Happy New Year 2024!
Discussing history, cultural attributes, and generational defining moments while ruminating about the world over the past few years.
Preface
The message below will be slightly different from the normal stream of content that is published on my Substack. I will be taking a step back from markets for a moment to talk about culture, history, and important themes for the broader society in the United States. For readers out there, I think that everyone can benefit by reading and gaining insight into the life of a different generation. No matter what age, young or old. No matter what generation, Boomer, Gen-X, Millennial, or Gen-Z. It is important to take time to think critically about the lives and history of other people around us in the United States to have a better understanding of one another. Once a greater sense of awareness is established and shared, then it can serve as a medium to achieve longer-term goals synergistically. I have written this publication from my perspective growing up in the United States as a late-wave Millennial.
Year Ending Thoughts
Unreal, could this coffee BE any hotter? (a tribute to Matthew Perry RIP). As I sit here writing this morning, I just burned my mouth on some hot coffee (again). Time to come clean. This publication took a couple of weekends, so multiple cups of coffee were consumed throughout the process, and I burned my mouth several times, but I digress. I guess some New Year’s resolutions will be the same every year.
Throughout the message from last year (send me an email if you want a copy), I described personal traits of individuality, uniqueness, and uncommon characteristics. These are critical attributes to develop one's path in a uniquely American world of cultural and social sameness. I mean, to some degree I get it. Everyone just wants to feel like they belong. In a version of the United States where there is no clear positive direction for what we are working towards collectively, it is easy to see why people gravitate towards their “tribes” to seek some form of personal acceptance.
Under the hood, everyone in this world is going through something that no one else is thinking about. It is important to embrace how different we each are as a living individual, but there is at least one underlying commonality. Last year I spoke about “the battles”. In that regard, we are all not much different than one another. This year I am going to state another commonality. We are all citizens of the United States. This thought will be revisited.
Even in a world where everyone is connected constantly and instantaneously, why are so many people still so lonely? Perhaps, a longer-term secular shift in focus away from family, community, and country to “Can I make enough money to survive” is a partial culprit. For starters, almost EVERYTHING costs so much money. I just went to a deli in Atlanta that was charging $18 for a sandwich. While that is not a universal price point, one type of sandwich (being broad here because a hot dog is also a sandwich) is a couple of slices of meat, generally 2 slices of bread, a slice of cheese, and sauerkraut (this was a Rueben). Do NOT gaslight me and say, “Oh um well inflation is not increasing as fast as it was in 2021 & 2022 anymore”. The cumulative effects are entrenched within the world. Unfortunately, daily survival and an above-average standard of living require higher and higher amounts of money as a vehicle to survive. Instinctually, money has become a focal point of survival.
Just throwing darts but maybe being raised to receive the credentials to be accepted at a “quality” university, then going to college for another set of credentials to then MAYBE have enough credentials to be properly employed at a “good stable corporation” that treats people well under the umbrella of bureaucratic corporate welfare is not a fulfilling lifestyle. However, it is safe, low risk, and almost guarantees survival (note that most millennials are risk-averse). Could it be that the lack of overall direction and objectives for the greater good of society has dissolved into a negative self-serving form of individualism? While thinking about these questions, I have listed my themes and longer-term thoughts of focus to combat the dynamics noted above and throughout the publication. These will be discussed in detail.
1. Family
2. Community
3. Common Interests: USA
We collectively face a similar set of challenges moving forward. The detailed description of the shared experiences throughout this publication serves as a reminder that as individuals, we will always have a community and our generation that can come to an understanding of one another based on shared experiences.
Moving Forward
Who is the voice of our generation (late-wave Millennials)?
Is it the TikToker trying to sell us clothes or new products that we likely already have similar versions of, but watching the video will make us want to buy more anyway? Is it the YouTube crypto influencer who is selling junk get-rich-quick schemes to people who are looking for hope and a way out of their current situation? Is it the Instagram influencer selling dreams of a life traveling abroad or vacationing to makeshift luxury Airbnbs in trendy neighborhoods in the US? Is it the class of wealthy elites that continue to gain benefit monetarily from the status quo, and with that accumulate more power? Is it the silent generation/ boomers that are currently in power and leading our country many of whom only support the interests of the money that backs their political advancement; Do they know what it is like to be in our shoes?
