Well - when I was growing up in Joliet Illinois, a father could earn a living that allowed him to support a family of five. Mom went to work when I was in fourth or fifth grade.
My parents told me the rule of thumb was that your rent should be no more than 1/4 of what you earned in a month.
Here are some of the shifts I see...
- Most people kept automobiles until they wore out.
- Most people wore shoes until they wore out, they had dress shoes for more than one season and same with everyday shoes.
- Most people wore clothes until they wore out - and the "good stuff" shoes, clothes, purses and coats - were mended and repaired.
- Most people washed their own cars, cleaned their own houses and did their own laundry.
- Friday and Saturday night were spent with family and friends more often than "going out".
- Fast food was a rare treat - not the norm.
- Coffee shops were places that served breakfast 24 hours.
- "bottled water" ? That was when people drove to the well at the park and got bottles of the stuff that smelled like eggs to drink for health reasons.
- Breakfast was cereal and juice, lunch was a Bologna sandwich - maybe with lettuce and tomato in the summer. And dinner was a meat, a vegetable and potatoes. Except on Friday.
- The only time someone went to a "specialist" was if they say broke their arm in a bad way- then the saw an orthopedic... Maybe.
- Most people who wore glasses had one pair.
- Most people went to the dentist once a year - got fillings and extractions all in the same chair - by the same Doctor.
- Women did not attend classes to learn how to give birth.
- Hair products were: Shampoo, creme rinse, hairspray, VO5 and brillcreme, a brush and a comb.
- The "Gym" was the YMCA.
- A bike was a reasonable form of transportation and cost about $25 - you did not need special clothes or shoes to ride it. An high end one had hand brakes and three speeds.
- Phones were found in most homes - and most had two jacks - one line.
- If you were away from home you used a pay phone. These were found in phone booths that had phone books and doors that closed to block out the street noise.
- When you went to the grocery store you found fruits and vegetables that were in season in the produce department.
- The contents of most medicine cabinets were: Iodine (or merthiolate), aspirin, pepto bismol, tums, rubbing alcohol, deodorant, hand cream, vasoline, vicks vaporub, witchhazel and a thermometer, maybe athletes foot powder. Prescription drugs? Only if you were sick - and only for a week to 10 days.
- People had picnics in parks - brought food they made at home.
- We played more sports than we watched on TV.
- We got most of our books at the library.
- Everyone did their own yardwork.
So have we become happier, wealthier, and more joyous?
I want to live more abundantly and with deeper appreciation for everything.
My parents and their generation seemed to have a profound appreciation for the abundance after the depression. They made things last and sought more out of life. They had a deep appreciation for quality and things that lasted and were well made.
They had a vision of prosperity for us that they held fast to and we became the baby boomers - the free spirited joy filled children of abundance that they dreamt us into being. Oh they had the fears that we might become too wild and we obliged and manifested that too!
I believe in collective consciousness. I believe that thoughts become things. I believe that what we fear comes at us with the same velocity as all other things we focus intently on.
I also believe that as humans we can and do fall a sleep at the wheel of our dreams.
My intention is to live more intentionally. To have great visions for my next manifestions today and tomorrow, next year and next month and in the coming year.
Please join in the thoughts of goodness and prosperity with me!
Take a moment here and think purely of what you really want.
Let the thoughts flow until you find yourself grinning.
Follow the thoughts that bubble joy from within.
To write a though - a dream, or a vision is a powerful commitment.
Leave a comment - of what you want - share your dreams!
Pay attention to appreciating everything you love and spend a few minutes very day revisiting what you want - the things that bring you joy.
Enjoy!
