Our World’s Multi-Generational Community
Six generations are represented in my combined immediate local family: Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen-X, Millennials, iGen, and GenAlpha (the latter being the designation for my grandson’s birth year of 2017).
I imagine there are quite a few Baby Boomers reading this In Your Corner post given the fact that our generation comprises birth years from 1946 to 1964 or so, and worldwide statistics put us in the billions! It’s sure nice to know we’re in good company, yes?
So what about us Baby Boomers, who are we?
I guess rather than considering the differences that might exist between us, the more important question is:
What do we have in common?
Let’s address just a few aspects of life that might be applicable. We all came into this world with absolutely nothing, fully dependent on others. We all feel emotional and physical pain. We all yearn to belong, to be acknowledged, to somehow matter to others. Similarly, we’ve all loved, and been loved. Perhaps we’ve all worked at jobs inside or outside of the home. We’ve all celebrated our varied successes – personal and/or business related – and kicked ourselves in the butts for our too-many-to-mention failures.
The bottom line? Understandably, many differences exist, but isn’t it grand that we’re not identical in every single way? Each of us has the ability and the right to develop our individual selves as we see fit. And just as it is normal and perfectly healthy to celebrate diversity, it is also appropriate to acknowledge that we’re similar in many ways – a few of which I’ve listed above.
My fellow Baby Boomers – and those from other generations who are reading this delightful magazine – how about we celebrate our likenesses instead of focusing on what makes us different. I believe when we mindfully nurture those similarities, the obvious differences will have no chance of tearing us apart.
Perhaps respecting those differences while celebrating what we have in common will bring levels of kindness and acceptance not experienced in recent history. Exercising that practice is sure to produce far more good than harm.
And that’s a very good thing, don’t you think?
I imagine there are quite a few Baby Boomers reading this In Your Corner post given the fact that our generation comprises birth years from 1946 to 1964 or so, and worldwide statistics put us in the billions! It’s sure nice to know we’re in good company, yes?
So what about us Baby Boomers, who are we?
- Politically: are we liberals, conservatives, or somewhere in between?
- Are we meat eaters or vegetarians?
- Religious or spiritual?
- Highly or moderately educated?
- Financially stable or just getting by?
- Do we identify in the LGBTQ community or are we heterosexual?
- Are we of one race or a combination thereof?
- Short? Tall? Skinny or not-so-skinny?
I guess rather than considering the differences that might exist between us, the more important question is:
What do we have in common?
Let’s address just a few aspects of life that might be applicable. We all came into this world with absolutely nothing, fully dependent on others. We all feel emotional and physical pain. We all yearn to belong, to be acknowledged, to somehow matter to others. Similarly, we’ve all loved, and been loved. Perhaps we’ve all worked at jobs inside or outside of the home. We’ve all celebrated our varied successes – personal and/or business related – and kicked ourselves in the butts for our too-many-to-mention failures.
The bottom line? Understandably, many differences exist, but isn’t it grand that we’re not identical in every single way? Each of us has the ability and the right to develop our individual selves as we see fit. And just as it is normal and perfectly healthy to celebrate diversity, it is also appropriate to acknowledge that we’re similar in many ways – a few of which I’ve listed above.
My fellow Baby Boomers – and those from other generations who are reading this delightful magazine – how about we celebrate our likenesses instead of focusing on what makes us different. I believe when we mindfully nurture those similarities, the obvious differences will have no chance of tearing us apart.
Perhaps respecting those differences while celebrating what we have in common will bring levels of kindness and acceptance not experienced in recent history. Exercising that practice is sure to produce far more good than harm.
And that’s a very good thing, don’t you think?
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Irene Frances Olson
Author of Requiem for the status quo, a novel that celebrates and encourages family caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. You can find that book HERE. Ms. Olson is a member of AlzAuthors, www.alzauthors.com, a compendium of authors who have all been affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementia. These authors share their experiences to bring knowledge, comfort and understanding to those on a similar journey. |
