The year I was born, the world was a different place. There was no Google Plus, Twitter, Facebook or Linked-in. Let’s face it, computers weren’t even being used and we’re not even talking about the dark ages.

The top selling movie was Mary Poppins. Remember, that was before VHS or DVDs. People were watching movies in the cinema, and not downloading them online. Imagine the packed seats, the laughter and the excitement. And, all of that without 3D computer effects.

Books were still popularly read on paper, not on digital devices. Trees were felled to get the word out. The technology available today would have blown our minds. Do you know what was invented in the year I was born? The Solid-state Electronic Calculator.

I share my birthyear with people like Russell Crowe, Nicolas Cage, Sandra Bullock and Tim Owen. With Sandra on the list, somehow I feel in good company.

It’s 2011 and the world is a different place, but no less exciting. I love the idea that I can keep in contact with my family, friends, acquaintances and total strangers online.

On July 21st I made a pact with myself on Twitter. I love listening to dance music and the louder, the better. But, that’s only part of my problem. The real problem is that when I listen to loud music, I tend to drive too fast. Not fast enough to be reckless. But, just fast enough to get little traffic fines of 10 – 50 euros a pop. Amounts that I can pay with ease, so I don’t seem to learn my lesson. The pact with myself is that from now on, any time I get a traffic fine, I pay the fine and, I also pay the same amount to a charity. In this way, at least if I don’t learn to drive slower, I feel I’m doing something good.

In the past month, two charities that I heard about via Twitter, have been the lucky beneficiaries of my small donations. Jana Sanchez is running a 15km marathon this month to raise funds for the Stroke Association. Check out Jana’s fund-raising initiative on Just Giving. Heather Taylor is raising money for those who have lost everything in the recent riots in the UK, to cleanup, rebuild and look to the future of the communities she lives in and loves. Check out Heather’s #riotremedy activities on Just Giving. Remember, a little donation goes a long way.

I had fun growing up, watching movies in cinema’s, chatting on our family telephone with my girlfriends and pumping up the volume of pop music on the radio. Nothing really changes. I don’t know whether I’ll ever grow up and stop listening to loud music, so, I guess I’ll continue speeding through life. The only difference is, is that social media now helps me find worthy causes to support.

Check out what happened in your birthyear http://whathappenedinmybirthyear.com/