“The Good Old Days” Can Be NOW
By: Kelly Johnson, LMHC, NCC, Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher | PILLARS OF WELLNESS
Have you ever heard someone older than you say, “Things were much easier back in the day!”
I’m sure you have—I know I’ve said it myself. I’ve often asked myself how true this statement is. How do we define “easy”? When we pause with that question for a moment, it starts to unravel. Easy compared to what? To now? To our current responsibilities, expectations, or pace of life? Or easy compared to how we remember things feeling?
From a mindfulness perspective, memory is a fascinating thing. We don’t recall the past as it actually was—we recall it as it felt, filtered through emotion, meaning, and distance. Our minds have a natural tendency to smooth the sharp edges of old experiences. Stress fades. Struggle softens. What remains is often a highlight reel: fewer worries, simpler days, a sense of freedom.
But was life truly easier then—or were we different?
The Weight of Modern Life
Often, when people say “back in the day was easier,” what they may really be pointing to is fewer roles, fewer decisions, and less cognitive load. Many of us had fewer people depending on us, fewer emails demanding our attention, and fewer choices to make before breakfast. Life may not have been easier in an objective sense, but it may have been less crowded.
Mindfulness invites us to notice this distinction without judgment.
Instead of arguing with the thought—No, things weren’t easier! Or yes, everything is harder now!—we can gently observe it. “Ah, here is a longing for simplicity.” Or, “Here is fatigue speaking.” When we slow down enough to listen, these thoughts often reveal unmet needs: rest, support, spaciousness, or presence.
Familiar vs. Easy
Another layer to consider is how “easy” is often conflated with familiar. What we’ve already lived through feels more manageable in hindsight because we survived it. The unknown, on the other hand, activates uncertainty—and uncertainty rarely feels easy. Our nervous systems are wired to prefer what’s predictable, even if it wasn’t actually comfortable at the time.
So when the mind says, “It was easier back then,” mindfulness asks a softer question: What feels hard right now?
Is it the constant stimulation? The pressure to keep up? The sense that there’s never quite enough time? Naming what’s hard allows us to meet the present moment with compassion rather than comparison. The goal isn’t to romanticize the past or criticize the present, but to understand our experience more clearly.
Finding Ease in the Present
And here’s the quiet, hopeful truth: ease isn’t something we only had access to in the past. Ease can be cultivated, even now, in small, intentional ways—a conscious breath before responding, a moment of stillness before the next task, letting one thing be enough instead of ten.
Life may not slow down on its own—but we can.
Mindfulness doesn’t promise an “easy” life. It offers something more sustainable: the ability to meet whatever life brings with awareness, steadiness, and care. And sometimes, that’s easier than we think.
6 Ways to Practice Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Here are a few gentle, realistic ways to practice mindfulness—no special cushion, incense, or extra time required:
1. Anchor to the Body
Throughout the day, bring attention to physical sensations. Notice your feet on the floor, your back against the chair, or the feeling of your breath moving in and out. The body is always in the present moment, making it one of the most reliable anchors when the mind drifts into “back then” or “what’s next.”
2. Practice One Thing at a Time
Multitasking often feels productive, but it’s a major source of mental strain. Choose one ordinary activity—drinking coffee, brushing your teeth, listening to a colleague—and give it your full attention. When the mind wanders, gently return. This simple practice can create surprising pockets of ease in a busy day.
3. Use Daily Pauses as Reset Points
Waiting in line, stopping at a red light, or opening your computer can become mindful pause points. Instead of reaching for your phone or mentally rushing ahead, take one conscious breath. Let your shoulders drop. These micro-pauses help regulate the nervous system and remind the body that it’s safe to slow down.
4. Notice Without Fixing
Mindfulness isn’t about changing your thoughts or emotions—it’s about noticing them. When stress, irritation, or nostalgia arises, try silently naming it: “thinking,” “worrying,” “remembering.” This creates a bit of space between you and the experience, reducing the urge to push it away or get pulled into it.
5. Bring Kindness to Yourself
One of the most overlooked aspects of mindfulness is self-compassion. When you catch yourself feeling overwhelmed or wishing things were easier, try offering the same kindness you would to a close friend: “This is hard right now. I’m doing the best I can.” Kind awareness softens the moment and builds resilience over time.
6. End the Day with Reflection
Before sleep, take a minute to notice one moment from the day when you felt present, calm, or connected—even briefly. This practice gently retrains the mind to recognize ease where it already exists, rather than assuming it only belongs to the past.
Final Thought
Mindfulness in everyday life isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about meeting what’s already there with attention and care. And little by little, that’s how the present moment starts to feel a bit more spacious—maybe even a little easier.
If you’d like to learn more about mindfulness meditation or deepen your existing practice, Pillars of Wellness offers an 8-Week Mindful Wellness program that can be integrated into individual therapy. We have dozens of trained clinicians ready to support you, so please visit pillarsinspires.com or call (219) 323-3311 for more information or to schedule an intake. Most insurances are accepted.