Can you think of someone you have worked with in some capacity, be it work, school, church or any extracurricular activity that felt a sense of entitlement to speak to you in a demeaning manner? These individuals can be of a certain age, meaning old enough to be your parent or grandparent, yet you as an adult aren’t shown a portion of the respect you have given them? Ok, now that you have thought about those individuals and instances, honestly, did you ever want to forget you “know better” and ask “Who the (H) are you talkin’ to?” Frankly speaking, coming into the 21st century, the days of the younger generation being seen and not heard are over.
As a child, I was always raised to have the utmost respect for adults, especially the elderly. Yes, Please, Thank You, Ma’am or Sir are commonalities of respect that I have carried into my adult life. It is to the extent that I cannot bring myself to call someone of a certain age by their first name even when they are insisting.
Having dealt with my share of particular individuals of a certain age, I have wondered how or when I allowed them to bring me 2 seconds away from losing my cool. I do feel that with age comes wisdom or enlightenment that is to be admired and sought after by the younger generation. However, being a part of the younger generation, you are not to be mistaken as a youngster.
Meaning, you are an adult, you pay taxes, work 40+ hours per week and you are not a dependent, and that needs to be given some respect in its own right. We will never be peers of those individuals and that is alright; people make the world go round, not peers. I look for those individuals to be mentors, leaders and educators to learn from. However, leadership is not a dictatorship…lead by example. Mentors are supposed to ensure you are in search of your best potential and not have you question your own relevance and want to throw in the towel…each one teaches one. Constructive criticism is always welcomed when it is constructive…a whole lot of talking can equate to a whole lot of nothing if the construction is not accompanied by instruction.
