LETTER TO 11 of 14 GRANDCHILDREN OVER 18

A grandfather's missive of love

Dear ones,

I have watched you with great interest and much love since you were born, followed you through your early years with your parents, and through your first 12 school years, then college and then most of you in your first jobs in your chosen fields.  I am proud of each one of you not only for your choices, your accomplishments and success, but also for the kind of people you have become.  You have the capacities to be both serious and funny, to connect with other people in meaningful relationships and to find those things that bring joy to you and those you care about most.  Your parents’  guidance and influence shine brightly!

The reason I write to you now is because I believe the country needs your voices if you care about your future freedoms of choice, a good measure of diversity, equity and inclusion and equal justice for all under the rule of law.  Because I lived and worked through some difficult times and challenges in the 1960’s, before any of you were born, I may have a different sense about what is going on currently that I find both disturbing and dangerous.

You may or may not agree with me and that is your prerogative, even if we have different opinions.  Each person is entitled to his or her opinion. What they are not entitled to is their own set of facts that are different from the evidence.   Because you are well-educated, I believe you understand that.

All of you, except for one who is the oldest, belong to what is called Gen Z.  The characteristics and behaviors of your age cohort have been studied and here are the results.  You may or may not fit them in some form.  Gen Z is competitive; values flexibility; entrepreneurship; diversity is your norm; you are ethical; and financially focused; also focused on authenticity; independent; and prefer meaningful work.  I say that’s a pretty good list.  Here’s more on the topic

https://blog.gwi.com/marketing/generation-z-characteristics/

Many in your age group (18-35) have been accused of not being interested nor involved in the political and social upheavals ongoing currently in the United States and beyond.  I am not surprised by that observation.  You, along with many others may think there’s  not much you can do as one person that will make any difference.  The fact is yes, you are one  person and there are almost 77 million of you in that age bracket.  Imagine mobilizing a significant percentage for a common cause and a common purpose.  That’s how we got stuff done when I was your age.  That’s a strange phrase, “when I was your age…” because so much that follows is different and not different.  When your Uncle Jem was 9, I said to him, “When I was your age, there was no T.V.” He said, “Dad, we’ve always had T.V.” I said “Yes, in your lifetime.” He looked at me quizzically and said, “When you were my age, were there cars?” I am not that old! I may be the senior member of this wonderful, extended family so I know a lot of things because I have seen a lot of things.

I am not urging you to become a political activist nor to engage in any movement unless it’s something you are passionate about.  What I have discovered is that the most important things are to be kind, to tell the truth and remember to say thank you.  You  know that most of my professional life was in the world of education and helping people of all ages to learn, grow and change, over time.  It doesn’t happen overnight.  As you move to your next stage of adult development and continue to add to your life’s portfolio, my hope is you will continue to discover where you can have an impact and make a difference in moving toward a more kind, just, healthy and safe world.  We are among those who are fortunate to have found meaning and purpose in our work and in our relationships with others.  For that, and for you, I remain enormously grateful and hopeful.