Miserable Bunch

Insightful read about the state of my generation in aggregate. I did not realize that we were such a sorry bunch all around. 

Gen Xers are reluctant to be corporate drones, placing more emphasis on work-life balance and autonomy. It is no coincidence that in 1999, when Gen Xers were in the prime of their lives, there were two hugely successful films in which people broke free of life’s shackles. In “The Matrix” Thomas Anderson, a computer programmer, discovers the world is an illusion simulated by intelligent machines. In “Fight Club” an office worker joins a secret society whose members kick lumps out of each other. All very exciting, of course—but hardly conducive to a solid career

Being a non-autonomous corporate drone with no work-life balance is a bad outcome for anyone irrespective of generation. It is possible some do not have the choice to opt-out of that life so they tolerate it best they can. Gen X believed that they have a choice. For me, observing my father was the most important factor in my decision not to have career drive the rest of my life. I saw him give up the best of his human potential for his and while that may have brought him some reward and satisfaction, it only highlighted to the perils of that way of life to me. It's unclear if my way was any better and will result in better outcomes. I am definitely at the U-bend right now and have been there since J went to college:

A recent 30-country poll by Ipsos finds that 31% of Gen Xers say they are “not very happy” or “not happy at all”, the most of any generation. David Blanchflower of Dartmouth College finds all sorts of nasty things, from unhappiness to anxiety to despair, top out around the age of 50. This is consistent with the “U-bend of life” theory, which suggests that people are happy when young and old, but miserable in middle age. Baby-boomers went through it; before long millennials will, too.