‘Stop and savor’: Millennials reflect on life as adults
If Anitta Sara, a millennial expat, could bring back one thing from the olden times, it would be the custom of sending letters through post. “Now that everything is within the palm of your hand, everything is required urgently, it would be nice to stop and savor the art of writing and running the extra mile to send it personally.”
Millennials have seen it all - the days when kids played outdoors with friends or family as they spent the weekend with their cousins when schools are closed. They have also grown up as the world’s technological revolution unfolded. So, they have modified traditional paradigms with their own blend of technology, skill, social consciousness, and various perspectives. “We certainly have seen the world shift from the old routine to a new dynamic era, we have seen technology swoosh by,” said Sara.
Although millennials, who were born from 1981 to 1996, are hailed as the generation of invention and change, they still miss how things were when they were young. “We miss the old times and would love to go back to those times, but we must move with the pace of the world. We certainly miss the childhood that was spent more outdoors, away from the screens,” said Shanley Joshua, another millennial.
An easier life
Millennials feel that face-to-face communication is lacking in today’s environment and that it plays a vital role in strengthening relationships and links with fellow beings. As one of the last generations to have spent time with, heard stories from, and learnt from their grandparents, millennials are the ones passing on traditions, culture, and values to the younger generations. However, Sara says the younger generation don’t value culture and customs, merely using traditions as material for trendy viral videos or posts on social media.
Stanley James, an Indian expat, says the younger generation lives a convenient life compared to times before. “Communication has gotten simpler, transportation is easy, studying has gotten easier, doing homework has gotten easier. One can buy food, sell their things even do their work on their phone without moving,” he said.
On the other hand, Joshua says millennials have it tough. “It’s not as though, we live our life happily, most millennials face issues in getting into jobs of their liking. Most of them are in transition of a son or a daughter to a husband/wife or a father/mother. We have their own share of struggles, taking care of our family, being independent, managing the day-to-day family expenses,” added Stanley.
Different values
The new generation might prefer living independently from their extended family, but Janet a Filipino expat, says deep down, humans know they need their loved ones. “Let’s face the truth, even though we all pretend to live our lives independently, we all need each other and are dependent on each other,” she said.
When asked what she thinks of the newer generation, Mariam an Egyptian expat, answered: “The newer generations have two sides. One side wants to do everything to enhance and value human connection, where they are willing to go miles to make that happen, they are ready to slog and burn the midnight oil to make a difference.
“But there is the other side of them that are influenced by people blindly. They have the sudden urge to adapt to a new lifestyle and abandon their own. The need to be identified and acknowledged is on the rise. The need for validation is on the rise. At the end of the day, all a human being needs is food, shelter, family and love. I am worried that Gen-Z is missing out too much on the simplicity of what life can be.”