Notwithstanding the last question, why do we live in a world where everyone is always constantly trying to sell us something?
Is this because we lack a shared unified goal or purpose for the United States society to achieve? Is this because the degradation of American institutions has broken to the point where everything has become a marketing ploy as an effort to look out for one's self-interest and push themselves ahead in this fucked up world? Is this because creating a world of hyper-consumerism and self-serving individualism is how large tech companies such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple get paid? Going into this new year, I am genuinely curious about these outstanding questions. While I may never know the answers, I think that these are important questions that should be asked. I find these points to be relevant because by understanding these thoughts above, we will be provided greater insight along with an understanding of why we feel the way that we feel living in this current state of US culture and society. Feel free to tell me if I am delusional.
Before moving forward, I think it is appropriate to define “our generation” as I mentioned above. I am 27 years old and was born in 1996. Not all readers, but many of my immediate peers are between the ages of 26 and 33. These ages were born between the years (1990-1997), which would be designated as Millennials. Let’s try not to get triggered here. I already know that there are some readers out there who are the same age as me and do not want to identify with this designation. Look, I get it. The corny early-wave Millennial counterparts have created a negative stigma against the entire generational classification. Unfortunately, that is our burden to bear, but I am going to talk specifically about what makes the late-wave Millennial classification (1990-1997) special. Remarkable, look at me telling other Millennials that we are special.
Highlighting Shared Experiences
Three important characteristics are shared by this (1990-1997) age cohort.
1. Life before and after iPhone/ social media
2. Old enough to remember and experience the fallout of 911
3. Life before and after the erosion of institutions and the US community spirit deteriorated at a faster rate
Relationship With Technology
First, let’s discuss the near and dear “screens”. Late-wave Millennials know the feeling of a missing device all too well. There is an initial shockwave that rolls throughout all limbs of the body upon the initial realization that the *insert* device is not located within its normal place of habitation (pocket, purse, bag, etc.). Remember, amongst this population, it is highly uncommon for these devices to travel outside of a 10-foot radius from the person of ownership. Sorry, but not sorry if this is hitting home for some readers.
Once out of eyesight, the prickly pins and needles emerge while anxiety levels begin to rise. A 6th sense has practically been developed that sets an alarm off in the mind saying, “Half of your brain is missing. What is going on? Somebody do something”. These devices in many cases have become an extension of oneself (photos, payment, calendar, maps, contacts, and other highly pertinent data), so the loss or misplacement may develop into a brief existential crisis. This is one of the minor negative consequences associated with technology integration in our lives. However, I should note that there have been many more positive impacts such as efficiency, instant access to data/ information, and improved productivity if utilized properly. Late-wave Millennials hold an advantage in this regard because they are the last cohort of people in the US to have lived a true life before and after the introduction of smart technology and social media (more to come).
The first iPhone was released on June 29, 2007. By this time, I was 11 years old and had already had a full career playing what I would deem as regular kid games/ activities. For today’s youth, this may be long forgotten, but we used to run around the neighborhoods and make new games from scratch. It was an excellent exercise of creativity for the imagination. Alongside these activities were playing sports OUTSIDE, interacting socially with other people IN PERSON, card games, board games, memorizing phone numbers, and watching/assisting parents navigate across the country using paper maps of the United States. When I was not on map duty, I was sitting in the back seat with my little brother watching Lion King (VHS) or some other 90s animated movie on a miniature VCR TV. Google Maps was launched in February 2005.
An important “coming of age” milestone for this generation was getting the first cell phones. At the time, early middle school would have been considered a very young age. I got my first phone in the 6th grade around 10 years old. My first phone was a flip phone named the Sony Ericsson W300i (released in 2006), and it was with the carrier Cingular Wireless. The device had everything that I thought I needed. Make calls, text messages (only 200 per month), music, games, Bluetooth, and camera (photos & video). Getting the family plan upgraded to “unlimited talk and text” was elite status.
