Well, I'm GenX, and I was once very plugged in. I stopped watching the news and following politics 10 years ago. I was getting clean and sober, and unplugging was absolutely necessary for my recovery. In an effort to transfer all that energy I used to spend dumping vats of mind altering substances into my body over something positive, I became very active in my church and in my local community. For the first time in 43 years of existing, I felt like I had a purpose and a quality of life. And I guess I never saw any reason to plug back in. People have told me I have to "stay informed" and my response is always, "Why? Then what?" There's nothing I can do to change world events. There's nothing I can do personally that is going to suddenly alter the trajectory of my country or anyone else's, outside of what? Holding my nose and voting for the lesser evil? Cool, I can do that if that's my "civic duty." But I know one place where I can actually make a dent. In my home. In my church. In my local community. I can't do anything about what's going on in the Middle East, but I can do little things right here that might make a positive impact, however small. The Serenity Payer that us recovering addicts are so fond of tells us to accept the things we cannot change, to change the things we can, and, here's the tricky part, to know the difference between the two. So that's how I live my life. My time here is finite. This life is but a vapor. I will not spend another second shaking my fist at the sky protesting the people and events that I find unacceptable. It changes nothing and only wears me out mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Mother Teresa once said, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." I think that's good advice. That's what I'm gonna do.
Just an opinion from a contemptible moron's perspective. 😉
As an educator myself, I find that I tend to disregard how these kids have viewed these events. I have been “back in my day” about this lack of world knowledge, and you offered a great analysis of how to approach how they really don’t see the world around them!
I do think parents are more to blame, though. While this is just my experience, I vividly remember my parents discussing 9/11, Iraq, Obama’s 1st presidential election, Katrina, etc. with me. I remember in 2008, the impact of our family budget. We talked at the dinner table, in the car, before bed about what I learned in school, what’s on my mind, how is soccer, what is my book about, etc. My parents also monitored what I was absorbing as social media was new yet there! I couldn’t get a MySpace until I was actually 14 (the age requirement). The news would be on tv in the morning while everyone was getting ready!
I think while it was easier for parents to millennials to engage in these what we were hearing, seeing, watching, it almost has to be intentional that parents of this new generation are engaging in their thoughts, wonders, opinions of the world around them.
Once again, a profound yet necessary article that really adds perspective to what is happening!!!! Thank you!
I sometimes wonder myself if they feel profoundly insecure about sharing their thoughts…I can’t put my finger on WHY but I wonder if this is another element.
Well, I'm GenX, and I was once very plugged in. I stopped watching the news and following politics 10 years ago. I was getting clean and sober, and unplugging was absolutely necessary for my recovery. In an effort to transfer all that energy I used to spend dumping vats of mind altering substances into my body over something positive, I became very active in my church and in my local community. For the first time in 43 years of existing, I felt like I had a purpose and a quality of life. And I guess I never saw any reason to plug back in. People have told me I have to "stay informed" and my response is always, "Why? Then what?" There's nothing I can do to change world events. There's nothing I can do personally that is going to suddenly alter the trajectory of my country or anyone else's, outside of what? Holding my nose and voting for the lesser evil? Cool, I can do that if that's my "civic duty." But I know one place where I can actually make a dent. In my home. In my church. In my local community. I can't do anything about what's going on in the Middle East, but I can do little things right here that might make a positive impact, however small. The Serenity Payer that us recovering addicts are so fond of tells us to accept the things we cannot change, to change the things we can, and, here's the tricky part, to know the difference between the two. So that's how I live my life. My time here is finite. This life is but a vapor. I will not spend another second shaking my fist at the sky protesting the people and events that I find unacceptable. It changes nothing and only wears me out mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Mother Teresa once said, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." I think that's good advice. That's what I'm gonna do.
Just an opinion from a contemptible moron's perspective. 😉
As an educator myself, I find that I tend to disregard how these kids have viewed these events. I have been “back in my day” about this lack of world knowledge, and you offered a great analysis of how to approach how they really don’t see the world around them!
I do think parents are more to blame, though. While this is just my experience, I vividly remember my parents discussing 9/11, Iraq, Obama’s 1st presidential election, Katrina, etc. with me. I remember in 2008, the impact of our family budget. We talked at the dinner table, in the car, before bed about what I learned in school, what’s on my mind, how is soccer, what is my book about, etc. My parents also monitored what I was absorbing as social media was new yet there! I couldn’t get a MySpace until I was actually 14 (the age requirement). The news would be on tv in the morning while everyone was getting ready!
I think while it was easier for parents to millennials to engage in these what we were hearing, seeing, watching, it almost has to be intentional that parents of this new generation are engaging in their thoughts, wonders, opinions of the world around them.
Once again, a profound yet necessary article that really adds perspective to what is happening!!!! Thank you!
I sometimes wonder myself if they feel profoundly insecure about sharing their thoughts…I can’t put my finger on WHY but I wonder if this is another element.