Alrighty folks, we’re going to get right to it and make this short and sweet. Let’s talk about the years 1981-1996 aka the millennial years. As an older member of the millennial generation, born proudly in 1984, I am able to say that I have had enough of the millennial shaming from anyone born prior to those years. Let’s all understand that there are degrees to millennial’s, we do not all think the same, we do not all have the same experiences or entitlement. So why do generations from the baby boomers (1946-1964) all the way through to generation X (1965-1981) continuously call out millennial’s for being lazy, entitled, narcissistic and at times know-it-all’s when it was generations before that set the stage for the present? As I stated above you cannot group everyone together, I don’t. I personally believe the older millennial’s not only approach life differently than the younger millennial’s but also work in a distinct manner. This may be due to a lot of factors, one being that 1981-1985 is closer to the generation x group and therefore are influenced to a higher degree from them or it could just be they think with both sides. It’s all subjective. One thing is for sure, millennial’s are continuously being dragged through the trenches.

Thanks to the generations prior, millennial’s are so far the largest, best educated and most diverse generation in history. This means nothing as with almost every generation, there is a hefty unemployment rate and according to the US census data 40% of millennial’s are at the highest level. Hence why millennial’s have had to start their own businesses and figure out other sources of income that are not corporate based. Which of course brings on high risk of stress and anxiety soaring to an all time high for this bracket that occurs in one of five individuals. Millennial’s are also swimming in college debt and earning degrees that they do not use (meaning they got them only because of pressure from their families or they can’t find a job with the degree they earned or something inbetween). Millennial’s aren’t entitled to success, they are obsessed with it, because there is no other choice, how else is survival in this world supposed to happen? Being tired of talking or hearing about how to make it and taking a stance on actually making it to a point in life where it feels good just to be here and enjoy what was worked for. So millennial’s aren’t lazy, they are more driven than generations prior due to the circumstances within their individual lives. Millennial’s have not only created opportunities for all generations within housing, technology, health, fashion, food, music, media and creative spaces, but they have helped evolve what was handed down to them.

Not every millennial is fixated on sharing with the world their latest sneakers, nonstop play by play of their days, hair color or showing of their bodies on social media. Yes, it is absolutely annoying and I try my best not to judge, but it does get hard when it’s overdone. But it’s just as aggravating when prior generations are oversharing pics of their grandchildren, or the latest tomatoes that are blooming in their gardens or pics of paint colors in their homes. You see either way we are all annoyed with each other for things that are out of our individual control. No generation is better in any sense than the other. Each generation prior to and after millennial’s have their faults, so let’s stop acting as if millennial’s are the downfall of all humanity. If you have an issue with an entire group of people within a 15 year bracket, then you are part of the problem. I could go on endlessly on this issue, as I feel as if I discuss it daily with my family and friends, but I’m a short story writer…not a novelist.

Let’s discuss further. I’d love to hear what you all have to say on this matter.

Millennial’s help to figure out a balance in how life should move forward. Let’s not judge, but discuss.

It’s been a little over a week since I logged off all social media. I only use Instagram and Pinterest, I have rarely gone on Facebook since last year. This didn’t start as some sort of experiment, but it has become one inadvertently. Originally I did it because I was tired of how much I constantly check and scroll on Instagram- I was basically a zombie just flipping through pictures and double tapping the image. You don’t realize how much of a distraction it is in your daily life until you stop. Once I logged off I immediately felt relief, there was no more pressure for me to post something (mind you I’m the one who’s putting that on myself). I come from a career in marketing (10+ years), so I know and understand the world we live in and how important social media is for our voices to be heard and to promote ourselves. I get it, I don’t care as much, but I get it.

Don’t get it twisted I love to post pictures or video of my friends, loved ones or a fun adventure because they are special to me and I want to share. I just don’t do it for the double tap. For me, there are images that have received 20 and then there are those with over 200. It’s funny to see what gets what, as in what others deem as “cool” or skip over because they feel it doesn’t deserve their endorsement. As if any persons validation should be important enough for you to become a feen for a “like”. But there are those that crave it, they “do it for the gram” and it’s only good for them when they see how many approve of it. I know quite a few people that do this and it makes me sad for them, I want to break their chains from the stronghold they have over themselves.

I will log back on this week, mainly because some friends and I are on a group DM (direct message- for anyone who is not familiar). We literally talk all day every day about politics, funny memes, crazy videos we see, calling out each other, promoting what we have currently going on, etc. So in a way, I have felt disconnected from life in that sense. Of course, I talk to them outside of social media, but some are more likely to check a DM than a text because that’s the culture we are in.

I have used the collective time sans social media to read, whether it’s a book or the news or information about something of interest. It’s interesting to see how much time logging on and scrolling can take out of your life, instead of spending time in the present. I need to continue to take my own advice, but it’s hard when it has become habitual. I love to take pictures or video so that won’t stop, but I know that I don’t need to be so quick to post and constantly look to see how many people liked it. If I like it, that’s enough and what others choose to deem worthy of their “likes” should not be my concern. So the question remains with me: did my experiment cleanse my self-inflicted social paranoia? In a way, yes. I no longer feel the need to log on, but I will because there are things I need to publicize and I want to support those who support me by promoting their stuff too. Social media as we all know is a gift and a curse, but we learn (or will learn) that once you have love for yourself you no longer need likes.

With just one click, it owns you and you become a slave to it.