Children raised in the 1960s and 70s developed their resilience the same way muscle develops under resistance - not by being protected from the load but by being required to carry it, repeatedly, without assistance, until the carrying became the unremarkable default rather than the exceptional achievement - Silicon Canals

"Growing up in the '60s and '70s meant nobody was watching you every second. We left the house after breakfast and came back when the streetlights turned on. Today's kids have GPS trackers and scheduled playdates."

"We learned by doing, not by being taught. Nobody sat us down and explained how to handle disappointment. We just got disappointed a lot and figured it out."

"By the end of the week, my hands were raw, my back was killing me, and I'd learned more about work than any class could teach. Not just the physical stuff. The mental part."

"Failure was just part of the deal. We failed all the time. Failed tests, failed at sports, failed at asking girls out. The difference was, nobody treated it like the end of the world."

Children growing up in the '60s and '70s experienced a lack of constant supervision, fostering independence and resilience. They learned to handle disappointment without adult intervention, developing coping skills through real-life experiences. Work was learned through hands-on tasks, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and hard work. Failure was common but not treated as catastrophic, allowing children to understand that setbacks are part of life. This upbringing contrasts sharply with today's structured and monitored childhood, leading to different life skills and coping mechanisms.

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