RELATIONSHIPS | LOVE
A Millennial Like Me Could Date Both Gen Z or Gen X
Dating as a Millennial never gets old
Let’s play a game. Pick a random millennial. There’s no right or wrong answer, don’t be shy. Just pick one — male or female, tall or short, cultures and backgrounds aside. Did you?..
Now scrutinise said millennial. What visible or perceived qualities do they have? Chances are:
✅ they don’t look their age
✅ they have an awfully cool lifestyle
✅ they tap into a variety of interests, hobbies, genres of literature, cultural explorations, etc.
✅ they probably like K-pop as much as they love Bon Jovi
✅ they’re geeky and tech-savvy
✅ they’re efficient chameleons and no matter what, will blend right in
That’s one great specimen!..
Now, throw the said millennial out into the dating pool. Imagine they’re your character in the Sims. Just kick them through the door — they’re not allowed to come back until late tonight.
What will happen?
I’m sitting at a coffee shop. It’s a ski resort and I’m the only person in my group who had the tough luck of shattering her knee before even reaching thirty. Oh well, skiing was never my thing to begin with. I’m a bit of a walking disaster, so staying clear of slippery slopes might not be such a bad idea.
A warm fireplace, a new fantasy book and a cosy corner to h̶i̶d̶e snuggle in. Excited about my reading — it’s a new novel by an author I always liked.
Black coffee cascades waterfalls into my being as pages flip and turn. Occasionally I get distracted by a random noise or an odd stranger pulling a chair by the next table. But overall, it’s an enjoyable and relaxing experience.
Until it isn’t.
I see him coming from miles away. A boyish tall figure with a toothpaste commercial-worthy smile. It’s flashing at me, I can tell. I beg my fantasy gods…because for sure I’m overthinking. Then a chair pulls away. This time, at my table.
“Is it occupied?” he asks even though he’d made himself comfortable flat eternities ago. The audacity, - I think as a n̶o̶t̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶m̶u̶r̶d̶e̶r̶o̶u̶s̶ business smile finds its way to my face. I keep it strictly professional, aka, answer when talked to. Otherwise, no chit-chat, I’m reading here, after all.
He asks about me and wants to know where I’m from, what I do, what my interests are and if I come here often. I carefully weave my age into these answers - hope it’s repellent enough. After all, a twenty-three-year-old has better things to do than hit on someone almost a decade older!..
He laughs it off and asks for my number.
(internal screams echoing)
Every millennial I know has these stories. People ranging from twenty to later forties. One side doesn’t realise we’re older, and the other — somehow wants to be adventurous (and is possibly a bit overly confident).
I think it’s because:
✅ We’re approachable and can accommodate any conversation. We speak Gen-Z as much as we speak Gen-X.
✅ We probably d̶o̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶h̶o̶w̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶f̶l̶a̶t̶l̶y̶ ̶s̶a̶y̶ ̶”̶n̶o̶”̶ ̶lack the straightforwardness Gen-Z has. We’re a bit like Gen-X, which means — respectful.
✅ We want to believe people can be making conversation without ulterior motives.
❓ Help me out and please add some more in the comments - I’m convinced there’s more, but can’t put my finger on it!..
So, Millennials have equal opportunities — Gen-Z and Gen-X are both on the table. Funny enough, we rarely hit on each other. I suppose Millennials fail to recognise one another unless we’re having a conversation. In our natural habitat, we pass on the street and think how nice it is to be a young Gen-Z’er. The joke’s on us.
Do you have similar experiences? Have you had any anecdotes? Do share in the comments! (I̶ ̶n̶e̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶e̶n̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶s̶u̶p̶p̶o̶r̶t̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶a̶p̶y̶ I want to feel better about myself)
My scribbles dive into a variety of topics. Yet whether I scribble fantasy or horror, highly opinionated or research-driven pieces, I hope it leaves you with something to ponder: makes you feel better (or worse?..), strikes an inner monologue (hopefully, voiced out in the comments!) or simply gives you something to chew on, inspiring to keep the creative ball rolling.
Thank you for reading!
