Recently, it has become apparent that there is a divide between generations on topics of political and social issues. This divide often manifests within families, creating tension between older and younger members over matters such as debt, including student loans, car and house purchases, and even choices related to food or cell phone plans. If you browse social media, you can witness clashes between generational thought processes, debates over interest rates, and discussions about the cost of a college semester in years past.
The issue within the context of families or intergenerational relationships is that these disagreements over factors that have led us culturally towards relational distancing have become so heated that neither side can hear or understand the other’s perspective.
The dissension is real! This war is happening culturally, politically, and unfortunately, within the family and interpersonal world. The challenge is to continue to seek understanding, to genuinely attempt to hear wisdom from both perspectives. It’s important for the older generation to recognize the struggles of those attempting to afford life, understanding that six figures doesn’t stretch as far as it once did. Conversely, the younger generation needs to realize that life wasn’t as rosy in the past as it might seem. There were lacks and struggles that many people faced in their younger years.
The key to maintaining relationships is to strive for understanding and to prioritize our relationships over the need to always defend our viewpoints. As a culture, we need to seek to understand each other. Perspective is not always right or wrong. There is value in generational experience, and differences exist for a reason. The challenge is to choose to be a student of life, no matter what stage of life we are in, and to glean wisdom from all those we come into contact with, especially those in our family or interpersonal lives.