The Art of Suffering: Why Gen Z Could Learn a Thing or Two from Gen X
Gen X thrived despite hard times
Ah, suffering. The word itself might send shivers down the spine of anyone under 25. But let’s face it, Gen Z, you never really learned to suffer the way Gen X did. And before you roll your eyes and scroll away, hear me out. This isn’t a “back in my day” rant. It’s more of a “let’s learn from the past so we don’t repeat it” kind of thing. Plus, a little humor never hurt anyone, right?
Gen X, the generation that brought you grunge music, the internet, and the concept of “whatever,” had no choice but to face their suffering head-on. They didn’t have the luxury of venting on social media or binge-watching Netflix to escape reality. Nope, they had to deal with their problems the old-fashioned way: by confronting them, wrestling them to the ground, and coming out the other side, maybe a little bruised but definitely wiser.
Take, for instance, the economic hardships. Gen X lived through recessions, job market crashes, and the dot-com bubble bursting. They didn’t have the gig economy to fall back on. Instead, they had to hustle, often working multiple jobs just to make ends meet. And guess what? They thrived. They learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and the importance of having a backup plan (or two).
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