Being a Gen Xer is not easy. It’s like being in a cusp, stuck between the Baby Boomers associated with privilege and consumerism and the materialist but liberal Millennials. I supposedly belong to a ‘Forgotten Generation’. Go figure.
These labels are non-sensical. Probably coined by some marketing consultant trying to pigeon-hole a segment of the population to make it easy to sell a one-size-fits-all positioning or catchphrase. The problem is that the more these labels are repeated, the more it becomes a reality and worst, the norm.
So who am I and what matters most to me?
Family, relationships, experiences, diversity, and self-awareness. Surprise! None of these are about possessions, titles, material stuff!
I won’t lie to you. Until recently I, too, wanted stuff. I, too, was obsessed with status symbols until a life-changing event. My mother’s passing.
All of a sudden I came to realize that NOTHING else matters in this world except the non-tangibles that make a human being whole.
No riches, no mountains of bling-blings, no lofty titles really matter. No one really cares. Sure your heirs may care but don’t fool yourself. They care because they care about themselves! Yes, really. Just keeping it honest.
“Wheresoever ye shall be, death will overtake you. Even though ye are in lofty towers”
Surah An-Nisa (4:78)
The precious moments, a hug, a listening ear, a kind gesture. These matter.
A random call to say hello, companionship, someone to converse with, a shoulder to lean on. These matter.
New experiences, new places, new cultures. Diversity of thought. Empathy. These matter.
But what really matters most? Loving oneself is what matters most. Self-care. Finding time for yourself to take a walk, to think, to dream and to enjoy simple pleasures. When was the last time you did something for you, without your spouse, your kid(s) or family in tow? When was the last time you did something for the first time? When was the last time you took a random day off from work without guilt? When was the last time you did something not for the benefit of your social media friends but for your own real self, silly or not? When was the last time you ditched your cellphone to appreciate the moment?
Time to focus on what matters most.