Navigating the Chaos: Gen X Search for Meaning

Fake it 'till you make it, right?

Happy to report that flannels are still part of my wardrobe

This Is A New Beginning

I’m thinking about all the people I know and trying to figure out how many are actually living the life they envisioned when they were younger.

Did they grow up to be what they always wanted?

Some did, for sure. Others, I don’t think so.

But I do feel like people from my generation are now arriving at a point in life when these sorts of questions start rising to the surface. We are, in fact, entering a new stage.

New level unlocked, if you will.

It’s really funny. Some of us are nearing retirement age (most sources have Gen X as being born between 1965 and 1980), while others are still very much in the middle of navigating the challenges and craziness of the ever-changing labor market.

How many have made the switch to self-employment? Just don’t call it the ‘f’‘ word (freelancing).

Some of us are welcoming grandkids into the picture, while others still have very young kids of our own.

With all of this in play, I have taken a very long look at my own story and will wholeheartedly admit that I am not where I want to be.

So, I am taking action.

Why this, why now?

Every day (literally, not just as a figure of speech), I see people working on all kinds of amazing projects, and I feel like I’m sitting on the sidelines.

I was lucky enough to land a job as a journalist while still in college, and I had a blast during that time. But after a few years, I moved on to other projects working with non-profit organizations, where, although I was still writing, it was not the kind of writing I enjoyed.

And I want to be congruent with myself.

When I was in college, I had an amazing teacher who always pushed me to write and share my work. I was young and full of doubt, so I set the sharing aside for many years.

Now I am older, still full of doubt (womp, womp), but I cannot hide behind a rock anymore. I feel like there’s a lot of fun to be had, and I would love for you to join.

A Gen X Community

With the rise of all these new platforms and AI stuff, I feel like there is an even bigger need for real content, real stories, AND genuine connections with others.

I would have to be very dense not to take this opportunity to write about the things I care about and share them with the people who matter to me.

And I know that I can’t be alone in this.

One of the most exciting things about this platform is that it can be a place to connect with others. Paid subscribers can access discussions and threads. We will also develop additional initiatives to make this an even more wholesome experience.

What’s in the Box!?

No, not THAT box.

If you didn’t get the reference, don’t worry about it. In this outfit, we will get you up to speed.

But this is what you can expect after subscribing:

You will receive a wicked post directly to your inbox.

Paying subscribers get content every week.

The weekly delivery will be medium-form (4-5 min reads). I genuinely want you to be excited about the email. Additional content will be shorter.

Paying subscribers can join the conversation, share stories, and connect through comments and threads, creating a community of like-minded souls looking for meaning in the chaos.

I mean, we do have a lot of material to discuss, after all: Gen X nostalgia, personal anecdotes, pop culture deep-dives, and reflections on our generation's past, present, and future.

You'll get insights on everything from the latest Gen X-related news to personal stories—past and present.

Weekly Haiku or Koans will be short and sweet. Think about them as snacks for the soul. Like this one:

There is poetry
In the flickering light
Of a dying candle
          -Edgar A. Morales

Free subscribers get a post every other week (from the different sections); after all, we do want you to get a good taste of all the fun to be had with the full membership.

So there you have it, peeps. I am not faking it anymore. I am putting myself out there, and couldn’t possibly be more excited about it.

So, if you're ready to revisit the music, events, and the cultural markers that shaped our lives while reflecting on how to live with intention today, I invite you to subscribe now.