Taboos are, by definition, tough to talk about. They’re the unspoken things that our social customs forbid. We may not discuss them openly, but we all know when someone breaks one. If someone stands too close to you while talking, is having an affair, or peels a hardboiled egg on a plane, you might give…
Regardless of the generation, many Americans look back on the past when they were young as some of the best years of their lives. From CDs and rental DVDs to the all-too-familiar noise of dial-up internet, there’s a lot to be nostalgic about from the 1990s and 2000s. Mindfully American gathered the ’90s and ’00s…
British and American accents are clearly different, but it’s not just the accents that set them apart. Many expressions that Americans use are unfamiliar to Brits, and the opposite is also true. Mindfully American gathered some of the many phrases Americans use that drive Brits crazy. Has your British friend ever caught you saying one…
In recent decades, fewer Americans identify with organized religion. However, the belief in spirits or a higher power is on the rise, transcending traditional religious affiliations. To get a feel for where Americans stand with spirituality, Pew Research Center surveyed 11,201 respondents to explore its meaning and to see whether various spiritual beliefs, practices, and…
When in the last year have you picked up a book to read and finished the entire thing? If you’re like 46% of Americans, the answer is, “I didn’t.” That’s a troubling statistic, given that reading books offers benefits far beyond entertainment. Reading can strengthen critical thinking skills, build memory, improve one’s writing skills, and…
Many of us are guilty of being disrespectful towards Native Americans without even realizing it. We use thoughtless phrases, recite flawed history, and make assumptions we shouldn’t. It may not be our fault that U.S. schools often fail to teach Native American history correctly or that our parents taught us common phrases that are particularly…
From disco and hard rock music to the original Rocky movie, living in the ’70s was no short of special. But just like platform shoes and bell-bottoms, some of the trendiest words and phrases were destined to fall into obscurity. These 1970s terms may not find much use in our modern lexicon, but they still…
From tricky marketing campaigns to old myths, what Americans have been told about some of our favorite “healthy” foods might not be exactly true. Admittedly, some of the foods on this list are healthier than others if you eat them in moderation. The tricky part is not everyone is great at such moderation. Above all…
Americans who lived through the 1960s and 1970s may sometimes feel nostalgic for the good old days. People sporting bell bottoms, using lava lamps, and cruising around on roller skates surely felt they were living in the most modern of times, just as many of us feel today. That said, many facets of life have…
The Beach Boys, pioneers of the 1960s surf rock sound, are known for their harmonious melodies and catchy tunes. With hits like “Surfin’ USA,” “California Girls,” “God Only Knows,” and “Good Vibrations,” they are cultural icons. Brothers Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine made up the original…
