Hope everyone had a great weekend.

I generally don’t like opining on politics and what not but…

Well…I guess let’s just get right to it.

Musings Episode 90: Stand Your Ground, Millennials…

I do really great when I’m around like-minded people.

Really great.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll understand exactly what I mean by like-minded.

People that don’t like when people try and walk all over them – and people who don’t try to walk all over people.

A friend and I were discussing the meme culture that’s grown over the years and how really, when you think about it, there are an alarming rate of memes that older people would consider “dark/depressing humor”.

But let’s be honest…rather than focusing on that – isn’t that screaming a message loud and clear?

People’s human security in the developed world (like economic, for instance), is clearly not as great as politicians are pretending like it is.

We live in an age where we’re bombarded with advertising – it’s on YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, SoundCloud, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc, etc…you really can’t get away from it.

Advertisements quietly streamlined into your “social” media accounts, looking as if they’re part of your timelines or the videos you watch.

Always suggesting to you what to buy, what to eat, drink, in what way life should be relatable.

Sorry but…that last bit isn’t relatable at all.

Don’t get me wrong – I get that ads were always around, especially on TV and radio, and I understand that services that offer free listening/watching need ads to pay for what they serve up to you, but these days it all seems like it’s so much more…intense.

Not in a good way – in a pushy way.

Ads that scream at you across the screen or through your ear buds with enthusiastic messages of “lease this! buy that!“.

…but the damn irony of it all is that half the time these messages are being pounded into a generation’s head that’s struggling just to pay the rent or have a nice holiday.

Ads are being pushed across as if every person being advertised to, has the disposable income to go and buy everything they’re told to – most of it being useless shit.

“Don’t have cash? Just use credit. Get yourself a store card,” they suggest.

It’s like leased cars.

Yeah alright, you get to drive a different car every so many months but…who the hell came up with the bright idea it’s cool to pay for something you have to give back and get penalized for overusing because you “went over your mileage” when you do give it back, because you fancied going on a road trip?

I’m still a believer of quality over quantity, and buying cars over leasing.

I’m not waffling here – I’m getting to a point.

What I’m trying to say is, I feel like with the way the “developed” world has become so commercialized, older generations are coming down a little hard on the millennials as to why they don’t have their shit together.

Since the Global Financial Crisis of 2008/9, we’ve been living in a time where every electronic device is practically blaring at people in their teens and 20s that they should be living life a certain way – then ironically not providing adequate income or opportunities for them to live those certain lifestyles.

So you’ve basically got a few choices.

Either A) become an entrepreneur, B) sign up for a shit job, or C) go to college/university to not have to fight as hard to get a good job and pray you don’t get axed because you didn’t stroke your boss’ ego that day.

I’ve had the luxury (said with extreme sarcasm – sometimes ignorance truly is bliss) of having been around the block.

…so at some point in my life experienced all three, before settling firmly into the role of entrepreneur.

And guys – I’m not gonna sit and preach to you it’s all sunshine and rainbows.

It’s not always easy. Some days, especially in the beginning, it’s a whirlwind and a fight between logic and emotions.

Actually scratch that – at some point, even when you see things fall into place, it still feels like a whirlwind sometimes.

You’re excited. You’re afraid. You’re overjoyed. You fumble. You fuck up.

You think it’s worth it. You think it’s totally not worth it.

Then you remember why you started.

But one thing I’ll say I’ve learnt from being an entrepreneur in comparison to having a job – is learning to stand your ground.

When you’re in a job, you’re dealing with other people’s egos.

Other people’s egos who are considered your “supervisors”.

When you’re an entrepreneur, standing your ground means you get to dig your heels into the ground and fucking PUSH for better – and no one can really say shit about it.

When you’re in a job, standing your ground can sometimes mean you’re going to piss a few people off – whether you care or not is entirely up to you – but it can swing both ways.

Either you gain more respect, or your head gets closer to the chopping block.

I was raised to be one stubborn, head strong son of a bitch.

I’ve realized over the years it’s probably the biggest blessing in my life – A) because it sure as shit does help a lot when it comes to getting through my workouts….and B) because honestly, I probably would’ve abandoned the thought of being an entrepreneur long ago.

Circling back around to millennials – they get so much shit.

They really do. Especially from some baby boomers.

I remember watching a political talk with Trae Crowder some months back where the host of the show said “millennials are a very confused generation”.

…….

You’d be confused too growing up in a time where you witnessed the biggest financial downturn since The Great Depression of the 1920s.

Back when that happened you had people trying to cope with alcohol, suicide, and any other means.

These days you get people coping through substance abuse, depression, suicide….and then joking about serious life situations through fucking memes.

You really think that can’t tip either way?

Healthily pushing back or just turning completely nihilistic?

Which pretty much brings me around to the point that in order for things to start changing, people have to start standing their ground.

Coping is fine, but it’s only meant to be temporary.

Learning to stand your ground in life can have a huge impact – can you imagine if everyone was so disgusted with the way things are being run they pushed back?

Companies can’t fire everyone.

They’re already making getting a job feel like winning the lottery.

….or like money is something “optional”.

Then when you get the job, literally trying to condition you that the harder you work the better you are.

Even Machiavelli’s writings came to the conclusion you push a man too hard after a while he’ll feel like he has nothing left to lose.

There’s also the belief that millennials act entitled.

I wholly disagree with this.

Millennials don’t feel entitled – with globalization and the exponential growth in commercialization, they work more hours than earlier generations ever had to contend with, maybe stopping shy of people who worked in factories that supported the war efforts during WWII.

Despite having more “human rights” laws that have been put in place since that time.

You can’t be entitled if you’re working more hours and getting less pay and zero proper benefits.

You can’t be entitled if you’re given a part-time job and have to have housemates or flat mates because you can’t afford a place of your own.

Don’t even get me started on the B.S. “flexitime” incentive companies have where a person can’t dictate their own schedule.

I read crazy stories about people in their early 20s just up and fucking collapsing because they literally worked themselves to death.

Fucking interns.

That’s entitled?

Really?

What I’m trying to say is – older generations need to stop ignoring what the younger generations have to contend with because of problems passed on.

Younger generations have to avoid succumbing to zoning out from crappy situations or letting their frustrations externalize towards other people.

Don’t let people run you ragged.

Wake up. It’s gonna take a collective effort but wake the fuck up.

Stand your ground. You may get slapped down a few times but they can’t bring everyone to their knees.

A lot of people are already on their knees anyway, with the way corporations are exploiting human security.

Ask yourself – would you rather die standing, or live kneeling at the mercy of others?

You’re not a human resource.

You’re a person.

You have purpose.

Don’t let corporations and consumerism distract you from that.

Don’t “Feed The Machine”.

It may be uncomfortable, but get out of your comfort zone for a minute and just think about it…

Stay cool.

– Rego

Improve Your Lifestyle. Improve Yourself. This is Life. This is Rego’s Life.™

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