I keep reading social media posts about millennial moms who are going “old school” and buying non-flatscreen TVs, VCRs, and video tapes for their children. It’s kind of fun to watch. My oldest kids grew up with this technology, and then it began to morph into DVDs.
I’ve also noticed that old 90’s children’s shows like Little Bear and Franklin are trending with these moms, as well as not giving their kids tablets or phones to pass the time.
It’s a bold move in a society saturated with technology, and I love it.
That’s how I feel about books. While people think they are highly informed and educated because they can google something or ask Grok, some of us are over here still collecting and reading whole books.
Don’t get me wrong. I use the internet daily. I wouldn’t be blogging and podcasting if I was anti-technology. But it definitely has a stranglehold on the good, slow life.
We’re missing the things that matter, like phone conversations with our grandma or mom, flipping through photo albums together, reading the Bible, and walking outdoors with no headphones.
Take your grandma (or your mom). When I was in college and living on my own (pre-internet), I called my mother, my grandmother, and my great-grandmother for help or advice. It kept me connected to my roots, and they gave me their wisdom on everything from shopping for car insurance to knowing how fresh my eggs were. The only way to visit with my great-grandmother was by phone or in person. I did both.
I’m afraid that too much of the current generations google these questions. When they do so, they miss out on relationships and roots. They miss out on random family stories and meaningful conversation.
The same goes for photos. How many of us are searching for the best digital photo storage so we don’t lose the thousands of photos on our phones? Every time I see this question on social media, I remind people of photo albums. No one is going to flip through your cloud storage to reminisce, but everyone loves to pick up a photo album.
Now, I’m not caught up on this project myself, but I do make it a goal to get my best photos printed and then into old-school albums (like this one). Did you know that your kids will have deeper memories of their childhood if they 1) live an experience and then 2) see the photos soon after the experience and continue to see them?
You don’t have to be a scrapbooker to do this. Just slip the photos in the pages, jot a note down about them, and set them on the coffee table.
I’ve already said plenty on my blog and my social media about real, physical books. Just let me remind you that you can buy lots of good, old books for very cheap at thrift stores, yard sales, and library sales. The old books are the best. The old books are what led to my starting Knowledge Keepers Bookstore.
Sit in a comfy chair. Pull out a good book. Turn the paper pages. Slow down and enjoy a good read on something doesn’t have a screen. Read your physical Bible. Take notes. Read the study guide. Take a walk and listen to the sounds of nature. Talk to your family. Have lunch in person with a friend. Send a card in the mail.
Hold on to the old ways.
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