If everyone keeps bending their principles for their feelings, one day we’re all going to forget the rules of society and start pardoning everything because of our own specific reasons.
But — is that really a bad thing?
Millennials are growing smarter because of the knowledge accumulated from past generations, and this is only the beginning. But you will notice that these newcomers are more and more inclined to indulge their emotions. Most have an innate spoiled attitude; they are caring less and less about taking a firm stand. And most have a very fluid perception of life.
Supposedly the best of them have become famous and are known throughout the world, or at least in most parts. Unfortunately, the “best” are mostly those who try to act upon it—very emotional teenagers who have a liking for love and coffee, stuff like that.
This would not be a problem if they were actually genuine. But most are clearly not. This is true mostly in our country, and I have no idea why it has to be like that. Why can’t they just find a better way to earn money and fame? The answer is: Because it’s easy.
Yes, the easy way, or at least that’s what they think. Being untrue (aka fake) to one’s self is the hardest and most tiring way to live. That’s why most actors and actresses lean on drink, drugs and cigarettes, because if you were real, the stress of work would be fine to you. It’s called passion.
But passion is something we are definitely good at. Knowing it, well, that’s another story. Because in an unfortunate sequence we have a tendency to lean on the easy AND quick way of doing things. We have to slow down, think and then act.
I’ve read a lot of dramatic young adult books, and talked to a lot of young adults. I am a young adult myself, and everyone seems to be talking about doing things for the first time in the earliest of stages.
They often say “for experience” or “because it’s fun” — the sort of things that make you despair. And I don’t think it makes any sense, but to average teens it would make some sense because of their raging hormones.
I sometimes worry about the future and the way we would live, and how our children would live, or if there would be any of us left because we don’t seem to want kids anymore.
Now, close your eyes and think that you were back in the past. People were worse back then, but they had their good parts. Fortunately we have that advantage of actually being better in more ways, but let’s not be content with that. Try harder, be better, because this is not a competition, there is no reward for being best generation. There is just us — humans who will grow up eventually and grow to love younger versions of ourselves who we have to raise to be better. I mean everyone. Don’t try to escape this responsibility, because you can’t.
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Hazel Marie Bien, 19, is a fourth-year journalism student at Bicol University.