In the early 2000s, technology generally was different because it was getting prepared for “the big launch”. The primordial stage was set before the momentous liftoff that has been realized over the last 16 years; Yet, for the modern adults at that time, the rush of technology was novel and already becoming incredibly advanced past their wildest dreams (this sentiment is always the case for technological advancements throughout history even for us present day).
The computers were clunky and were attached to a very large modem. Late-wave Millennials were introduced almost immediately upon gaining awareness of the world around them. This age group played very basic computer games on systems that would be considered ancient today, with very sub-par graphics. One of the first games that I ever played was “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” on PC in 2001. Not to mention learning to navigate the web on dial-up internet moving at glacial speeds. Try keeping 25 tabs open at once or let alone, even being able to open 10 separate browsers without the computer crashing. Let’s be clear. I am NOT a culprit of this, but these people are out there and they know who they are.
Meanwhile, late-wave Millennials were some of the earliest adopters of new technology as it was released. There were technology classes in elementary school that taught kids how to use computers and applications such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. As mentioned above this age group played computer games on the PC, but also had access to other newer gaming devices such as PlayStation Two (PS2 released in March 2000), Gameboy Color (released in 1998), and eventually PSP (released in March 2005). Another example was going from music on CD players to the ability to have music on demand with the iPod (released in October 2001). Within short order, consumers were able to access their favorite music videos and even movies through the Apple Music store and download the content to their iPod Video (released in October of 2005).
The process of using the Apple Music Store was cumbersome and as kids, late-wave Millennials had to justify to their parents why they were spending $10 for “music on the internet” and paying the additional premium to download music videos (which were popular). Because of this, getting a gift card to the Apple Music Store for Hanukkah or Christmas was a gigantic win. I could download “American Idiot” (Green Day), “Laffy Taffy” (D4L), “Yeah!” (Usher), “Get Low” (Lil Jon), “Can’t Stop” (Red Hot Chili Peppers), “The Middle” (Jimmy Eat World), “How You Remind Me” (Nickelback), OutKast, Lil Wayne, Kanye, and Eminem in Peace. However, another significant change was imminent with YouTube launching in February of 2005.
Simultaneously, video technology was quickly shifting from VHS to DVD. Eventually, the “higher quality” Blue-Ray was introduced for HD video and audio (released in June 2006). My family and I took trips down the street to the local Blockbuster and would walk through every aisle to find a movie that was agreeable for all parties involved. Between choosing the movie and watching it together, there was a lot of time spent as a family. Netflix streaming officially launched in 2007, which revolutionized the entertainment industry and set off a cultural phenomenon for years to come. The access to content is nearly instantaneous and for example a family of six people could theoretically all watch a different show/ movie at the same time while in separate rooms if desired (disrupting quality family time).
As early as I can remember, my family only started with one TV in the house. It was a grand occasion of abundance when the second TV was added to the household. I was all for it, and it was an exciting time. The TVs that I am talking about were clunky VCR boxes with curved display surfaces. This discussion has outlined changes in technology and another massive transition was from VCR Box TVs to Plasma and flat-screen TVs. However, unlike many of the adaptations above, this transformation took more time to spread than some of the other technological advancements. In part, this was due to the durability of the product, but when Plasma and Flat Screen TVs were first released, they were incredibly expensive. Whenever I stepped into someone’s home with a Plasma/ flat screen TV or multiple in the early 2000s, I would think to myself “These people must be f****n loaded”.
After the iPhone was released, life got a whole lot “easier” (up for interpretation because other new complexities now developed). As previously stated above, efficiency and productivity increased. All different types of applications, data, photos, web browsers, contacts, instant messaging, different tools, and all other types of functionalities became centralized in one consolidated location while being available nearly instantaneously. Hence why I refer to an iPhone as an extension of the human brain. The integration over the years has become nearly inseparable. Ever since the release, screen time has progressively eaten away more and more from daily life as the tools offered by smartphones have become more advanced.
Fast forward to 2024 where most people are facing a “screen” for the majority of hours in a day. This includes young children who are adopting this technology at even earlier ages as well. Most people in the world now have access to a hand-held computer 24/7. At the onset of this new technology, life suddenly became more convenient. I could sit here and write for days about some of the negative consequences of this technology for the upcoming generations and many people in this world, but that discussion will be saved for another juncture. Staying optimistic today. Late-wave Millennials had the luxury of viewing and interacting with the world in a completely different environment that will remain ingrained in their minds forever. These experiences shape the way the world is viewed and their relationship with technology. For me, it is much easier to unplug when necessary.
