This Thanksgiving season, I’m challenging myself to add gratitude to every day. There is always something to be thankful for, and expressing a little gratitude goes a long way in improving so many areas of our lives. One thing that I often don’t think about is how grateful I am for the things that have helped shape me into the person I am today. I was gifted a t-shirt from Developed Tee, a clothing line that allows people the unique opportunity to show the world where or when they developed. So much of who we are today and who we will be in the future is shaped by where we’ve been, and Developed Tee let’s us all showcase that with pride. Whether you were developed in Atlanta (or any other city), developed in the gym, or developed in the suburbs, Developed Tee has a t-shirt or hat for you. Developed Tee prompted me to do some thinking about what about my development I’m most grateful for and I came to the conclusion that I’m thankful that I was developed in the 90s for a few different reasons.
Why I’m Thankful that I Was Developed in the 90s
I recognize 1990s fashion as “vintage”: My mom told me long ago that fashion trends always come back around, and she was so right! I’m thankful that I can recognize all the 90s trends that are so popular now as “vintage.” While a lot of younger people I know think that overalls, chokers, and box braids are something new, I remember rocking all these things ad a kid.
I lived without social media: I wish kids today could experience just one day without social media. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have access to social media constantly and I’m thankful that I was developed at a time when people actually had to call each other to communicate. I remember the rise to social platforms like AIM, MySpace, and Facebook, and I appreciate that I grew up in a world without the pressures that accompany Instagram, SnapChat, and whatever else the kids are using these days. Because I was developed in the 90s, I have communication skills that a lot of younger people don’t, and I’m thankful for them.
I got to experience Christmas with toys: Ask any kid what they want for Christmas, and the answer will probably be sort of gadget. Toy stores have basically disappeared and Christmas just isn’t what it used to be. I am thankful that I got to experience the joy of making a Christmas list that included things like dolls and board games. While I understand why children enjoy iPads and video games, they will never know the joy of receiving a Furby or a Susie Stretch. More than that, I’m grateful that I was developed at a time when kids still used their imaginations and spent less times staring at screens.
I remember 1990s TV shows: If you ask me, the 90s reigns supreme in terms of TV shows. I’m thankful that I grew up at a time when there were so many positive examples of African American people on television. From Martin and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, to Living Single, the Cosby Show, and my personal favorite, A Different World, I saw so many people that looked like me on TV and that did a lot for my self-esteem. In a time where African American people are mostly seen fighting on shows like Love and Hip Hop and being dysfunctional on shows like Empire, I appreciate the fact that I was developed in the 90s when there were more shows (like Blackish) showing black people in a positive light.
I got to witness the evolution of my hometown: The next t-shirt that I get from Developed Tee will be the Developed in Atlanta shirt because I honestly love where I’m from. I love everything about this city (besides the traffic) and it’s been such a pleasure to watch it grow. Atlanta was not always the booming metropolitan city that it is today and I appreciate that I was developed in the 90s and got to witness the evolution of the city I love firsthand. Not only seeing the literal change of the landscape, but also seeing the change in the diversity has been truly inspiring.
What about your development are you more thankful for? Be sure to grab your own Developed Tee at DevelopedTee.com to show your pride!
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