, 6% of families were led by a grandparent, by 2015, the share had amounted to 8% (Buchanan & Rotkirch, 2018). Thus, by staying active and having enough time on their hands, the new grandparents can build a stronger bond with their grandchildren.
The increased grandparental involvement in the 21st century is also explained by the growing number of single-parent households. Family breakups and divorces have become nothing unusual, which is a positive trend in some sense. In the developed countries, deciding to leave your life partner is no longer stigmatized and seen as an expression of ones free will. However, the heightened divorce rate means that one parent often becomes the primary caregiver and struggles with juggling work, romantic life, and childrearing (Buchanan & Rotkirch, 2018). Therefore, grandparents are asked to give a helping hand, or they volunteer to babysit themselves.
A typical adult from the 1950s was likely to become a grandparent much earlier than an adult from 2017. This difference is explained by the new challenges that todays adults are facing. They need more time for education and job search before becoming financially stable enough to have a child and, therefore, give their parents a grandchild. However, becoming a grandparent in ones forties, or fifties did not mean more engagement in grandchildrens lives. In the 1950s, even in the developed countries, society dictated to men and women how they had to be acting to fulfill the assigned gender roles (Sugar, Riekse, Holstege & Faber, 2013). Thus, women were more likely to be housewives and mothers and not need as much help from their parents.
The gender roles of the past also made grandmothers more likely to partake in the rearing of grandchildren. Both fathers and grandfathers were often dismissive and more focused on other aspects of life, such as work and personal hobbies. Today, the situation is changing, and both grandmothers and grandfathers are making an effort to be closer to their grandchildren. Men defy the traditional gender role by being more caring and affectionate and taking up grandparenting responsibilities they did not have in the past.
In summation, it appears that the 21st century brought positive tendencies and changed grandparenting for the best. Increased life expectancy and an active lifestyle after retirement make grandparents more likely to engage in their grandchildrens lives. Men are trying to be responsible grandparents on par with their wives and take their relationships with grandchildren seriously. However, active and engaged grandparenting often cooccur with single parenthood. Seventy years ago, adults tended to become grandparents earlier but are less involved due to the female gender role prescribing mothers to stay at home and take care of children single-handedly.
References
Buchanan, A., & Rotkirch, A. (2018). Twenty-first century grandparents: Global perspectives on changing roles and consequences. Journal of the Academy of Social Sciences, 13(2), 131-144.
Sugar, J., Riekse, R. J., Holstege, H. &, Faber, M. A. (2013). Introduction to aging: A positive, interdisciplinary approach. Berlin, Germany: Springer Publishing Company.