As the years go by, so do trends, techniques, and ideas. But there are some arts that need to stay forever. In this day in age, these lost arts are rare to find but are greatly appreciated. They are things we have learned from our loved ones, role models, or even observed from afar from a stranger. Some may call them “old-fashioned”, but I like to refer to them as lost arts.
Baking
Homemade cookies, cinnamon rolls, fudge, and other pastries made from scratch using flour all over the table is a lost art. They are made with endless amounts of joy and love, along with hours of time. Memories are formed and men are always happy when grandma’s recipes are thrown into the mix. My favorite memory includes me sitting on the counter with flour all over and my grandma by my side. Can we get back to this?
Sewing
Have a hole in your pants? It can take 2 minutes to fix it. Have you ever experienced a hand-sewn quilt from your grandmother? It is nothing short of glorious. This may be considered old-fashioned, but being able to stitch something up or put something back together is a lost art.
Hand-Written Letters
An email or text compared to a hand-written letter is incomparable. That’s why they tell us to send handwritten “Thank yous” after graduation; it is more sentimental. Something about the thought of someone sitting down, taking more time out of their day, to hand write a letter to you is something worth so much. Seeing the character of their handwriting makes it personal, something not so robotic like we are used to these days.
Waving When You Meet Someone on a Road
Obviously, you can’t wave to every single person when you driving on the highway, but there is something charming about someone shooting you a two finger wave every now and then. We are all in this together, a nice little half smile and a subtle wave bring a home-y feeling along with it.
Innocent Witty Sayings
We all can get surprised at what comes out of our grandparents’ mouths sometimes. They say the darnedest things sometimes that you can’t help but laugh at. A lost art is the innocent, clever sayings that make people smile and think twice. Witty sayings are the way to my heart, and they brighten up this world. Next time you are with one of your elders, please ask them some of their slang. I can assure you, you will want to tweet about it later ;)
A Good Dinner
Don’t get me wrong, I love McDonald’s chicken nuggets just as much as the next girl. But what happened to going out to a nice dinner, without phones or distractions, just good ole intellectual conversation? It doesn’t have to be fancy, but sitting down with the people you love and talking about what is going on in your life does more for the soul than those nugz.
Modest Dress
I could go on and on about this one. Am I missing out on what is so good about skimpy tops? I am all for showing a little skin, but how come we have to flaunt our bodies so much all the time? Dress how you want to be addressed. We can still be on trend, fashionable, and fabulous while being classy.
Chivalry
What woman doesn’t like her door being opened, her chair being pulled out, and a coat if they are cold? This isn’t demeaning the power of a woman. It is about respect, honor, faith, and manners. We are still strong and capable. Chivalry isn’t one-sided. I’ll hold the door for you. One can argue that chivalry is human decency, it is manners, and it does not go unnoticed. I love screaming CHIVALRY IS NOT DEAD whenever I can because it is so appreciated.
Picnics
Whether it is a picnic by yourself or with a group of people, being in the sun with the breeze gently picking up your hair, dining on some fan favorites with plastic silverware is a total lost art. The views, the people, the food, the conversations are so pure and extraordinary. We are missing out.
Think about how these small things could slow down our fast-paced lives. Let’s get back to the basics and make the most out of this short life we have here on earth. Go learn a new recipe from your grandmother. Write a letter to your best friend. Go out to dinner with your parents and catch up on life. Get a new catch phrase from your grandpa. Start opening the door for others. Take someone on a picnic and laugh until midnight. Let’s find those lost arts.
