Hi Emma, a very interesting topic and an extremely well written post. First, I am a dinosaur, born in 1954. To tell you the truth I've never given much thought or put any real value on the assigned generational names and letters. There are statistics and facts that are used to define the characteristics of all the different generations, however to me, it's like trying to herd cats. Yes, there are some common tendencies and like habits that can be identified, but humans are individual humans, and they can and will define themselves - or they should, like you have. My youngest daughter was born in 2000 just as you were, and while she fits some of the common Generation Z identifiers, she certainly doesn't fit them all. Not by a long shot. I have no statistical data to back it up, but I would venture you are certainly not alone. As for me, I suppose I'm the boomer poster boy by definition, but I never give it a second thought, nor do I care. I am me, luckily raised by a mother and father who I greatly admired and respected. I have personal faults, triumphs, defeats, good memories and bad, good traits and bad. You seem to be very grounded and extremely well versed. Just live your life as you see fit, try to do what You think is best and you'll be in the 'right' generation. Thanks for a wonderful read and thoughtful post. - Jim
Jim, thank you for reading my post today and taking the time to share your insights! 😊 While I agree that we are all unique individuals (& thankfully so!), the aggregate data is just one small piece of my lived experience puzzle. Perhaps my inability to form deep friendships until adulthood was due to some kind of weirdness, but the success that I was able to find in this area once I entered the adult world further solidified my beliefs that my interests, beliefs & values simply weren’t aligned with a majority of the individuals in my generation. There’s never been a time in my life where I didn’t have adult best friends! That being said, you are certainly correct; there’s individuality to account for that makes no one fit into a perfect generational box. 😄
Emma, thanks for the reply and yes, I have no doubt you didn’t fit in with the majority of your generation. I’m sure I was clumsy with expressing my thoughts on this but one thing I can say clearly is that admire the fact that you didn’t just become a follower. You didn’t become someone else and sacrifice who you really were. Thanks again for a thought provoking post. - Jim
I’m so grateful for your thoughts! I should be friendly to the idea that there’s a special individuality to everyone, and perhaps stay more open to finding other dorky birds in my age group! Thanks for sharing :)
A late Millennial here, I've often felt my preferences to be anachronistic, often more analogue than digital, but I do think there is a purpose that we are given the times we are given. There are foolish iterations of our fellow generation members, but there is also a modernity that we get to cherish in the Grand Narrative of History - I still try to think that there is more good than bad to be found even while feeling out of place with my generation.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who feels simultaneously “out of place” in my generation and cautiously optimistic. I believe that I’m in the time I’m in for a reason; however, that doesn’t stop me from feeling disoriented as I navigate the modern world.
Absolutely understandable, modernity, especially our current rate of modernity, is heavy and unrelenting, especially in such confusing times. A Modernity Support group of such would perhaps not be such a silly idea, in all honesty.
I was born and grew up as Gen X. When I approached adulthood, they changed the years on me, and to my utter shock they now called me a Boomer, albeit the youngest of them. So I literally have never felt part of my generation. Boomers were always those people, not me. But hey, they were the ones who changed the rules, they can call me what they want, but I am who I am regardless.
As for your situation, it’s a general thing, and it doesn’t apply to everyone in a generation. I mean, the 60s hippies went in various directions and some became the Jesus freaks, so is that conservative (the Jesus part) or liberal (the freaks part)? My point is that each generation has all kinds of people in it, and if you are in the minority compare to the main grouping, yeah, you feel out of place. But you ain’t. You just be you.
