It's an interesting article, though I'm not sure I can fully agree with it.

Based on my own feelings and experiences, and those of the people I talk to in my ministry, though, I can only partially agree on the notion that "the future is closing." I think that whether or not the future is closing in on someone would depende on what that person has done with his/her life, regardless of generation. Last I checked, it's probably just a part of mid-life crisis, which is the place where our age-group is heading.

In all, I can see the points of the article, but I get a feeling that it may not be so much due to generational archetypes (though I can see where they fit in), so much as the fact that a young adult, a mid-lifer, and an "elder" are bound to see things differently based on maturity and experience.

Sorry for the long post, but that's my two cents. ;)

Hi Jen - I have only read the excerpt and won't read the rest as I found that small part too annoying.

It's not often that I feel an immediate rise in blood pressure but those few words did it for me.

Life is what you make it - fullstop. I don't perceive myself in real trouble - I perceive myself in a real life - the good, the bad and the ugly - I'll take it all as it's my life.

Hunkered down mentaility - please be real - hunkered down against life - I don't think so ...

I'd love to know what you thought - best le xoxo

In my grumpy haste I forgot to add that feelings of defensivness are not generational bound - more experience based - expereinces that any generation, any person may have then find themselves fall into a defensive state from ... does that make any sense !!le xo

@LE - it HIGHLY annoyed me, too!!

yes. quite annoying. b/c of the cut-and-past descriptions of each generation, which seem to not come from any investigation but rather from what has been claimed over and over again. of course, it was a short article, practically a sound bite, and therefore not very useful.

having said that, I admit to feeling that way from time to time. but it is only momentary. and really who doesn't have moments when they feel desperate or grim or as if all is futile.

in contrast, my wife, a GenXer born in 1977 (was born 67) is much less prone to such cynical navel gazing. in terms of career her's is progressing quite well.

mine - not so much. but what I aspire to (writing) does not really require a position and an office and a title, raises and promotions, etc. i can gage my success based on my own scale. sure, there may not be much or even any money it, ever. but that does not equal a lack of success.

@JUNKDRAWER67 - I so agree with that assessment on success! Great comment! I always love to hear what you have to say! I think about this subject a lot. I think the grim outlook on the future is real even if the reasons we grasp at may not be hitting the bull's eye.

@AGOSTINO - I didn't mean to ignore your comment. I've been so busy this past two weeks with other projects. I lost track of responding! I think the article is very regurgitated and paints w/ a broad brush stroke. So annoying!

After reading the comments, I knew I shouldn't read the whole article, but I did. I think it was just another piece of Babyboomer crapola. Gen X can't deal because we've had it so good? I think we're the only ones who really can deal, because we're so independent.

Maybe the Boomers & the Millennials should just do another Woodstock, roll around in the mud, and show us how optimistic they all are. That would get them out of our hair for a while so we can get the real business done.

@JEN - That's pretty much where I was going with it. I tend to think of generational archetypes as a great model for understanding certain broad shifts in society, but they become invalid and self-defeating when someone chooses to confuse that model for dogma and then attempts to portray every generation as if they must fit into that four-turning mold. That's exactly what this author appears to be doing.