After talking with a few of my friends and co-workers it became obvious that they felt today's younger generation, among other things, have an overall attitude of entitlement. Is this true? After searching my soul I would have to agree, at least to a certain extent, But didn't we also feel that way when we were growing up? I grew up in the 60's and 70's and we were just an average working class family with both parents working. I don't remember feeling like I was entitled, but perhaps to my parents or their friends, I did act that way.
I used to work in Real Estate and I saw first hand how many younger couples wanted to buy a nicer house than their parents and fill it with brand new furniture and the drive way with new cars. This, they felt, would announce to the world, that they had arrived. Unfortunately all it announced was that they were very deeply in debt and for many of them it led to money troubles that led, for some, to divorce. Did they feel entitled? I think they did. They seemed to be saying "Mom and Dad worked hard all those years so I could have all this stuff without working for it myself." I will also say that some of the parents enabled these children by constantly buying them anything they wanted, making matters worse. Not to say all younger folks were like that. I met quite a few that were very smart with their money and bought homes at a lower price point to begin the fix up, move up cycle. Just like our folks did.
I'm all for cutting our younger generation some slack. Constantly being on their backs doesn't give them the love and encouragement they need to find out who they truly are and make some mistakes on their own. But buying them everything they want is not helping them either. Sad to say, but for some parents, that's the only way they know how to show their love.
Here's a famous quote by a Sufi poet named Rumi: And still after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth, "You Owe me." Look what happens with love like that. It lights up the sky.
Nobody "Owes" us anything. We "Owe" ourselves the truth and to be the best person we can be while stopping to help others along the way.
What are your views on "Entitlement"? Write how you are feeling in the space below. I'd love to hear from you!
Take what resonates and leave the rest.
P.S. "Remember, you're the one!"
I used to work in Real Estate and I saw first hand how many younger couples wanted to buy a nicer house than their parents and fill it with brand new furniture and the drive way with new cars. This, they felt, would announce to the world, that they had arrived. Unfortunately all it announced was that they were very deeply in debt and for many of them it led to money troubles that led, for some, to divorce. Did they feel entitled? I think they did. They seemed to be saying "Mom and Dad worked hard all those years so I could have all this stuff without working for it myself." I will also say that some of the parents enabled these children by constantly buying them anything they wanted, making matters worse. Not to say all younger folks were like that. I met quite a few that were very smart with their money and bought homes at a lower price point to begin the fix up, move up cycle. Just like our folks did.
I'm all for cutting our younger generation some slack. Constantly being on their backs doesn't give them the love and encouragement they need to find out who they truly are and make some mistakes on their own. But buying them everything they want is not helping them either. Sad to say, but for some parents, that's the only way they know how to show their love.
Here's a famous quote by a Sufi poet named Rumi: And still after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth, "You Owe me." Look what happens with love like that. It lights up the sky.
Nobody "Owes" us anything. We "Owe" ourselves the truth and to be the best person we can be while stopping to help others along the way.
What are your views on "Entitlement"? Write how you are feeling in the space below. I'd love to hear from you!
Take what resonates and leave the rest.
P.S. "Remember, you're the one!"
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