Dear Younger Me.... a GenX story

Dear Younger Me,

 

I got your letter finally but once again you forgot to write a date, so I don’t know specifically what “situation” you are referring to. Also, based on the science fiction movies and actual science that has come out over the last 30 years or so, I’m not so worried about creating any universe-ending paradoxes by giving you some guidance. However, there’s a lot that you will have to shoulder, regardless of what I say. So instead, let me give you a couple of glimpses and some rules that I hope you will take to heart. 

First, a couple of general notes: 

• Your child will look at “the Robot” and the “Running Man” in the same way that you look at The Twist and The Mashed Potato. But they won’t dance that at the Shoe Carnival. 

• Rap gets worse.

• The world does not look anything like “The Jetsons”

• Enjoy the next 20 years of music and originality. It doesn’t get any better than what you’ve got. 

• Pay more attention to Bauhaus (which is Peter Murphy and Love and Rockets together), The Smiths, Joy Division and enjoy the people that listen to alternative. 

• Six months ago I would say “Don’t worry about the Russians. They aren’t the problem.” If there is a new world order group, it’s not coming from the commies. If I tried to say the same thing today, there are some people who would disagree with that statement, so I guess we’re still waiting to see. 

• The technology today is crazy. No one uses encyclopedias anymore. Your Walkman is now smaller than even the Aiwa that you have, but it doesn’t take tapes or CDs. And it holds about 3 months of music without EVER REPEATING A SONG. And it’s a phone and computer. All of the computers of the world are connected with each other and you can read or see almost anything you want just by typing it on the screen – or saying it to your “Walkman” if you know how to use the voice feature. 

• No, society is not smarter for having such devices. Instead we send each other videos of pets doing funny things or people hurting themselves, or an occasional picture of Jesus with some guilt trip saying at the bottom. I live here and am not even sure what that is about. 

As I said earlier, I can’t specifically answer what you were asking. A little more specificity would have helped, but I understand that you were worried about our parents finding it. Stop worrying about that. They love you more than you could POSSIBLY understand, but you will understand someday. Instead, let me give you a few guidelines that I really hope you will take to heart. 

First, about your heart – I’m not going to tell you to “guard it”, although that is true somewhat. Instead – VALUE YOURSELF. You are worth more than you can possibly know. Most of the problems in your life – where you are either hurt or hurt someone else – happens because you won’t wait for what YOU are worth. Instead, you just accept what you think you can get. Or worse, what is easy. That is dangerous. 

Second – maintain your drive for AUTHENTICITY. These days it’s harder than ever to keep true to yourself because everyone is so connected that peer pressure still exists. It’s not about Ocean Pacific or I.O.U. apparel anymore – it’s about opinions, conformity and expectations. It’s ok to be different. Cherish it! Embrace it. Stop trying to figure out how to be accepted by everyone else in the way you want to be accepted. It will NEVER work because it doesn’t work that way. 

Building on the previous two points – please understand something. As crazy as this sounds to you right now, one day you will think that the key to happiness is to be like your dad or your grandpa. And they are good and wonderful men. You aren’t them and won’t be. That’s ok and doesn’t mean that you have failed or are worthless, unlovable or bad. Just be the you that you can be and you’ll be fine. 

And enjoy the time with your family. Please sit on the front porch in the summer with grandma and grandpa and help clean the beans. Enjoy your visits with your great aunts – Mid, Helen, all of them. I so wish you could ask them questions for me now, but it’ll take 30 years to reach me. 

Your relationship with God will become complicated as you grow up, especially in today’s world. Just keep doing what you’re doing. It builds the foundation for later. 

Things that are truly great never stop being great. I still listen to Pink Floyd, Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac. Be sure and pay attention to Dave Rogers’ music and appreciate the things you learn with him. Classic cars (no, we still don’t have one yet) are still great – and the same ones are even more valuable now. The reason I tell you this – you should strive for greatness. You are great in so many ways. Keep it up. 

Don’t focus on all the things that you do wrong. You are no more organized 30 years later than you are today. Instead, the things that you do well – practice those and work on being even better. Magnify the gifts you have. There will always be others gifted in areas you are not. That is what makes the world work. 

Well, that’s all I have to say for now. Take care of yourself and you’ll be taking care of us. It’s an odd thing to me today that even though you are so young, you have the greater responsibility. You are responsible for me and I am the product of your decisions. Your favorite chapter – Ecclesiastes 12 makes more and more sense the older I get. Oh – and the book of James…it will be a blessing to you that you know that someday. It really applies to so many things. You just forget it a lot. 

Just remember, You are LOVED. See you in 30 years. 

-ME

P.S. If you haven’t read Brave New World yet, read it. It’s happening today. Oh – and the Screwtape Letters are just best. 

P.S.S. Just remember, whatever it is….it will be ok.