Читать книгу 20 Something Manifesto - Christine Hassler - Страница 24

Growing up in the instant-gratification generation with a backpack full of expectations, it’s hard to avoid becoming overly self-focused. Not all twenty somethings are. But even those who commit to making a difference in the world — who fight this tendency by passionately working for political, social, and environmental change, by volunteering, or by simply making themselves aware of what is going on in the world — can, to put it bluntly, still be very self-absorbed. Infact, I think it is hard not to be given the conditioning of society. Moreover, many twenty somethings had “helicopter parents” (parents who were overinvolved in their child’s life). They were overscheduled, overstimulated, overanalyzed, and often overprotected. With all this “overing” and “hovering,” it’s no wonder that they may feel a bit separated from the rest of the world. And if you did not have parents who made you the center of their world, you are still influenced by the “me” mentality of today’s culture.

“A twenty something is someone who is constantly evaluating and analyzing his or her life and continually coming up with the answer ‘I don’t know.’”

Product manager, 26, recovering from a breakup, California

Twenty-something life today can be isolating — it’s not like in college where our best friends were delivered in residence halls and classrooms. There really isn’t a sense of community anymore. Do we even know our neighbors? Twenty somethings are living in a very competitive, externally driven “real world.” I believe this puts an enormous amount of pressure on young adults and often drives them into self-sabotaging, fairly careless, and often rebellious behavior. One twenty-five-year-old shares, “As a star athlete in high school striving toward a law degree at twenty, I assumed that everything would fall into place. My world revolved around me. My need for perfection, ‘to be the best,’ led me to try cocaine and fall into addiction. Today, I am clean from cocaine, but will always be an addict. That is something I never expected.” Self-focus can be dangerous and destructive. Being blinded by our own goals and desires can cloud our judgment. Youth tempts risky behavior, but it does make us invincible.

“BUBBLE OF INVINCIBILITY” by Diane, 24