My grandparent’s generation worked 60 years in a career happy to make a living, happy to feel the sweat on the brow for the satisfaction of a job well done. There was not as much emphasis put on the actual job itself but instead on the fact that the job was a blessing and the potential for advancement was icing on the cake.
We’re now coming out of a generation-wide embracing of the transient mindset. This had its hold that nothing should ever be done for a long period of time. Commitment was the worst evil because it made one feel trapped and ultimately unhappy – because freedom = happiness in most situations.
What’s being birthed in my generation, however, is a return to a fundamental belief that “it” is out there. We use “it” to describe a host of things: our future mate, our ideal job, the most amazing adrenaline rush, the environment or experience that will produce the utmost satisfaction and euphoria.
“It” has been defined otherwise as “destiny” or “fate” or the “mountaintop.” It doesn’t matter than we live in paralyzing discontent, unwilling to settle for anything less than the ultimate emotional high, the promise of “it” is tantalizing and motivates us to continue on.
I’m beginning to learn what a terrible myth “it” is. To think of the time I’ve wasted waiting for “it” when I could have been enjoying the moment. The doors I failed to walk through because if, just if, “it” came along while I was doing something else, I’d miss it and regret it forever.
