It’s hard to imagine doing anything today without the internet. Need answers? Google. Want to talk to someone? Text. Bored? Scroll. But just one generation ago, none of this existed.

Many of our parents grew up with landlines, cassette tapes, and handwritten homework. If they had a question, they had to use books or ask someone. To hang out with friends, they called the house phone—and hoped someone picked up.

Entertainment was different too. No YouTube, no Spotify, no Netflix. If they missed a show on TV, that was it. They played outside more and talked face-to-face. People would meet at parks, go for walks, or visit without texting first.

There were fewer distractions. No constant notifications, no social media pressure. People had to be more present in the moment. They wrote letters, used photo albums, and remembered phone numbers by heart.

Life was slower, maybe simpler. People made more effort to stay connected. Now, even with all our apps, it’s easy to feel alone. Maybe we can learn something from how they lived. Perhaps we can take a step back from the constant rush of modern life and rediscover the value of slowing down. Reconnecting with people in person, having face-to-face conversations, or simply putting down our phones could help us feel more grounded. There’s something beautiful about the effort it took to maintain relationships back then, and maybe that’s something worth bringing back into our lives. After all, it’s not just about staying connected—it’s about truly being present with each other.