12 Signs that each generation has its values, and in that lies the beauty of life

General opinions about what constitutes happiness and success in life vary greatly from generation to generation. What was the height of fun for many representatives of past eras, today may just be routine. This does not mean that today’s youth are growing up in perfect conditions, but simply different.

We, from awesome.club, we decided to compare some aspects of life that have changed over time, and find out what the expectations of different generations were. With this, we realize that, although technological progress has been extremely advantageous to facilitate many areas of our lives, the past also has its charm. So follow along!

Interactive toys and electronic gadgets are in the lives of modern children from their earliest days of life. Many parents seek to encourage their children’s development in all possible directions, afraid of their little ones being “backward”. 30 or 40 years ago, however, children learned the alphabet in their own time, went to the library alone to choose new books to read and interacted more live with their friends — both in study groups and to spend their free time.

The times when work was measured by the level of fatigue, fortunately, remained in the past. While, in the past, those who worked all the time, tirelessly, were “well regarded” by society, today the situation is different: there is great social approval for people who know how to facilitate their “breadwinner”. Technological advances have also contributed to making everyday tasks easier — with washing machines, robot vacuum cleaners and other devices that are part of the daily lives of many people.

In the past, the lives of many children were marked by friendships in which friends bonded, or knocked on each other’s door, asking one of the parents: “Can Cátia go out today?” Games in the neighborhood street and sandwiches with cheese and mortadella were part of the daily lives of many children and teenagers. Nowadays, friendships are established, in large part, through the internet. Popularity is no longer measured by the number of friends a person hangs out with, but by the number of followers, likes and comments they have on social media.

Getting married early so as not to be “stranded” was something really important for many women in past generations. Today, people can get married at any age — in their 20s, 30s, or 50s — and they will no longer cause surprise. Advances in gender equality have allowed women to follow and conquer their real life aspirations, whether building a career early on, buying their own home or traveling the world, and only later venturing into the world of diapers and baby food , if they so wish.

A few years ago, teenagers participated more in groups to learn a certain subject. Many dedicated themselves to sports at the club, learning to draw, sewing and knitting, and even hung the prizes and medals they received in competitions on the wall. Currently, these activities can be carried out or studied in a simpler way: on the internet. Tutorial videos on countless subjects are widely accessible in virtual media and, to learn something new, just choose the topic of interest and click on the little button on your cell phone or computer.

For many parents and grandparents today, working at the same company for years on end was a really positive milestone. People prided themselves on having built a career on extensive experience in a given location and long-standing relationships with co-workers. Today, the view on this aspect of life has changed a little: many see staying in the same job position for years and years as self-indulgence and inertia — if there are so many options, including better ones, why not take advantage of them to try to improve your life?

In the past, many people considered themselves “lucky” when they managed to buy that special piece of clothing on sale, even if they had to wait in line for hours at the store. Nowadays, there is no such need for shopping anymore: it is very easy to order the desired part over the internet in a few minutes. In many cases, it’s not only faster, but even cheaper than conventional shopping.

A few decades ago, to be considered fashionable, you had to dress the way the majority dressed: if the majority wore bell-bottom pants, or if you wore sportswear with bright stripes, then your outfit would need to follow the same pattern to have relevance. Today’s fashion, however, offers many options, so you can keep up with current trends and at the same time not lose your individuality.

Holidays used to be really special events: hard-to-find products were bought and cooked all day—birthday cakes; nuts, raisins, grapes for the New Year. Today, such products can be consumed every day, for any small occasion, and the sense of celebration of that very special day may be becoming less and less evident.

There is the impression that many people of past generations seemed to enjoy simpler pleasures. Receive a wristwatch for your birthday? Fantastic! Cheap earrings from the little shop? Are beautiful! Today, it seems to be more difficult to surprise teenagers: after all, the variety of things they are exposed to since they were little is enormous. And, perhaps, even the most modern phones do not seem to cause as much joy as the most modest gifts that were given in the old days.

Eating well, in many cases, meant eating more. At least, that was the norm for decades past. Although many people still consume processed foods, nowadays, healthy eating is more widespread — at least there is more discussion about health and what foods are good for the body. Therefore, maintaining a healthy diet has become, for many, a true lifestyle.

Previously, it was believed that after marriage it was better not to postpone having children. Many women felt pressured to get pregnant not too late, otherwise they could be frowned upon by friends or family. These days, goals are broader — from education and career to personal development — and raising a family is no longer a priority for many. For this reason, the average age for the birth of the first child increases every year.

Whether you are a representative of the current or a past generation, what do you think about the social changes that occur over the years? Do you think it used to be better? Nowadays? Or do you think that each era has its pros and cons? Comment!