Millennial Explains Why It’s Hard For Millennials To Wrap Their Head Around Their Own Age

The thing is, this doesn't just apply to millennials. I am gen-x. I feel the same way. Most of my circle is exactly what was described here. I'm sure some boomers would read this and think the same thing too.

This was an unexpectedly good read. All I'll add is that most of the traditional markers of adulthood involve moving away from self-centeredness and into self-sacrifice. Unfashionable four-letter words like "duty" and "role" come to mind. Inner maturity is inextricably linked to giving up self-interest for the sake of others: family, society, etc. Modern Western culture discourages this almost pathologically, substituting instead the cult of self-love. An entire generation has been raised on this toxic, all-pervading psychosocial philosophy, and inevitably it's manifesting itself in a state of prolonged immaturity.

I am not sure why "feeling" like an adult is such a concern. I am a 50 YO GenX'er, been married 20+ years, have 4 kids, a house, 3 dogs and 2 cats. I am the sole bread winner for the family and I still don't "feel" like an adult. It seems like something millenials are worried about that is the same thing every generation worries about. Just assume you may never "feel" like an adult, no matter how much adulting you have to do everyday.

As a Millennial, my retirement will come early when I die of an untreated disease because I can't pay what my so-called insurance leaves unpaid. Oh, won't someone pity the hospital debt collectors.

This will probably get burned but what the hell. I am in the wrong side of 40. Doing relatively well financially. No kids. Own my own place. Still plays computer games. Still laugh at things I shouldn't. Still dread doing adult things like taxes. I know if I am free from obligations of life, I would revert to my very carefree lifestyle from my youth in a heartbeat. I never really grew up. I just pretend to be a grown-up.

Yep, our parents could buy a house on an average wage, good luck doing that now.

We are always told that in your 30 you should be married, have kids, and have house. But the salary and career oportunity is just so bad that we coulnd't even afford to live on our own.

I was born around the mid 90s. I somehow managed to get a college diploma (my mom helped financially), a career and a house in town with a big yard (I bought by myself). My friends and everyone I know who is my age has only managed to get their college and university diplomas. The are struggling day to day and are deep in debt from school and rent. I don't like talking about any of this because it feels like I'm rubbing it in their faces. But I am the exception that proves the rule, plus living at your parents, being a total miser, only buying what I absolutely needed and then it has to be second hand. That is how I managed to save up enough working two jobs and being a couple of dollars above our minimum wage at the time.

I totally understand where the writer is coming from. I am 30 years old, unmarried, with no kids. I work a full time job, yet I can't afford to buy a car, and I also can't buy a house. I don't even make enough to live without roommates. On most days I don't feel like an adult, but I definitely don't feel like a kid either. So yeah I totally agree with the writer.

I was born early 70s, we had benchmarks so to speak, I remember feeling free in my 20s. I also remember having a meltdown at 25 because it was a quarter of a century old (I really did think of it that way) and I felt I had done nothing. Then I got to 30 and freaked that I had done something but had turned into my only working ever Mum and life was going to pass me by. I then got back on track but to be honest I still feel 19 sometimes (add 30) and while accepting I don't have kids that I did not ever set out to not have, that is what happened, I did other things. It was expected that homes, partners , kids are meant to be, but at the end of the day, be kind, be helpful and try to be as happy as you can...some days will suck, some whole decades will be horrible, but those benchmarks are not grades, you don't fail at the end, you just have a whole lot of funny drawings on your refrigerator of life.

I think it’s because of a mix of things. One is that the boomers know half of their lives were wasted on boring bullshît and they’re perplexed as to why we don’t want the same dull existence. Like.. why would I want two kids in my 20s, or ever really? That is boring AF and too big of an expense to justify it being such a lame purchase. The second layer is the jobs issue, where obviously wages didn’t keep up with inflation and production, so, just duh. Even those of us in higher income brackets with our own companies still can see what’s happening. Extra money for me doesn’t stop me from noticing how much more expensive things are than they should be. Or how corny a service economy is, or how our older counterparts won’t take us seriously enough to give us real jobs. I feel how the OP feels but I also am tired of letting it get me down. Nope I don’t feel old. Yes I still wear current fashion trends. And ones from my teens too. No I don’t want to ruin my body with kids...

I'm the youngest of millennials, born in the end of 1995, on the cusp of being gen Z. It's even rougher when you're on the cusp of two generations, I only just am getting into my possible career path/studies, I'm engaged, and have taken in my goddaughter, but I still feel like I don't know where I am in life. It's weird. :/

A narcissistic Twitter manifesto about angst and "atemporality"? I mean, how stereo-typically Millennial can you get? This is a spot-on example of why Millennials are so often dismissed. Seems that some have yet to learn - or unwisely refuse to - suck it up. You may downvote now, haters.

I'm a late boomer (born in the late 50's) I agree with you guys. I'm divorced, no kids, an RN, artist and Intuitive. I work with all the generations and I do see the disparity that you speak of and the stresses you encounter. I didn't have a template for my life I just took that I thought would work for me. Was it hard and scary yes it was. One thing I know for sure is that you must assess and evaluate what YOU need even if you don't know that that looks like. I became and RN by accident because I didn't plan it. I just read the opportunities and proceeded with caution! Life will throw some wicked curve balls in you way but how you respond to them is a guideline! I agree that my generation started out with good intentions until the power mongers decided that integrity and honor was less important than the legacy we are leaving for the generations that follow. There are those of us who are empathetic to your plight. Categories are self imposed mental jails!

I find it to be hilarious that the comments getting the most upvotes only go to the people who promote this whine-fest of a victim hood woke special. It goes to show the people who upvote this sad position are the people who vote on others comments at all. Because y’all need votes to feel right in place of being actually correct and not needing to feel any way about it at all. Go find meaning. Most adults try with marriage, kids, and putting so much time and effort into something it turns into a career. The catch is, risk is involved. No amount of up votes or down votes will save you there. Sheesh.

This is what I mean when I say 30 is going to hurt - because of the social expectations of where I am supposed to be and me not being anywhere there, much less wanting to be there.

I'm a 50+ Xennial. My boomer parents grew up with the classic American Dream. They knew what the goals were, and achieved them. I have had the Career for 25 years, bought the house 10 years ago. I feel like