Time goes by quickly. Years that may feel recent can easily become a part of the past, and before you know it, you find yourself in the future. Suddenly, it’s 2015. Let’s explore what this means:

We are already halfway through the 21st century, even though it feels like it just began.

Comparing the past and present, if a show like The Wonder Years, which aired from 1988 to 1993, were made today, the storyline would cover the years 1995 to 2000. Instead of themes like the moon landing, The Beatles, and the Civil Rights Movement, the show would focus on AOL, ‘N Sync, and the Bush-Gore election. The characters in a modern-day version of The Wonder Years would be watching TV shows like Friends (1994-2004), South Park (1997-present), Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003), Sex and the City (1998-2004), and even the early seasons of The Sopranos (1999-2007).

Reflecting on the moon landing, certain movies that were in theaters back then are closer in time to that event than to today:

• Wayne’s World
• My Cousin Vinny
• The Newsies
• Silence of the Lambs
• Terminator 2
• Hook
• Beauty and the Beast
• The Addams Family
• City Slickers
• Father of the Bride
• Home Alone

In the context of historical events, some movies were released closer to JFK’s presidency than to the current year:

• Batman
• Back to the Future 2
• The Little Mermaid
• Indiana Jones
• Honey I Shrunk the Kids
• Field of Dreams
• Major League

Additionally, certain movies came out nearer to World War II than to the present day:

• The Empire Strikes Back
• The Shining
• Airplane
• Caddyshack

For example, The Godfather, released in 1972, is closer in time to the 1920s than to today. Similarly:

If you were born before June 1, 1972, you are closer in birthdate to the 1920s than to today. Individuals who are now 38 years old were born nearer to the 1930s than to the present. As for someone born in 1981 like myself, that birth year is closer to the 1940s than to today. If you are 28 or 23 years old, know that you were born closer to the 1950s and 1960s than to today, respectively.

Do you know any 85-year-olds? Their birth is farther from today than the dawn of the 22nd century. In fact, there are millions of people living today who will witness the majority of the 22nd century.

Remember the year 1995? The way we perceived the 60s back then is how someone the same age as you were then perceives the 80s now. Likewise, the way you viewed the 70s in 1995 is as distant in the past as the 90s are today. In 1995, the era depicted in Mad Men was as far back as the Disco era is from today.

Now, think of 1980. It is closer to the time when FDR, Churchill, and Hitler were active than it is to 2015.

Going back to 1977, 38 years ago—it’s a quarter of the way back to the Civil War and Lincoln’s presidency.

Considering different presidencies: For a 33-year-old American, early childhood happened during the Reagan administration, elementary school ended during Bush Sr.’s presidency, and high school years coincided with Clinton’s term. A 13-year-old today perceives George W. Bush’s presidency similarly to how I view Reagan’s, and for them, the Clinton era is as distant as Watergate and the Vietnam War are for me. For the younger generation, Reagan’s presidency is as remote to them as JFK’s presidency is to me.

Lastly, one of my cherished childhood movies was Back to the Future, set in 1985, where the futuristic year was projected as 2015.

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