The '80s seem a real positive force. The '70s were deadening, in

The words of Paul Kantner—“The ’80s seem a real positive force. The ’70s were deadening, in a lot of ways.”—resound as the judgment of one who lived through the tides of change in art, music, and culture. In these few lines, he contrasts two eras: one heavy with stagnation, the other brimming with renewal. His words remind us that time itself has character, that decades are not merely numbers on a calendar but living spirits that shape the hearts of those who dwell within them. The ’70s, in his eyes, carried the weariness of aftermath, while the ’80s surged with a fresh, vigorous energy.

The ’70s, as Kantner knew them, were marked by disillusionment. The great dreams of the ’60s—of revolution, of peace, of transformation—had faltered against the hard stone of reality. War dragged on, leaders were struck down, and the fire of idealism dimmed into cynicism. For musicians, poets, and seekers of light, this was a season of heaviness, a deadening of the spirit. Many turned inward, some surrendered to despair, and others numbed themselves against the silence of broken dreams. This was the shadow Kantner spoke of, the long twilight after the thunder of the ’60s had faded.

But the ’80s arrived as a rebirth, carrying with them the energy of reinvention. Technology quickened, new forms of music and art burst forth, and a spirit of daring experimentation spread across the world. Where the ’70s had closed doors, the ’80s opened them, bringing with them a renewed positive force that inspired innovation and restored a sense of possibility. For Kantner, who had ridden the waves of countercultural music, this shift was not merely cultural but spiritual: it was the reminder that history does not remain stagnant forever, but moves in cycles of death and renewal.

History itself affirms this rhythm. Consider the Renaissance, which followed the long shadow of the Middle Ages. Centuries of plague, fear, and stagnation gave way to an explosion of art, science, and discovery. The death of one era gave birth to the vigor of another. Kantner’s words, though spoken of decades, echo the same truth: that human history moves like the seasons, and that after the winter of deadening, spring always arrives with new strength.

Yet his statement is not only about decades—it is about life itself. Each person passes through seasons where the spirit feels crushed, where dreams seem extinguished, where the heart feels weary. These are the ’70s of the soul, when everything feels heavy and motionless. But just as history turns, so too does the life of the individual. The ’80s within us arrive when we embrace change, seek renewal, and welcome the forces of positivity that lie waiting to rise. His words remind us to believe in the turning of our own seasons, to trust that stagnation is never the end.

The lesson, then, is this: do not despair when you find yourself in the midst of your own “deadening” decade. Do not believe that the weight of the present will last forever. Instead, hold fast, and prepare your spirit for the renewal that will surely come. Seek out fresh influences, surround yourself with new ideas, and be willing to shed what has grown stale. In so doing, you will open the door to your own positive force, and your future will once again carry the vigor of spring.

So let us take Kantner’s words to heart as both a reflection on history and a teaching for our lives. The world will rise and fall in cycles, and so will we. Let us not cling to what is deadening, but turn our eyes toward the light of what is coming. For as the ’80s brought renewal after the shadows of the ’70s, so too can we always find renewal after weariness, rebirth after loss, and joy after despair. And in this turning, we will discover once more the positive force that lies within us and around us.