Boomers had a much easier time getting a stable job and buying a house than today. They were able to easily hold the same job for 40 years, retire with a pension and buying a decent home. They were able to do that even if it wasnt a prestigious white collar job
Now stable jobs are almost non existent as layoffs happen to almost everyone multiple times in their life, housing prices are unimaginably high to the point where buying one is only for the wealthy. Even getting a job is harder because there is no face to face interaction you are just another application.
This is why I can’t take them serious when they lecture younger generations about making money or being successful
Hey there,
I get it, you’re feeling envious of the boomers and their seemingly easy lives. But let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Sure, some boomers had stable jobs and affordable houses, but that’s not the whole story. Many of them faced incredible hardships that we often overlook. Take my uncle, for example. He got shipped off to Vietnam, along with a bunch of his peers. Can you imagine the trauma and pain they experienced? It’s no wonder that so many of them came back with what we now call PTSD, but back then, they were just told to “walk it off” and deal with their “shell-shock.”
And let’s not forget about the rampant racism, sexism, and homophobia that plagued society during the boomers’ formative years. If you were anything other than a straight, white male, life was a constant battle. Women were treated like second-class citizens, gay people were ostracized and faced the horrors of the AIDS epidemic, and people of color dealt with systemic oppression and discrimination.
Even the economy wasn’t as rosy as some might have you believe. The 1970s and early 1980s were marked by recession, inflation, and job losses. Many boomers saw their careers upended and their savings wiped out.
And what about the lack of mental health awareness and the stigma surrounding seeking help? Or the fact that many diseases that are curable today were a death sentence back then?
It’s easy to look back with rose-colored glasses and imagine that life was simpler and easier, but the reality is that every generation faces its own set of challenges. The boomers had their fair share of struggles, just like we do today.
Instead of complaining about how much easier the boomers had it, focus on what you can control. Work on developing valuable skills that will make you indispensable in today’s job market. Learn to live below your means so you can save money and invest in your future. And most importantly, stop comparing yourself to others.
So, don’t get bogged down in envy or frustration. Use it as fuel. Understand that the world has changed and is still changing. Adapt. Innovate. Take risks. The boomers had their shot; now it’s our turn to shape what success looks like in this era. The game is different, but that doesn’t mean it’s unwinnable.
You got this.