Sacrosanct

Life is seldom as simple as I would like, but it is certainly much simpler than it was when I was a young woman.

There were so many "rules" and they were all sacrosanct. One did not go to church without gloves and a covered head, or wear white after Labor Day, or before Memorial day.  Wives did not choose careers that they expected to last past their wedding day.  Ladies kept their feet on the floor, crossed at the ankles if they must.  Men did not rear their children even if they had to marry just to get a mother for them.

The glass ceiling had yet to appear.  It was still a solid, highly decorated part of any business and the women below it were either decorations or servants, or both.  They might be well treated, but like one would treat a bright favored child. 

Gratitude was an expected part of doing anything. There was a kind of constant hazing that went along with anyone not at the very top . . . for both men and women.  The world was an uptight, rigid, unforgiving place where ritual and dogma protected the very wealthy.

As imperfect as things may be now, I see amazing changes.  Opening the doors for women has set men free too.  There have been, and will be, growing pains for years, maybe even generations, to come.

Today's rules are different and sacrosanct isn't so easy to figure out and I think that is a good thing even when it is confusing. 

Simplicity comes with responsibility.