One of the most significant advancements with the launch of the iPhone was the ability to access various mobile applications. Such an ability opened the door wide open for software developers. Just as Late-wave Millennials lived a life before and after the iPhone, they also lived a life before and after social media. The integration between the new technology and the human mind created a breeding ground for social media along with advanced communication as it is known today. These devices were carried 24/7, so it only made sense to deploy software applications where humans could constantly interact within seconds.
Right before the launch of the iPhone, social media companies started to develop. Notably, MySpace launched in August of 2003, and Facebook launched in February of 2004. Other Callouts:
- Friendster: March 2002
- LinkedIn: May 2002
- Flickr: 2004
- YouTube: February 2005
- Twitter: March 2006
Mobile applications on the iPhone created an environment for rapid communication throughout these various social media platforms. Specifically, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Communication is now instantaneous, 24/7, and information is available within seconds. As social media gained relevance, Instagram (released in 2010) and Snapchat (2011) were added to the mix to create a cocktail of pop culture that has advanced to what it has become today. However, this was the “new” beginning of the self-serving individualism that I previously mentioned.
Again, Late-wave Millennials had the privilege of living a life of real experiences without social media technology, however, they were some of the earliest adopters on the other side as it was gaining traction. This enabled a couple of meaningful developments for their values. We have the ability to make real friendships in a world that at times seems impossibly superficial. For that reason, many of the relationships that we have created are very strong, and incredibly tight-knit friendships exist. All the while, this age group can leverage technology to maintain and continue to grow those relationships. The tool of social media enables us to maintain more friendships and stay in contact with a greater number of people because of our adaptation and incorporation of the tech into our lives.
This generation witnessed the parabolic and exponential growth of technology throughout their entire lives, and these advancements will likely continue throughout the remainder. Everything has been rapidly changing and still is transforming every day. The second brand-new technology that alters the world is released; another superior version is introduced within two years which requires a completely new adaptation. Throughout their lives, there has been a constant necessity to adopt and adapt. Not only did they live a life of before and after, but technology has since been integrated into their existence. One can argue that an iPhone in 2024 is an extension of the mind and oneself.
Late-wave Millennials were able to capture the best of both worlds. By no means were they technology Neanderthals. They were the last and first to experience almost everything in modern life. Growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s was just a much simpler time when classical American childhood innocence mattered. Perhaps that is why in recent years there has been such a strong cultural trend of Y2k nostalgia. It is important to paint the picture of the collective experiences shared by many late-wave Millennials.
911 and Fallout
I’ll never forget the squeaking of the wheels as a medium-sized VCR was rolled into the kindergarten classroom on a gray metal cart around 9:15am on September 11, 2001. The class and I gathered around the TV in a half-circle formation and sat crisscrossed apple sauce. Ms. Johnson (the teacher), turned on the news and loudly gasped. By this time both towers had been hit and we were watching the chaos ensue live on the screen in front of us. Smoke was billowing from both buildings, and the reporters were frantically providing coverage of the events. The media channel replayed the crash of the planes into the buildings and the class watched in horror. We were mostly between 5 and 6 years old during this event. To this day, watching that footage in the classroom may be some of the most abrupt and shocking minutes of my life.
Around 9:30am, the class saw President Bush on the screen to briefly address the nation about the recent events. Shortly after, reports that the Pentagon had been hit were circulating in the media. They announced that all flights had been grounded. I could hear the teacher feverishly talking on the phone to someone about what we were watching. She mentioned how scared she was and was worried about what else was going to happen. Moments later at 9:59am, one of the towers collapsed and we watched in shock as the smoke and debris flew out from the building. After viewing those graphic scenes, it was difficult to fathom what had just happened and the future ramifications. It was challenging to think that what had just happened was even real. I was still very young at that moment (5 years old), so it was difficult to understand the level of terror that my teacher was experiencing.
