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Life Changers
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! I read the following and thought, "Wow, I feel old." Maybe
that's why I am a "Senior Scribe?!" It did bring back a few memories.
50 Ways Life Has Changed in the Last 50 Years
Working no longer means heading into an office: Fifty years ago, "going
to work" meant going to a physical location outside of your house. In a
recent Gallup poll, 43 percent of workplaces allow people to work from
home, at least part of the time.
Exercise isn't just for fanatics anymore: Jogging or playing sports
wasn't invented in the last fifty years, but the global focus on
fitness has increased in the last fifty years. There are now more than
35,000 gyms in the United States.
Virtually nobody has a home phone: Fifty years ago, a home phone was a
necessity. According to CDC data, less than 50 percent of American
homes now have a landline. Most opt for a cell phone.
We interact completely differently: In the 1960s, you called a friend
to find out how they were doing. Today, we have social media to see
pictures, read written reports, and sometimes see a breakfast menu.
Duh. Everyone has a smart phone: Fifty years ago, a tiny computer in
your pocket to order groceries, play music, etc...was a sci-fi movie.
Today, 77 percent of all Americans have a smart phone.
Dating means little more than swiping right: Fifty years ago, dating
meant you met someone out in the world and exchanged phone numbers or
someone set you up with someone. Today, hundreds of potential partners
"swipe away."
TV has become a bottomless resource: Half a century ago, only a handful
of TV networks existed. Today, there are thousands of channels at our
fingertips 24/7.
Anyone can become a celebrity: Celebrity used to mean having a
marketable talent. Today, a funny tweet or cute Instagram photo can
land you a book deal or TV show.
People are connected 24/7: Years ago, your work connection ended when
you left work. Today, communication from the boss can be at midnight.
Airplane travel got a whole lot less luxurious: Flying was once a
luxurious experience. Today, the seats are small and cramped. You can
not have a full sized bottle of conditioner in you carry-on.
Wearing a suit to the office isn't the norm: Fifty years ago, anything
other than a suit or dress was an anomaly. Today, CEO's wear jeans and
sneakers.
Retail stores are being replaced by the internet: Half a century ago,
shopping was complete with lunch and looking for wooden items, clothes,
groceries, etc. Today, it can all be ordered online with a few taps on
your smartphone.
A high school diploma won't get you very far anymore: A diploma used to
secure you a good job until retirement. Today..inflation, wage
stagnation, etc make it hard to get a job with a livable wage.
Student debt: Four year college costs have risen. In 1968, the
University of Pennsylvania cost less than $2,000 for undergrads. Today,
it is $68,600.
Watching TV is a thing of the past: In the past, you kept an eye on the
clock to watch your favorite show. Today, there are DVDs, streaming
services, etc. Watch what you want, when you want, where you want.
Our private lives are a whole lot less private: Today, information is
more accessible. A few clicks and all your information is found...name,
birth date, social security number, address, etc
The news cycle is 24 hours: Half a century ago, you waited for the
morning news. Today, you go to your preferred news site...24/7.
Talking on the phone has been replaced by texting: Phone calls to
anyone other than your grandparents have been replaced by texts.
Answering machines are a thing of the past: Long messages on a tape
based machine have been replaced by voice mail...complete with the
phone number. You can delete these by the phone number and not have to
listen to the entire message first.
Writing letters is a charmingly antiquated hobby, not the norm: Getting
a letter in the mail today is charming, if antiquated. Today, the norm
is social media, texts, emails, etc.
MP3s have replaced virtually every other music medium: Over 50 years,
we've gone through records, eight tracks, cassette tapes, CDs, mini
disc, etc. MP3s have an infinite amount of music in a compact space.
The general population exploded: In 1968, the global population was
3.56 billion. Today it is 7.6 billion. Fifty years ago, the US
population was 200 billion. Today, it is 327 billion.
Everyone recycles now: Fifty years ago, recycling was a pipedream.
Today, it is as routine as brushing your teeth.
Paper books are being replaced with digital versions: eReaders have
replaced paper books. A personal library can be taken with you anywhere.
Milkmen are out of jobs: Today, a trip to the store to get milk
replaces home delivery.
Taking pictures of yourself is a normal hobby: Instagram selfies can
get you big money by collectors, etc.
Virtually everyone owns a computer: Today, 78 percent of Americans have
a laptop or desk top computer. Fifty years ago, if you had one your
were "rich" or built them.
Fewer people smoke - and no one smokes indoors: Today, 15.5 percent of
the people smoke cigarettes. In the 1960s, 42 percent of the people
smoked regularly and indoors.
Having big families isn't the morn anymore: Fifty years ago, having six
kids was not jaw-dropping. Today, it is not the norm. It is usually two.
The suburbs are losing their appeal: In America, 62.7 percent of the
people live in an urban area today.
Getting older isn't what it used to be: Today, retirement is delayed,
people have fewer kids, and people look younger thanks to medical
improvements.
The low-fat fad has gone the way of the dinosaur: Today, we encourage
eating fat and not carbs.
Going green isn't just for hippies anymore: Fifty years ago, making a
vested effort to protect the earth got you labeled a tree-hugger.
Today, if you don't use LED bulbs, and bring your own, reusable bags to
the grocery..you're being wasteful.
Tattoos are no longer counter-culture: Having a tattoo used to mean you
were some kind of rebel. Today, you'll see them on school teachers as
well as bikers.
Awesome electronics are getting cheaper all the time: A big, fancy TV
used to cost a month's paycheck. Today, the market is flooded with
cheap electronics.
Parenting is an entirely new ballgame: Fifty years ago, only a few
books existed on parenting. Today, there are books, websites, apps,
Facebook groups, etc to inform new parents of the latest trends.
Religion plays a smaller role in many people's lives: Fifty years ago,
the Gallup poll found that 97 percent of the people admitted to
belonging to a religious group. Today, 77 percent of the people admit
to belonging to a religious group.
We have a wild amount of knowledge at our fingertips 24/7: Our
technology today has replaced formerly useful tools like the card
catalog, the encyclopedia, etc.
The fax machine...Poof: Faxes were once the pinnacle of modern
technology. Today we can do the same thing on our smartphone, or laptop
in mere minutes and not hours.
Birth control options have expanded exponentially: Oral contraceptives
were approved by the FDA in 1960. Today, we have implants, patches,
shots, etc.
Our cars are bigger than ever: In the 1960s, you drove a car just big
enough for you and your family. Today, we have SUVs.
Our cars drive themselves: Some of our cars drive themselves today.
Fifty years ago - it was "sci-fi."
The population is getting fatter: 70.7 percent of adults in the US
today are overweight or obese - a figure that's risen sharply of the
past 50 years.
Making copies doesn't require a trip to the store: Copying used to be
done in an office or a copy shop. Today, scanners and smart phones make
it easy to copy anywhere...anytime.
Concerns about security have heightened exponentially: Today, you can't
carry a full sized bottle of conditioner in your carry-on for a plane
trip.
It's harder than ever to pay bills with blue-collar work: Fifty years
ago a modest home was possible on the blue-collar wage. Today, it is
harder and harder to buy that same home.
Traveling is cheaper than ever: In the past thirty years, airline
tickets have dropped by nearly 50 percent.
Marriage isn't as big a priority as it once was: Approximately half of
all 30-year-olds are married today. People generally marry later
now...or not al all.
International products are no longer a luxury: International flight has
made it cheap and easy to buy anything from anywhere in the world...and
have it delivered to your door.
We're living longer: Just fifty years ago, the average life span was 70
years old in the US. Today, it is 78.6 years old. - Sarah Crowe
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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