On
being twenty-something in the 21st Century (20+/2012)
1. Emerging
People
in their twenties are said to be emerging. We do not
say that about any other age group in life.
But for about a decade that is what these semi-adults appear to be
doing. They are emerging. It
is the first characteristic that uniquely depicts their lives. Development defines their existence.
They are perpetually on the way. They
live lives in transition. Their lives are in flux; everything about them is
fluid and dynamic. They move from place
to place and from time to time. They
leave home to move to college, in college they typically change their majors a
number of times, at work they never stay long in any one job, in the social
arena they change friends, lovers, partners, relationships more than once and
they tinker with their worldview or life perspective throughout their twenties.
They are perpetual motion
machines. They see themselves as a
work-in-progress. They are constantly
going somewhere but without the certainty that they will ever arrive. Their lives are transitory. Everything is for the time being only. Nothing is settled. Everything is still up for grabs. But then, everything is also still possible
for them. Who knows?
Others have more than they need, but I alone have nothing.
ReplyDeleteI am a fool. Oh yes! I am confused.
Other men are clear and bright,
but I alone am dim and weak.
Other men are sharp and clever,
But I alone am dull and stupid.
Oh, I drift like the waves of the sea,
Without direction, like the restless wind.
Everyone else is busy,
But I alone am aimless and depressed.
I am different.
I am nourished by the great mother.
"Tao Te Ching", chapter 20