“Beeeeeeep”, the sound of the intercom rings and vibrates through the class’s ears. Nowadays, if I ever want my ears to ring like that again, all I have to do is go clubbing for a couple of hours and that'll do the trick. Around 10:45am, the principal was talking over the intercom. The school was sending everyone home. My mom was already there to pick me up. As I was leaving the classroom, I remember feeling bad for my peers who were still stuck there gazing at replays of the second tower falling over the people in New York City.
It was not until my mom picked me up early from school that I noticed a difference in her body language and the way that she was acting. That is when I started to actually feel nervous and scared. When we were driving home, she was talking to my dad who was stuck in San Francisco (work trip) because flights were grounded. He was not working because the financial markets were halted following the impact of the second plane earlier that morning. I could hear the uneasiness in his voice over the phone. My dad and his business partners had no idea when the airports would be open again after San Francisco airport announced that it would be closed indefinitely. Ultimately, they ended up renting a car and driving across the country back to Atlanta.
This tragic day was shared by late-wave Millennials at exceptionally early impressionable ages. Mostly students in kindergarten through sixth grade. For several years, many had an irrational fear of flying. The feeling of anxiety when being on or above the 10th floor of a large building. Wondering about ultimately needing to fight in a war or eventually being drafted. Feeling a mild or severe level of uncertainty about being blown up in an explosion at a baseball game with tens of thousands of other people. The list goes on, but for the sake of brevity, lastly, worrying about our parents having to go to war or being involved in another type of tragic terrorist attack only to never come home. Luckily, the majority of these never manifested for this generation growing up in the United States, which is ultimately a blessing. Unfortunately, other people around the world have not been as lucky.
These days will never be forgotten by anyone alive and cognizant. The reason that I have discussed this tragic history is for a few reasons. First, this was a defining for all generations and specifically was shared by late-wave Millennials at very early ages. To this day, the fallout still lingers. Try walking through TSA with a bottle of water in a backpack. Have fun with the cavity search that follows! In all seriousness, general airport security still makes people take their shoes off, laptops out of backpacks, belts off, random screenings, and other tighter security measures.
Next and perhaps the most important, communities all across the US rallied in public solidarity. A wave of patriotism rushed across the country as everyone shared a common cause to rally behind. This is an example of a crisis bringing people together. There was strength found among communities bonding with one another. American flags flying everywhere and people were demonstrating resilience along with love for their country. The Fourth of July’s for the next several years was always very meaningful and widely celebrated by local communities. During game three of the 2001 World Series (Arizona Diamondbacks vs. The New York Yankees), George Bush jogged out onto the field at Yankees stadium to throw the ceremonial first pitch. He was met by a large roar from the crowd in what was a very emotional moment for people at that time. “USA” chants from the crowd followed. The first pitch was thrown on October 30, 2001, just over a month after 911, and was a demonstration of resilience and unity.
The fallout period from 911 may have been one of the last times that modern United States citizens have felt united. This may have been one of the last times that the American public rallied together collectively in a force of American patriotism and pride for one's country. People interacted in a way that is almost non-existent as of the beginning of 2024. In the simplest form, this comes as just talking to neighbors and strangers within the local community to establish new relationships. Perchance the crisis marked the last time when Americans expressed stronger belief in the country's government and institutions right before that sentiment fell off a cliff once again. This may have been one of the last times that I remember the masses showing legitimate love and appreciation for their country.
Unfortunately, there were two negative outcomes from the expeditious, but soon fleeting rise in patriotism. In the aftermath of a crisis, it is easy for the public to pin the blame and direct their energy against a common enemy. Not dissimilar to the way Japanese Americans were treated following Pearl Harbor during WW2, xenophobia spread against Muslim/ Arab Americans. Let’s be clear about the WW2 comparison. During that time, approximately 2/3 of Japanese American citizens were relocated to internment camps. There was no such mass relocation for Muslim/ Arab Americans. However, the USA Patriot Act enabled authorities to have “expanded powers to combat terrorism”, which ultimately led to many cases of racial profiling alongside the existing heightened public discrimination. That specific cohort of Muslim/ Arabic American late-wave millennials had a much different experience coming of age in the US, to say the least.
