essaysWhy Boomers RockWhat’s the greatest American generation? That’s something that will always be contested, of course. There is our parents’ generation, the ones who fought in World War I and World War II and pinched pennies through the depression, while raising a herd of kids. Not too shabby. On the other hand, you’ve got the Mark Zuckerbergs of Generation Y, kids creating the tech that shapes the way we live today – for better or worse. Between it all, there’s the baby boomers, children of one generation, parents of the other. And still one of the best American generations, in my opinion. Boomers Have Seen the Evolution of Modern America As wonderfully cheesy as it is, I always think of the movie “Forrest Gump” when I think of the boomers. For me, the movie is a fun, if not realistic, journey through post-war America to the America of (almost) today. Forrest was a boomer himself and, like the others of his generation, he saw and participated in many of the movements and events that have spawned modern America. They’re Still Changing with the Times While boomers have “been there, done that” more than most American generations, the amazing thing about them is that they’re still going strong. While our parents dreamed of retiring to someplace sunny and living out their days on a pension, the reality for many boomers is different. I have friends who started new businesses in their 40s and 50s, who have grown knowledgeable about overseas manufacturing and production after earning an online international business degree. Others are turning to world travel or settling down in Costa Rica, Belize, Argentina, and other international locales. The boomers are still on their toes and as unafraid to change as ever, and that’s why this generation rocks. Mark Van Patten writes a blog called Going Like Sixty and has been married to the same woman since 1968. He's pulled up stakes and moved to Costa Rica so stay tuned! Got a 400 word essay you'd like to contribute? Click here. © 2006-2013 ConceptDesign, Inc. Terms of Use |