Straight Talk: Looking forward

DEAR READERS: The last round of millennial generation members (ages 11-33, born 1982-2004) are entering adolescence, while the rest are in various stages of adult launch. This generation inherited multiple wars, planetwide climate disruption, and a roller-coaster redistribution of wealth causing the worst economy since the Great Depression. In addition, most childhoods were/are completely unprotected from the tech devices robbing their attention spans, pornography robbing their wonder of intimacy, and ubiquitous media “mantras” molding them into consumers and drug users. Despite this, many young people are awake and want to be heard. The panelists in today’s column focus mostly on outer challenges; next week’s installment is up close and personal. - Lauren

Taylor, 17, Santa Rosa: Older generations like to blame us for our broken ecosystem, failing economy, government in the toilet, and a society still grappling with inequality, sexism and racism - yet we haven’t lived long enough to cause these problems. They don’t take us seriously and say we’re addicted to technology when, really, we’re advancing with the times. It’s the future, folks. Dishwashers were new and scary, too; now they are commodities. My generation has greatly advanced tolerance: The world is STARTING to be safe for openly gay people. That racism still exists in the 21st century is insanely sickening, but we are standing up for equality and social justice. A better world is coming.

Colin, 21, Sacramento: Our tasks aren’t so different from the tasks of other generations. While our grandparents fought against imperialism and totalitarianism abroad, so must we fight it here at home. Our generation must understand that it is through obedience that the greatest crimes have been committed, and only through resistance to authority have they been prevented. We must understand how we are being tricked and divided into fighting over scraps while a select few amass ever-larger fortunes. As the planet becomes more polluted, the human struggle will take on a different tone. Will civilizations be laid waste by hunger, disease and war as the planet overheats, or will the human experiment succeed? Every one of us has a unique role to play in coming events. Only through both wisdom and compassion can we prevail, together.

Alira, 16, Novato: My generation struggles with alcohol and drug abuse. Lots of kids my age drink and smoke pot every day - publicizing it all over Snapchat. To physically and mentally endure the daily toxins, and never get caught, even with it all over social media, is cultural insanity.

Stephanie, 23, Calistoga: Millennials are graduating college to crippling student debt, minimum-wage jobs and a massive quarter-life crisis. We’re questioning our parents’ lives and evaluating the strange impending future. As a life coach, I am witness to millennials’ debilitating fear around getting their career and life path wrong. Overwhelmed by all the choices and the hard work of succeeding in the instant-gratification era, some park at Mom and Dad’s, soothing their loneliness with the latest iGadget. Others resign into someone else’s dream. Others hopscotch manically from one job, friend, partner, town, hairstyle to the next. Finding one’s calling takes courage, heart and experimentation. Ask yourself: Who am I? What kind of life do I want? Where is my home? What is my purpose? Take your answers and test them. Find mentors. Get internships. Volunteer. Start a business. Study yourself. Keep trying and keep learning. Unless you’re marrying Jessica Day, watching “New Girl” in your PJs won’t cut it.

Ecopsychology studies show that when the world’s future is questionable (global warming, resource depletion, mind-numbing politico-economic challenges), it affects humans immensely. So, next time the haters are hating, tell them you’re “lost” because you want YOUR work, YOUR purpose, which takes bravery. And you’re “self-centered” because you NEED to matter so your children will have a planet.

Ask a question at StraightTalkAdvice.org or P.O. Box 1974, Sebastopol 95473.