Your experience is so unique! I’ve always been pegged a Gen Zer, so I can’t imagine the disorientation that would accompany suddenly being referred to as a Millennial, for instance. I am now happy to just be me (and I’m very grateful for your encouragement to do so!). The issue I faced as a child was how to be me and still have friends. As an adult, this isn’t as big of an issue because it’s acceptable to have friends of all different ages. As a child, though, this was very difficult; kids think you’re “weird” for having adult friends, adults don’t really want to be your friend either because (a) you’re a kid or (b) they don’t want to get in some kind of trouble, both of which are very understandable but left an oddball like myself quite isolated. I recall you stating you were an only child, so perhaps you can relate in some ways to the feeling of growing into peace in solitude. Thank you for your thoughtful comment. ☺️
Hi Emma, a very interesting topic and an extremely well written post. First, I am a dinosaur, born in 1954. To tell you the truth I've never given much thought or put any real value on the assigned generational names and letters. There are statistics and facts that are used to define the characteristics of all the different generations, however to me, it's like trying to herd cats. Yes, there are some common tendencies and like habits that can be identified, but humans are individual humans, and they can and will define themselves - or they should, like you have. My youngest daughter was born in 2000 just as you were, and while she fits some of the common Generation Z identifiers, she certainly doesn't fit them all. Not by a long shot. I have no statistical data to back it up, but I would venture you are certainly not alone. As for me, I suppose I'm the boomer poster boy by definition, but I never give it a second thought, nor do I care. I am me, luckily raised by a mother and father who I greatly admired and respected. I have personal faults, triumphs, defeats, good memories and bad, good traits and bad. You seem to be very grounded and extremely well versed. Just live your life as you see fit, try to do what You think is best and you'll be in the 'right' generation. Thanks for a wonderful read and thoughtful post. - Jim
Jim, thank you for reading my post today and taking the time to share your insights! 😊 While I agree that we are all unique individuals (& thankfully so!), the aggregate data is just one small piece of my lived experience puzzle. Perhaps my inability to form deep friendships until adulthood was due to some kind of weirdness, but the success that I was able to find in this area once I entered the adult world further solidified my beliefs that my interests, beliefs & values simply weren’t aligned with a majority of the individuals in my generation. There’s never been a time in my life where I didn’t have adult best friends! That being said, you are certainly correct; there’s individuality to account for that makes no one fit into a perfect generational box. 😄
Emma, thanks for the reply and yes, I have no doubt you didn’t fit in with the majority of your generation. I’m sure I was clumsy with expressing my thoughts on this but one thing I can say clearly is that admire the fact that you didn’t just become a follower. You didn’t become someone else and sacrifice who you really were. Thanks again for a thought provoking post. - Jim
I’m so grateful for your thoughts! I should be friendly to the idea that there’s a special individuality to everyone, and perhaps stay more open to finding other dorky birds in my age group! Thanks for sharing :)
A late Millennial here, I've often felt my preferences to be anachronistic, often more analogue than digital, but I do think there is a purpose that we are given the times we are given. There are foolish iterations of our fellow generation members, but there is also a modernity that we get to cherish in the Grand Narrative of History - I still try to think that there is more good than bad to be found even while feeling out of place with my generation.
Lovely article, thanks for sharing.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who feels simultaneously “out of place” in my generation and cautiously optimistic. I believe that I’m in the time I’m in for a reason; however, that doesn’t stop me from feeling disoriented as I navigate the modern world.
Absolutely understandable, modernity, especially our current rate of modernity, is heavy and unrelenting, especially in such confusing times. A Modernity Support group of such would perhaps not be such a silly idea, in all honesty.
I believe this may be a large part of why therapy has become increasingly popular!
I was born and grew up as Gen X. When I approached adulthood, they changed the years on me, and to my utter shock they now called me a Boomer, albeit the youngest of them. So I literally have never felt part of my generation. Boomers were always those people, not me. But hey, they were the ones who changed the rules, they can call me what they want, but I am who I am regardless.
As for your situation, it’s a general thing, and it doesn’t apply to everyone in a generation. I mean, the 60s hippies went in various directions and some became the Jesus freaks, so is that conservative (the Jesus part) or liberal (the freaks part)? My point is that each generation has all kinds of people in it, and if you are in the minority compare to the main grouping, yeah, you feel out of place. But you ain’t. You just be you.
Your experience is so unique! I’ve always been pegged a Gen Zer, so I can’t imagine the disorientation that would accompany suddenly being referred to as a Millennial, for instance. I am now happy to just be me (and I’m very grateful for your encouragement to do so!). The issue I faced as a child was how to be me and still have friends. As an adult, this isn’t as big of an issue because it’s acceptable to have friends of all different ages. As a child, though, this was very difficult; kids think you’re “weird” for having adult friends, adults don’t really want to be your friend either because (a) you’re a kid or (b) they don’t want to get in some kind of trouble, both of which are very understandable but left an oddball like myself quite isolated. I recall you stating you were an only child, so perhaps you can relate in some ways to the feeling of growing into peace in solitude. Thank you for your thoughtful comment. ☺️
Life gets much simpler as an adult. There are so many pressures on children that fade away when we reach adulthood.
It all gets simpler EXCEPT that now there are bills to pay! 😂
That’s what paychecks are for.