I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, and sometimes I honestly wonder what happened to the world we were raised in.

Back then, respect wasn't something you had to demand. It was something you were taught.

You respected your parents. You respected your grandparents. You respected your teachers. You respected your neighbors. And whether you liked someone or not, there was still a basic understanding that you treated people with some level of decency.

If an adult was talking, you didn't interrupt.

If someone helped you, you said thank you.

If you made a mistake, you admitted it.

And if you did something wrong, there was usually someone around who wasn't afraid to tell you about it.

We didn't have smartphones to document every argument. We didn't have social media to broadcast every disagreement to thousands of people. We didn't feel the need to turn every personal problem into a public spectacle.

We simply lived.

We played outside until the streetlights came on. We settled disagreements face-to-face. We learned that you couldn't always get your way. And perhaps most importantly, we learned that the world didn't revolve around us.

I'm not saying everything about growing up in the ’70s and ’80s was perfect. It wasn't. We had problems just like every generation does. But there were certain values that seemed to matter more: respect, responsibility, manners, accountability, and treating people the way you wanted to be treated.

Today, it seems like we've forgotten some of that.

Some people believe that being loud means they're right. Others confuse disrespect with confidence and entitlement with independence. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone seems to believe they're entitled to make sure the entire world hears it.

We've created a generation where sometimes simply telling someone, "No, that's not acceptable," is considered offensive.

Maybe it's time we brought some of the old lessons back.

You don't have to agree with everyone.

You don't have to like everyone.

You don't even have to understand everyone.

But you do have a choice in how you treat people.

"Respect isn't old-fashioned. Good manners aren't weakness. Accountability isn't oppression. And treating other people with dignity shouldn't be considered a lost art."

I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s. We weren't perfect, but we were taught something that I think this world desperately needs again:

You don't have to be the most important person in the room. Sometimes you just need to be a decent human being.