The Joy of Growing Older, Part Two: Gen X and Millennials, Inheriting the Myth of Forever Young

 In my last post I  explored how the Baby Boomer generation helped shape the culture of youth, a powerful idea that being young isn’t just a stage of life, but something to chase, preserve, and display. But we weren’t the only ones affected. The generations that followed, Generation X and Millennials, grew up steeped in those same messages. And now, as they enter middle age and beyond, they’re facing a familiar tension: how to age in a culture that insists youth is everything.

Let’s take a closer look at how Gen X and Millennials have inherited, and in some ways, resisted, the myth of forever young.

Generation X (1965–1980): The Skeptical Youth

Gen X grew up in the shadow of the Boomers. They were the first “latchkey kids,” coming of age during rising divorce rates, economic uncertainty, and the dawn of the personal computer. Unlike the idealism of the Boomers, Gen X was marked by a more skeptical, even ironic outlook.

They were also the first to be bombarded by 24/7 music videos, fast-cut advertising, and cool-is-everything branding. Style, edge, and youth became tools of self-definition. For Gen X, aging wasn’t necessarily feared, but it was easy to ignore.

Now that many Gen Xers are in their 50s and early 60s, some are experiencing what Boomers did before them: the subtle message that they’re being edged out. In a world that celebrates start-ups, influencers, and TikTok trends, middle-aged Gen Xers often find themselves asking, “Am I still relevant?”

 

The truth? Relevance isn’t about age, it’s about authenticity. And Gen X, with its roots in individuality and resilience, is uniquely positioned to lead the way in redefining what aging looks and feels like.

Millennials (1981–1996): Coming of Age in the Age of Comparison

Millennials grew up with the internet, and it shows. Their lives have been shaped by rapid technological change, social media, and the rise of a 24/7 visual culture. More than any generation before them, Millennials have faced constant pressure to present a polished, youthful, “Instagram-worthy” version of themselves.

As a result, many Millennials have internalized the idea that success means looking young, being active, staying on-trend, and always striving for more. Even positive lifestyle trends, like wellness, mindfulness, and self-care, are often marketed in ways that reinforce the idea that youth equals value.

Now that Millennials are entering their 30s and 40s, some are surprised to find that aging is happening to them, too, and not always gracefully. There’s a quiet panic in some circles, a resistance to growing older even as life brings new joys, like parenting, community-building, or meaningful work.

But there’s also a new opportunity. Millennials are vocal, creative, and driven by values. They can help change the story from “don’t age” to “age well, with purpose, connection, and joy.”

A Shared Challenge, and a Shared Opportunity

Whether you’re a Gen Xer navigating midlife or a Millennial approaching your forties, the culture of youth can be both seductive and limiting. It tells us we have to look a certain way, act a certain way, and stay on a certain timeline. But life doesn’t work like that, and aging doesn’t mean disappearing.

Each generation has the power to reclaim aging not as decline, but as evolution. And the more we talk about it, the more we normalize it, the freer we become.

We’re not trying to go backward. We’re moving forward, with experience, humor, and a sense of freedom that only comes with age.

🟢 Coming Next in Part Three: Breaking Free, Embracing the Joy of Being a Senior

I will explore how to let go of the youth myth entirely and step confidently into a new chapter of life, one filled with creativity, connection, and joy.