I’ve Changed My Mind About Millennials

When I was in my 20s, they called my generation “lazy,” “apathetic,” and “couch potatoes.” You see, the typical 90s Gen Xer was not the strong, smart, happy-go-lucky, independent generation you see standing before you today. We loved staring at the TV screen. (We were the first generation with cable TV, after all). We had bad attitudes, and we dressed in grunge. We complained about everything and listened to music that complained about everything. Boomers scolded us for our work ethic, fashion, and music. And they hated our haircuts. #RockTheMullet

In the past decade, I’ve seen Millennials suffer the same slanders (from time to time, by yours truly). In fact, since Boomers and Gen Xers pretty much control the media, I’d say Gen Y might be the most maligned generation in history. Studies show that they’re stressed and depressed. Probably because they’ve been misunderstood from the beginning. I feel bad for them.

For my own part in this collective Millennial bashing, I’d like to apologize to anyone born between the mid-80s and the year 2000. Just like every generation, Millennials have matured over time (as all subsequent generations do.) These days, I’m much more likely to see their positive traits; I’m witnessing a generation that is creative, tech-savvy, entrepreneurial, and socially conscious. 

All things change — and my generation has also matured over time (as all preceding generations also do.) I no longer “want my MTV.” Why? Because there’s no music on MTV, just banal reality-based programs disguised as entertainment. (But I digress – that’s another rant for another time.) Time changes things, and change comes with time. I’ve been working with Gen Y, a.k.a. Millennials, for more than a decade now. I’ve come full circle from discouraged to encouraged. I feel like a proud papa. “Great job, kids! You did it.”

So for the future and the sake of everyone’s collective sanity, I think Gen X and Gen Y should band together to make better things. I can envision a better work environment, a better community, and a better world if we join forces and empathize with each other. And to start, there’s one thing I think we can all agree on — we need to start bashing the Gen Zs. I mean, c’mon, where did these kids come from? #JustKidding