No Participation Trophies Awarded!

In today’s tumultuous world, it’s no surprise there is a greater disconnect among generations than in any other period of history. One probable reason for the animosity between age group is that people are living longer. The older generation, in this case Boomers, have increased the average life span from late fifties and mid-sixties to the mid-seventies through early eighties. Gen-Y or Millennials have an excellent shot at making it to one hundred.

Along with longevity, social dynamics have also shifted. Caring for elderly parents was the norm fifty or sixty years ago, but no longer. Millennials don’t have the time to care for aging Boomers. They have work, kids, soccer practice, spin classes and social obligations that leave no time for caring for doddering old folks. Besides, these ancient ones are annoyingly self-righteous, constantly referring to how things used to be, and overall, a major pain in the ass.

From a Boomers perspective, Millennials are self-absorbed, spoiled brats that are totally incapable of seeing beyond their own wants and needs. They require constant affirmation about everything they do, from the food they eat, posting pictures of meals on the internet, to the jobs they perform. In the Boomers’ world, workers are expected to do their job correctly without constant accolades. When a Millennial completes a job, it is followed by a “How did we do?” survey. They seem to crave the participation trophy. “Good job!” is the phrase of the day.

Physical distance is another reason for the generational divide. Prior to the late seventies, it was normal for a person to be born and spend their entire life in the same town their parents lived in. As children, they would ride their bikes to visit the grandparents, because the old folks only lived a couple of blocks away. Family dinners were a common occurrence and not just something that happened on the holidays.

Jobs, cheaper places to live, retirement communities, and the quest for a better life have spread families all over the country. Now, for a grandchild to spend time with their grandparents, it involves plane tickets and someone to watch the child as they travel. Distance has made the close-knit family irrelevant in today’s world.

Unfortunately, what both generations are lacking is empathy for the other. Older people have achieved a comfort level created by familiarity with surroundings, procedures, and routines. They may have been liberal thinking in their younger days, but over time have morphed into staunch traditionalists. The world is moving too fast for many Boomers, and that change is being led by Millennials.

The younger generation appears to crave instant gratification. In order to achieve that level of satisfaction, technology has to be in a state of constant change. Most of the changes have made everyone’s lives better. We can communicate with people from the other side of the world for free. The exchange of information has led to major advances in medicine, science, and the workforce. All a person needs to do is keep up.

So, is this generational divide insurmountable? Not really. Just look at what happens during holiday gatherings. Family members of all generations come together to celebrate the common thread that makes them all family—love. The old folks look at everyone at the table and marvel at what’s evolved from an innocent question. “Would you like to go with me to a movie or a dance?” The youngsters ask, “What was it like when you were my age?”

Animosity is created by day-to-day living, but it dissolves in a matter of minutes once all the generations join to celebrate life. During these infrequent gatherings, tolerance rules, and we are all awarded a participation trophy.