Second, the aforementioned wave of patriotism gave the green light for the Bush administration and the US government to push forward with the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and their “search for weapons of mass destruction”. As years passed, more information became widely available to the public that there were never any such stockpiles of weapons as the intelligence previously suggested when used as a rallying cry to move forward with the invasion. Once again, the public was misled and realized that the justification for war was not what it initially seemed. The outcome turned into another blow to the already falling confidence and trust within American institutions. Eroding trust and degradation of American institutions will lead into the third and final generation characteristics.
Degradation
Late-wave Millennials were the last individuals in the United States to experience some form of American patriotism, collective community direction, some level of agreement/ common ground between two political parties, whatever is the opposite of extremism/ tribalism (to some degree), and true love for the immediate people in their neighborhood before the hallowing out of American institutions accelerated at a more precipitous pace. Set in motion by the assassination of JFK and solidified by the Vietnam War, there has been a longstanding deterioration of the “American Institution” and public trust for the government to act in the best interests of the American people. Each incident is just another chip away that hollows out the American institution. There are more examples but think about Watergate, more recently as mentioned above, “The search for weapons of Mass destruction”, and 19 years of the War in Afghanistan. Think back to a much different time when every United States citizen was hanging on a thread of every word that came out of the mouth of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. At times approximately 40%-60% of the entire US population would tune into his Fire Side Chats. His words were an absolute truth in the eyes of the public who had one major harmonized objective which was winning World War 2 at all costs.
Just food for thought. As a hypothetical example, if a US President were to release a policy statement in 2024 stating, “The sky is blue”, how many people would automatically believe in his conclusion (“If the president said it then it must be true”)? How many people would refute that statement immediately without a second thought? How many people would go to extensive lengths to attempt to disprove the aforementioned policy statement and conclude that, “the sky is green“? With this last one, for any Always Sunny in Philadelphia fans out there, I am picturing Charlie Kelly in the mail room sweating profusely, chugging coffee, ripping cigarettes, pulling his hair out, and creating a mapped-out mess while attempting to discover the mystery behind “Pepe Silvia”. How many people would respond by saying, “The sky is just a big conspiracy theory”?
The degradation has not only been with American Institutions but the traditional family life and local community objectives. During last year’s note (email me for a copy), I talked about the importance of individualism to find oneself and pave the way in this world. That is a specific form of reflective individualism. I think from that perspective, every person must look deep within oneself to understand who they truly are and how they want to contribute to this world. However, my view is that there is also a more nefarious systematic form of individualism that is a result of the degradation of American institutions, and community objectives along with some of the negative consequences of superficial social media & hyper-consumerism.
Earlier, we discussed advancements in technology. Life has become efficient and much easier in many regards to the daily minutia of survival. How bored are people when all they care about is accumulating more wealth than the person who lives in the house next door or taking on unproductive actions for the sake of personal satisfaction? Whether by choice or based on survival, only doing things for the sake of getting ahead of the person next to oneself. Without clear coordinated goals as a society in a world of abundance in the United States, has the overall society in the United States eroded to the point where individuals can only put their interests and needs ahead of what is best for the collective community? Where did the care of the general care and well-being of neighbors and local communities go amongst the broader population?
Unprecedented times. The entire lives of late-wave Millennials have almost entirely been an “unprecedented time”, good and bad. I mentioned earlier how every event chips away at the American Institution as it becomes more hallow. As of the beginning of 2024, this generation ages (26-33) has already lived through three economic hardships, global pandemic, and historic inflation. On a positive note, there has been the benefit of advancements and development of technology, which have become useful tools in the way people live daily.
- The exponential growth of technology
- Recession 2000-2003
- GFC 2008
- The exponential growth of technology
- Pandemic and Financial Panic 2020
- Historical Inflation & cost of living crisis (paid $18 for a sandwich today)
- Whatever is next
I’ll leave “whatever is next” open because at this point after living through all of these different events in a very short lifetime to date, who the f*** knows.
