If you’re anything like me, you’re balancing two separate universes. You’re constantly torn between fully embracing the shiny millennial culture and upholding the totally vintage way of blissful technology-free living that existed oh so long ago. You know all those “90s Babies” articles are cliché and overdone and old news (note: that is not what this is), but you can’t prevent the tiny ping of nostalgia that comes with each slinky-wrapped, Tamagotchi-stuffed-inside-an-easy-bake-oven picture. You often judge the girl that video-snapstorys herself dancing during the entire party, but you know you really really care how many Insta likes you get. Still, the realization that you’ll never make eye contact with or *soft smile* at each and every stranger that passes you on the streets, majority of which are looking at the shimmering plastic in their palms, deeply saddens you. I, for example, love 70's transpired classic rock, adore the idea of quietly stopping by the corner shop to pick up a newspaper, and despise the fact that these once valued, simplistic views that mean so much to me are majorly disregarded. And yet, I am pursuing a profession that now deals heavily with social media, online content, tweets, you name it (public relations, if you couldn’t tell) and I am perfectly happy with that. If you are anything like me, you are a pseudo-millennial.
To give it a tangible metaphor, you know that half-and-half style plaguing college campuses these past few months? Athletic pants with a cute oversized sweater and scarf, maybe even a pair of leather footwear. Running pants with those classic black and white Nikes, but then you throw on a trendy quarter zip and vest? What’s up with that? The struggle to distinguish between the two worlds has become so overbearing it is translating into our dress. Those few that fit into this specialized (it’s actually a lot of people but your millennialism likes to think you’re special) category live with one classic converse covered foot in the pre-technological world and the other ~white~ high top clad one in the smart phone-loving century.
Sarcasm aside, you truly would be perfectly content with a life free of cell phones and Snapchat and Instagram everything. You sincerely value face-to-face interaction and the feel of manually turning to the next chapter, but you also acknowledge that the technology surrounding every one of us is unavoidable. Now, you could be that “hippie” nomad that refuses any means of technology and swears upon home remedies, but you understand that there is a useful means of embracing this new lifestyle. You understand that “social media” no longer applies to your own Facebook page or private Twitter account, but is now used to describe a newly formed platform of living. All media is social, and all of it can be used for tremendous good.
Though you wish it were not such a huge focus in everyone’s life, you are mesmerized by the amount of worldly news and connections to be made that exist in your idevice. You appreciate the fact that news can travel faster than ever, and campaigns like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (#tbt) can spread through millions and benefit thousands. You acknowledge that you must embrace this techno-savvy culture not to be socially accepted, but to impact the world. OK, so your millennialism is peaking through and you’re once again the center of the universe and can change said universe all on your own, we know. But -- 90's side, listen up -- perhaps, possibly, probably you can because you understand. The balance between your love of the past and awareness of the present you maintain in your mind is incredibly difficult to explain. But, if this concept speaks to you, you know exactly how to decipher it. So, here is my advice to you: collect the beauty, simplicity, quiet nostalgia of the world you so long for, hoard it, treasure it. Apply it to everything you do. Your love for this “old” way of life you hardly experienced is a spirit, a state of mind -- not a long lost thing of the past. Hold on tightly to that passion and spread it, share it, connect with it. Bottle up the innocent joy you feel when that epic throwback plays on your ride home. Put it on your snap-story, if you must. Capture the emotion and apply it to this new world futuristic millennial-ridden social media perspective, and your halves will become whole. Pseudo on.
P.S. It’s OK that you’re currently wearing a fancy sweater and necklace over running pants right now. No one will judge you because they’re wearing it, too. Plus your Nikes and matching black vest are totally cute.
