A Day with Millennials, The kids are all right.

Millennials often get a bad rap.  And some of the time I would tend to agree, but most of the time I would not. Lazy, entitled, Tide pod eaters-these are just some of the adjectives I hear people use when describing Millennials.  First of all, I gave birth to a millennial.  My daughter will be 29 this summer. Sure, she had her problems like we all do, but she has grown into a kind, funny and smart individual who takes very good care of her grandmother. Secondly,  I  have met quite a few millennials through veganism, and I can honestly say, these kids are going to change the world for the better.   

I was invited to a millennial's birthday party over the weekend, which surprised me in a good way. The person expressed that she just wanted some cool company with chill vibes (or something close to that anyway, lol) which meant-shit! I must be cool and chill! That is awesome for a 50 year old to hear, lol.  Especially from a young person.  This is the second millennial birthday I was invited to,  by the way, which is even more cool!! 

So, I was told it was going to be a pool party,  it  was BYOB (bring your own drinks) and to bring a snack (vegan, of course).  Naturally I wanted to come fully prepared, as is my way.  Picked up a cooler, some ice, a six pack of Modello Beer and some organic chips and salsa.  Ready to roll!   I've got the phone plugged into maps and I am being directed to the party address over my car speakers.  The party is clear across town, 21 miles away to be exact, lol.  Hey, will travel for fun!  The directions took me through a new housing development in an old Henderson neighborhood,  which actually brought back fond memories of my childhood.  As I hear "the destination is on your right", I look over and see a construction site, lol.  Huh.  I will find it. I think. 

Now I have to find the community pool AND carry all the crap I brought! So if you could picture this: a short, chubby lady with a big floppy hat struggling along with a Styrofoam cooler and her towel , and phone,  trying to find the pool.  This cooler was HEAVY.  I was semi-dragging it and dropping my towel the entire way. That is what the group of young people in just their suits, towels and young healthy bodies, saw coming at them as they were exiting the birthday girl's house .  For a moment they all just stopped and stared, lol. It was quite comical, almost like a movie where I was the weird friend's mom!

Thankfully, a kind gentlemen in the group  who I've previously met came to my rescue.  Everyone was friendly. It was a LONG walk to the pool. Especially for the guy carrying the cooler, lol..  We made it to the pool and I grabbed a beer out of the cooler. Once it was established the rules only stated NO GLASS (nothing about alcohol),  and the kind gentleman offered me his plastic cup, I was good to go. Or so I thought! Modellos are NOT twist offs, lol. Once again, same guy came to my rescue and used a rock to open my beer.  Yeah, he probably felt sorry for me, lol.

The rest of the day was just lovely.  Everyone swam and played and talked. More people showed up late.  Everyone ended up at the crazy lady's (me) shady table.  Shared my chips and water, listened to the Grateful Dead on my phone. Somebody brought "medicated" (cannabis) guacamole! The kids did yoga on their towels. It turned out to be a nice day. 

These millennials were funny, kind, not on drugs, working and owning their own businesses.  They do not want to live a life stuck in the 9 to 5 grind. I don't blame them.  They want to live lives that they don't need a vacation from.  They care about the planet, They are vegan, They care about social justice.  They aren't eating "Tide pods".  I liken them to modern day hippies. And that I love, because the world needs hippies now more than ever.  They see the future. They know they are stuck with the damage of our over-consumerism and plastic addiction.  They want to live more natural and sustainable lives because they have learned form previous generation's mistakes.  Every generation is different.   I believe these millennials are going to change the world for the better.  Don't worry, the kids are all right!  

Love and Light,  

​Michelle

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