Before the Internet Broke Us: A Love Letter to the Best Eras Ever

I consider myself blessed to be born and raised smack-dab in the middle of the best cultural eras this country has ever seen: the '80s and '90s. We were the generation that saw the rise of Hip Hop, lived through the MJ reign (Jordan and Jackson), and witnessed the power of legends like Richard Pryor, and James Brown, before their passing and "fan-girled" over the incomparable Whitney Houston in her absolute prime. If you didn't have to rewind a cassette tape with a pencil, or blow into a Nintendo cartridge, you don't fully understand the weight of history we carry.

But the true gift of that time wasn't just the music or the style; it was the culture of community and accountability. We grew up on television that prioritized the nuclear family and an authoritative, present father in the home. I’m talking about Family Matters, The Parenthood, The Fresh Prince, and The Cosby Show (when we could still watch it). The drama that dominated our airways was funny, aspirational, and centered on lessons not cheating scandals and televised crash outs.

Love was a trend. Profanity was censored literally bleeped out of music and kept off the mainstream. The digital noise didn't exist yet, so our primary influences were the people in our communities, not anonymous critics on a global platform. The world felt smaller, but the connections felt deeper.

My favorite part of that era, the one that truly shaped my faith and work ethic, was the observance of Sunday. That day was the Sabbath, and the economy knew it. Aside from a few key exceptions, businesses honored people's time with family and God by remaining closed. It wasn't just Chick-fil-A (bless their hearts for holding the line); it was the norm. We were implicitly taught that rest, family, and reflection were more valuable than profit.

I realized my strong desire for accountability and clear boundaries, the things I value so much now were birthed in that framework. I learned to trust people because the culture enforced a higher standard of public decency. The shock of being a grown woman navigating the current climate is the realization that many people have lost the foundation of mutual respect that we grew up with.

For those of us raised in the Golden Era, we have a responsibility now: We can’t get caught up in the modern chaos. We have to be the living embodiment of the values we learned.

• Be the Bleep Button: You can't control what's on TV, but you can control the conversations and content you allow into your home and mind.

• Be the Sabbath: Don't wait for your boss or a store owner to tell you when to rest. Guard your Sundays, guard your peace, and prioritize your family and faith over the hustle.

• Be the Accountability: Hold your friends (and yourself) to the standard of care and honesty we learned from watching real community leaders and fictional TV fathers.

The world may have changed its mind about community and integrity, but our foundations do not have to shake. Let’s bring the best of the '80s and '90s back through our own conduct.

Continue to write your story, one healing page at a time... QP