
Like most ElderChicks readers and writers, I’m part of what is known as The Silent Generation, born between 1928 and 1945, and also known as “the Lucky Few.” We gave birth to the Baby Boomers, who are succeeded by the subsequent generations: Gen X, Millennials (aka Gen Y), and Gen Z, who were born from 1993 to 2011. Each generation has distinguishing characteristics, each is notable for historical, cultural, and social changes, but in reality we all experience the world together.
Recent involvement with an innovative course featuring intergenerational participants has been eye-opening for me. At least three generations are involved. Sharing information and collaborating on projects, we’re finding, is leading to new associations, friendships, and interests that span what might be a twenty to sixty- or seventy-year gap. Attitudes about aging change at both ends of the age spectrum.
What is your intergenerational life experience like? How close or distant is your contact with younger people? Do you find you can listen to each other? Or want to? What can we learn from each other? Do we share values? Customs? Humor? Anything?
Please tell us. And have a beautiful holiday season!
Awesome topic and I will comment when I have more time. Usually I keep my mouth shut because we have become such a wicked and witch-hunt society and I am just so done with that that I have retreated from participation, but I just might risk the slings and arrows this time.