It always starts with manjapai(A yellow colored cotton reusable bag used mainly in Tamil Nadu).My dad’s monologue starts like this, in our days we carried manjapai and walked barefoot to school and we didn’t have any money . No phone, Wi-Fi or internet and we lived a very simple life .I bet you all must have heard this. I don't think any parent would have left these golden words. Well I do understand that they have gone through all this hardship but now times have changed and most of us are born with a steel spoon if not a silver one. We simply can’t relate with them or imagine to be in their shoes. I feel that the generation gap is widening because of the misunderstanding. Instead of just talking about the differences in lifestyle they should talk about the similarities ,of course there are stark differences between the two but there might be some similarities. I think the technology has definitely improved but emotions and feelings remain the same. They too have gotten bad grade few times lied to their parents, got pimples and had crush on a senior. I agree that the gap is bit wide and cannot be completely reduced .But can’t we meet somewhere in between.
All I wonder is, what will I tell my kids? I definitely cannot start with, taking manjapai to school nor walking barefoot(Since I own too many pairs of shoes ,actually more than what I need.)And since I belong to gen Z, internet Wi-Fi and other gadgets are equivalent to oxygen to me .But I do have something to tell them. Though these comforts have made life easier in some ways, it has also complicated it in other ways. Due to social media everybody has become body conscious. there is a pressure on everybody to look thin, since size zero and six pack are the new normal. People are measured by the likes on their posts. My friend has ten face filter apps in her phone, which she uses to filter her photos before uploading them. Youngsters nowadays are facing a lot of stress ,anxiety ,self-doubt and depression. The society has become ten times more competitive. Everybody is expected to clear NEET or JEE with top scores and immediately land in high paying jobs. Fortunately my family doesn't force me to do anything. They are by my side and support me in whatever I do but, it’s not the same for others. Many of my friends are struggling to meet their parent’s expectations. Though we have money, comfort and technology we don't have the joy of living a simple life .Every generation has their own share of problems.
Hey we do suffer but in style :)
