By Rudney Pereira Junior
Sometimes I feel like the “lost link” caught in the middle of generations. Like a fossil, stuck between the monkey and the human being. Archeologists searching for me in the heat of African deserts. If you’re into definitions, I belong to generation X. But I feel as though I’m part of Generation Y too. Perhaps I belong to the group in transition. As the son of baby boomers, I also carry many characteristics of Generation Y.
When I discovered the term “multi-tasking,” I felt relieved. I thought, “That’s what I am!” I’m able to do a million things at the same time, and take care of everything. I would always try to justify this by my astrology sign…
But it’s not only about multi-tasking. I’m afraid of getting left behind. Seriously. How do I explain this? I’m 33 years old, and I’m afraid of growing old. Another preoccupation. It’s not that I’m sick or anything like that. But I keep thinking what I’ll be like at 60 or 70. Will I be able to follow the frantic rhythm of technological evolution then?
I think of my grandmother. 77 years old in the midst of this technological revolution. She comes from the time of the wood-burning stove. Even worse, while I was growing up television was still black and white.
Another label for myself comes to mind: Kangaroo generation. Labels come and go at such rapid velocity. That makes me anxious. What legacy will this generation leave? Does planting a tree, having a kid, and writing a book still count? The question remains, how do you follow this life and not get passed by? I don’t want to ever be or feel useless. But how?
