Do you remember life before the internet?

Do You Remember Life Before the Internet?

Oh, I remember it clear as day.

See, although I appreciate the internet — the convenience, the access, the way it lets us create and connect — there was something different about life before everything went digital. Back then, connection wasn’t something you scrolled for… it was something you showed up for.

We had landlines, and they were the heartbeat of the house.

Rotary dials, push buttons, tangled cords hanging on the wall — and if someone was already on the phone, well… you got that busy signal. And you waited. Patience was a real thing back then.

Then came call waiting, answering machines, and voicemail — and we thought we were fancy.

But even then, the value was in the conversation itself.

You listened.

You talked.

You stayed present because you weren’t multitasking on ten apps at the same time.

We met up in person — walking, hopping on the bus, catching rides, or getting that long-awaited driver’s license and feeling unstoppable.

Young adulthood and dating? That happened face to face or over the phone, heart pounding as you dialed each number one by one.

And when you needed information, you went to the library.

The real one.

With shelves, cards, and the smell of books that had seen generations come and go. We sat at tables with stacks of research, flipping pages instead of opening tabs.

Television? Three, maybe four stations if the antenna felt like cooperating. No remotes — you were the remote. Someone yelled, “Change the channel,” and you got up and did it.

Saturday mornings had their shows, Sunday nights had theirs, and that was that.

Looking back, I honestly think I felt more social and more connected before the internet arrived. Not because life was easier — but because people were intentional. Our world was slower, but our relationships were richer. We didn’t have constant access to everyone… and somehow we felt closer for it.

Life before the internet taught us how to genuinely connect.

And honestly? I’m grateful I lived in both worlds.

It gives me balance — and a whole lot of perspective.