DEAR ERIC: I’m the first to recognize we live in a different world than 20 or 25 years ago. That is to say everything seems to have become so fast-paced; everyone is always busy, no time for anything, expectations of instant gratification.

Is it becoming more commonplace to forgo what was once common practice? Recently, a close (immediate) family member and their own family (spouse and children) failed to send along a simple birthday greeting to me (text or phone call, not even a card in the mail). I’m not the type of person that goes around advertising to the general public that it is my birthday, but a simple acknowledgment from close family is nice.

I see other things like this more often now – people don’t return calls, texts, send thank-you messages, reach out anymore, have a family

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