The Millennial Condition

When millennials, otherwise known as the only generation to spend 12 hours playing spud but also know how to work Garage Band, were born it was a great time to be alive. You had some of the best movies and music, the most trendy over-sized clothes (lots of denim), and sax-blowing party animal Bill Clinton in the White House. A golden age of pop culture (s/o the one true Justin, Britney, Christina, etc.), to compliment breakthroughs in technology (mp3's woaaaaaah).

Naturally with so much good going on at the time we grew up pretty "green" if we're talking in Game of Thrones lingo. We grew up being told the world was great, and that we could be great too if we worked hard. The classic "you can do whatever you want to do" was drilled in our heads nonstop because given the state of everything else it seemed pretty believable. And yes we all got participation trophies, even though that's more due to insane parents swearing we were all bound for the pros than a decision made by 6 year old kids to mass produce and distribute them. Couple that with the fact that when we hit our teens the world was completely transformed by technology, giving us tools and knowledge generations before us never had to literally try and be whatever we wanted.

But things have kind of changed since then, and now we're all in our early 20's trying to figure it out. And each of us has our own problems with doing that. I've got friends who went and got big time degrees in engineering, finance, etc, and walked out of college and right into great job opportunities. But as I've talked to a few of them, it seems like going about it the fiscally responsible way, may have left them a little less fulfilled than they hoped to feel at this point. I mean, we grew up being told to do whatever we loved and although they are doing incredibly well for 23, some of them (me) question if sitting behind a desk for more than half of their lives is really worth the peace of mind they'll get from it financially. And moreover many of them (me again) have college loans worth more than a Maserati, so it's not so easy to say goodbye to a great job just because they feel like it and want to paint instead, or something.

And then you have the people on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. These are the people who will do anything to stay away from the "go to school, get a job, have kids, die" mold of life. People who continue to chase fulfillment just like we were told to do when we were kids. The artists, the musicians, the entrepreneurial business owners, who want to be their own boss and have a sense of freedom. The potential problem with this is that as I mentioned, we all have our responsibilities to take care of. Whether it's loan repayment, bills, family burdens or something else, there is always a reason money is central to all we do. We all need a sense of stability when it comes to finances, benefits, etc., and people who go down this path, although ever stimulating, might have more trouble meeting these demands than your typical suit on a salary.

The craziest part, and the funny reason I felt inclined to write about it, is that you constantly hear people our age on either side of the spectrum complain about those on the latter. The suits tend to look down on those out hustling day in and day out because they're in a great position financially and career wise. They think that although it'd be nice to do whatever you wanted day in and day out, it only makes sense to not have to worry about money or where their future is headed. The dreamchasers reciprocate this I-made-a-better-choice notion, looking down on the "sheeple" who spend almost all of their time in an office working for someone else and living for the weekend.

As funny as it is, the most important thing to remember is that everyone of us is completely wrong, and I think that that's how it's supposed to be. I'm only 23 so I don't know anything about anything, and I couldn't be more content with that. And although I see where both sides come from when they diss the other, I think the important thing to think about is a balance between the two. And that's because it's life, so there's no real answer and both can have shitty consequences. If you work in an office, you could make a ton of money. You could also potentially go insane, get fed up with your wife and kids because of it, and on your deathbed wish you went on tour with your friends' totally sick 90's cover band instead. And if not, you're still not better than anybody who wants to spit bars for a living. Unless of course you're actually a better rapper than they are. On the other hand if you go out and hustle, chasing that music career or real estate startup, you could have the time of your life. You could also never even come close to making it big, make no money, and ultimately have some major financial troubles down the line. Especially if you have kids cause those things cost disgusting amounts of money too. And that's fine! But you're absolutely positively not deeper, more profound, or more in tune with the universe than anyone who decided to go the 9-5 route. I work 40 plus hours a week and I sit and think about existential stuff all the time (life is bananas).

But the even bigger point is you shouldn't have to choose between doing what you love, and making money. Find which one of the two matters to you more, tend to that first, and then be sure to make time to fit the other one in. Take us for example. We're all slaves to the man with decent jobs and bills to pay (Sallie Mae owns my soul til like 2068), and that's why we decided to make this stupid blog in our free time. Other people choose to pursue their major dream, but hustle to squeeze in one or two side jobs to make ends meet.

Again, none of this for lack of a better word "insight" really means much since I already told you guys I don't know anything myself, but it's my take on where a good amount of our generation seems to be at. It sucks growing up, but it sucks more when you're in a world vastly different than it was when our predecessors were our age, and navigating that new ground while trying to enjoy yourself like our parents always preached. And we suck more as a unit when all we do is nitpick about everyone else, no matter how much their antics make us want to vomit. Times are just different and if you want to blog blog, if you want to rap rap (but if you're bad, don't do it around me), and if you want to be an accountant be an accountant (/psychopath). Find what matters, have your fun, drink your twisted teas, keep your head down, and don't worry about what path anyone else is on. We'll all be just fine.

Editor's note: Despite all this I do really enjoy listening to people on either side crack jokes about each other. I don't know if that's too hypocritical which it probably is, but hey some of it is pretty funny as long as you know when it comes down to it it's all b.s.