What I will say is the following. Everyone experiences the world differently despite being from a similar background or similar generation. There will be variance. For that reason, I will speak from my perspective. It pains me to say this because even just by living in the United States we have a very privileged life in comparison to the rest of the world. Many of us attended the high quality Universities and received some of the best education that the world has to offer (speaking academically; there are many different types of education). We are young and everything should be “amazing”. Maybe it’s just me but these have been some of the most challenging times of my life trying to figure out what purpose in the world that I serve. I constantly think about how I am providing value to myself, pursuing my happiness, and improving the world around me. Then, how am I using that energy to chase the American dream in a world where even though all the privileges in the world have been provided to us by living in the United States, given the degradation of the US institutions, it only makes the odds feel stacked against us when attempting to chase our dreams. Hemmingway wrote, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places”. For this reason, it is important to never give up on anything even when all seems lost.
Many of us are making wage gains and have advanced in our careers, but the cost of living has risen to the point where it feels like little “progress” has been made. The cumulative effects of inflation will take years to subside. Many of us want to own a home, but housing is widely unaffordable. Many of us want to start a family but how is that possible given the cost of living and how uncertainty of the future? Many of us want to start a business, but creating new opportunities has been difficult in this narrowing window of social mobility. Yet, the Geritocracy is “perplexed” why so many young people are unhappy and why the younger generations (Late-wave Millennials & Gen-Z) are riddled with crippling anxiety. The aforementioned Geritocracy has played another role in the public’s loss of confidence in the American institution and a world that only serves the interest of high-powered money.
As we look forward, I encourage readers to look at the world through this quote from Winston Churchill, “The Pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty”. The two quotes that have been chosen are complimentary in a historical sequence of events. The first by Hemmingway, comes from a man who saw and experienced the darkest world with some of the greatest hardships in modern history (post WW1 and the great depression era). The second comes from a global leader who was leading a nation out of the aforementioned crisis and through a large-scale global conflict. Out the darkness and to the other side of years of prosperity. It is critical to seek opportunities through the challenges that we face, which is why we close with optimism.
Optimism
The purpose of walking through Late-wave Millennial experiences mentioned throughout this publication is to build common ground. While these moments may not be the exact same for all portions of the generation, they likely rhyme collectively. Last year I highlighted the battles as a source of shared strength. Everyone is always going through something no matter how big or small, that problem could be engulfing someone's entire world. This year I have focused on generational attributes because they bring up an important similarity that I think is increasingly overlooked in today's American environment. We are all citizens of the United States of America and have shared very similar specific generational molding moments.
1. Life before and after iPhone/ social media
2. Old enough to remember and experience the fallout of 911
3. Life before and after the erosion of institutions and the US community spirit deteriorated at a faster rate
Experiencing the world through the three points above created a very unique environment for the Late-Wave Millennial generation. There are a lot of “last ones to do”, and there are a lot of “first ones to do”. In this sense, from my perspective, the generation has been given the best of both worlds. I call it, “The last of everything and the first of everything modern”. Ultimately this creates a distinct shared vision that I think will positively change the world. One in which the future of our kids and grandkids will be a legitimate priority. Irrespective of how desolate a time we may feel, we are not alone and we stand strong in this together.
While things can always change, young adults in the United States are still incredibly lucky in terms of the “hardship” that they have had to endure in comparison to other historic “tough times” such as WW1 through WW2 era. This group of people and my immediate peers have accumulated many forms of resiliency. There is not a doubt in my mind that if we were to face an even more historic form of hardship we would be up for the challenge. Not only that, we would be leading the way and forging a better world from the fire. We were some of the last kids to live and see a completely different world. In my humble opinion, that is going to make the Late-wave Millennial generation great leaders when the time comes. This generation will have the opportunity to shape the world and likely at very young ages. In an increasingly cynical and pessimistic world, this thought provides a sense of control, empowerment, and optimism for our generation.
Closing Thoughts
Earlier I mentioned some themes and longer-term thoughts to consider over the next several years. While making more pronounced changes in the world will take time if not decades, that does not mean that each of us individually cannot change the world positively one day at a time. Eventually, our actions will flow through into the world. I have laid out my three main points of focus below.
