Feeling less defined than a month ago
Posted August 20th, 2007 by Bob Fell under the category of General+ Increase Font Size | - Decrease Font Size
The generations in retirement communities are mostly a mix of those that went through the Depression, WW II and the Korean War.
I am learning to love that time in our country and love a little less this time in our country. So many have told me they are happy they were a part of that time… they are glad they’re not in the main stream now. But it’s not because of what this time is as much as what the past time was… it was a time of struggle, a time of sacrifice and a time of loss… but it was also a time that solidified a country and its people and defined the generations that went through it.
Universally they are thankful for the defining moments in their life… seeing the good that came out of the bad… the sweet that came after the sour.
The Depression taught them to be frugal and plan ahead, as well as how to share. WW II taught them how to sacrifice for something bigger than themselves and how to rally together. And while I have to admit that I never gave much thought to the Korean War (except that it didn’t look that bad from the MASH reruns I saw)… it was a war where more than 36,000 people died and it was only five years after WW II. This taught them never to take anything… even peace… for granted.
I am left feeling mildly envious of the strength of character they possess… the sense of purpose and their common bonds. I am also left wondering about us Baby Boomers… what defines us…
Yes, you can say
No… we are not evil and wrong, and the older generations aren’t perfect and pristine… but doesn’t it make you think about your life going forward?
It makes me think about what we’re going to be like as we age… what will define us… what will drive us… and what does that mean for the marketplace who is trying to please us?
