“Be the change you want to see in this world.”-Gandi

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to grow up in a different generation? Maybe you’ve even had moments where you wished that you lived in a different time era. I know for me personally, the eighties and nineties look like a really great time era to live through. Perhaps it’s because throughout my childhood I watched shows like Full House and Growing Pains, or maybe our parents’ generation always looks somewhat appealing. I know that my Mom has said that she always thought it would be cool to grow up in the fifties (My grandparents’ generation). That might be a nice era too…but I don’t know how I’d feel about wearing those poodle skirts. I’m more of a tee-shirt and jeans type gal.

Though they’re likely over idealized on TV, the eighties and nineties both look like more simple places in time than our current era. You had technology, but it hadn’t reached the insane overkill of an iPhone a month and disconnect from the living, breathing, world. My Mom says that crime was definitely less than it is now, particularly crimes like murder and kidnappings. Furthermore, while there were a few notable stains, it seemed that it was a more wholesome time era. Families sat around the dinner table together. People actually knew there neighbors. People could go to school without worrying about things like school shootings and bomb threats. Yup, a simpler place in time.

Nonetheless, I’m not growing up in the 80s and 90s. I’m growing up in the 21st Century, the New Millennia, Generation Y, whatever you want to call it. Perhaps that’s not a bad thing though. Obviously this is the era that I was meant to live through. There are definitely perks, such as modern computers (which make it far easier to write novels) and more ways of accessing music and music videos through iTunes and YouTube.

Most importantly, each new era leaves opportunities for people to make a difference and leave their staple on their generation. To all of you millennials out there, you have tons of unique opportunities to make a difference in this generation through opportunities and resources that weren’t there before. I believe that God wants to use you to make a difference, that He’s put you in the era that you’re living through for a reason. To all of you generation Y and generation Xs out there, you also have the opportunity to make a difference. However old or young you are, you have opportunities. You’re here on this earth for a reason. Rather than living in nostalgia or wishing for a simpler place in time, I urge all of you to take advantage of the opportunities that you have right now, in this crazy, plugged in, opportunity-ridden era.

This is a song by child actor-turned-country singer Jennette McCurdy. Though it’s not a well known song, it has a very powerful message about being a generation that’s remembered in a positive light. I think it’s very fitting with the message of this blog post.