1. Family
2. Community
3. Common Interests: USA
I have chosen this order because we can only control what we can control. At a simplistic level, this begins with ourselves and our immediate families. Seneca wrote, “If what you have seems insufficient to you, then though you possess the world, you will yet be miserable”. When I read this quote, I can understand why so many people are unhappy in a world driven by hyper-consumption. Family is all that we got and needs to be widely appreciated. Focus on gaining skills, being well-read, learning other languages (I suggest Spanish; whole other discussion), expressing love, expressing gratitude, showing kindness/ compassion, always being there for one another, and building everyone up. This goes for blood family and other extended family.
Next, consider how to take action that benefits and improves the lives of local communities. Take care and interact with neighbors. Community service, or other types of investments in local the local community. One of my friends recently told me that he started coaching the local middle school football team in the community where we grew up. Develop bonds within the community and shared a sense of general well-being. Never lose the sense of community. Over time, these bonds have been dissolved with the negative form of self-serving individualism that has become mainstream.
Frequently, this has come in the form of selfish and self-centered actions. I rarely see neighbors out and about. Helping one another. People would rather look down at their phones rather than speak to the person next to them (in various situations). One of our greatest strengths has been the relationships that we have built over the years which have stood the test of time. We should be grateful for the sense of community in which we belong, and open to forming new relationships. I cannot say it is common for people to have as many friends as pockets my generation shares. That is truly a blessing. Grateful for the University of Florida circa 2018.
Common Interests: USA, there is a lot to unpack here. Most people just live here and take the nation's position of global power for granted. While we have many problems, there are also some of the most opportunities in the world to succeed. Additionally, some of the highest wages and living standards around the world. National security is also critical and the relative safety from global threats has enabled younger generations to live in a world care-free from that perspective. The more that I have traveled to other places around the world and experienced or seen the way that other people live, the more my appreciation grows for having the lucky random opportunity of growing up in the United States. I will save many of these reasons for another time because this publication has already been lengthy enough and I know that the attention span of the readers is probably growing weary.
Together across generations we face a similar set of challenges moving forward. Whether these efforts have gone noticed or unnoticed, the detailed description of the shared experiences serves as a reminder that as individuals, we will always have a community/ generation that can come to an understanding of one another. My thoughts are by doing what we can do at the ground level to improve the lives of family, neighbors, and community, eventually, these smaller actions or improvements snowball into something of much larger significance. Lead by example and these acts for family/ community will trickle through for a much more profound impact on the world around us. The only way to change things is to actually do something.
Happy New Year and Best Wishes!
Aaron David Garfinkel
Acknowledgments
This year I would like to be thankful for the work of Neil Howe who is a world-class historian and demographer. The framework of the discussion that I put together was influenced by looking at the world through the lenses of generation and demographic cycles. Neil Howe discusses his process in his works, “The Fourth Turning” and “The Fourth Turning is Here”. The first title was published in 1997 while the latter was published this summer in 2023. It was awesome to see how his work progressed over the years as well as look at some of his thoughts from 1997 that are shockingly true in the modern age of 2023. I highly recommend reading these books and they were two of my favorites from this year. From my point of view, it is critical to have an understanding of history and generation cycles to have long-term success in this world that is always changing.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved”- Helen Keller (pg 305). This speaks to the personal battles and hardships that we may face and how they ultimately make us stronger in the long run. Those who can continue pushing through barriers to overcome all obstacles will win the end game.
Additionally, I would like to thank my friends and family who have supported me throughout my life. Everyone means the world to me. Lastly, to all of those friends, family, and people that I have crossed paths with over the last year who entertained my web of thoughts and expressed a willingness to go down the deep neural pathways with me. All those conversations and discussions are meaningful and I view them as a starting point of action to begin making a positive impact on the world.
Book Recommendations
1. The Fourth Turning is Here- Neil Howe (2023)
2. The Fourth Turning- William Straus and Neil Howe (1997)
3. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing- Matthew Perry (2022) RIP
4. Extreme Ownership- Jocko Willink and Leif Babin (2015)
5. Breathe- Rickson Gracie and and Peter Maguire (2021)
6. The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban- John Talty (2022)
7. Do Hard Things- Steve Magness (2022)
Resources
Always Sunny In Philadelphia (Season 4 Episode 10)
The Fourth Turning is Here- Neil Howe (2023)
The Fourth Turning- William Straus and Neil Howe (1997)
Dumb and Dumber: “So you’re telling me theres chance!”
