Generational Archives - Page 19 of 27

11 Alarming Ways the Pandemic Is Still Fueling Isolation and Anxiety in Young People

May 8, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Life may look “back to normal,” but many young people are still quietly unraveling.

The masks are mostly gone, social calendars are full again, and TikToks are back to being funny instead of terrifying. But for a lot of young people, the emotional aftermath of the pandemic hasn’t gone anywhere. What looked like a two-year disruption turned into a total rewiring of how they see the world, connect with others, and manage their inner lives. Even now, the anxiety lingers. The isolation sneaks in when nobody’s watching. And the sense of being permanently behind haunts more conversations than most people realize.

This isn’t just about nostalgia for lost college years or missing prom. It’s about a whole generation that came of age during lockdowns and now struggles to feel grounded in a world that keeps telling them to “move on.” Their mental health wasn’t just bruised—it was reshaped. These 11 ongoing effects of the pandemic are still fueling isolation and anxiety in young people today, and the scariest part is how invisible it all looks on the surface.

From Protests to Pulpits: 11 Times Anger Drove Major Change in America

May 8, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Anger doesn’t always destroy—sometimes it builds the fire that changes everything.

In America, rage isn’t just a reaction. It’s a force. Some of the most transformative moments in the nation’s history didn’t come from calm negotiation or polite disagreement—they came from people who were furious and refused to stay quiet about it. Anger has been the gasoline behind protests, sermons, legislation, and cultural shifts that redefined what freedom, justice, and equality actually mean. It can be messy, loud, and uncomfortable—but it’s often necessary when every other method has failed.

This kind of anger isn’t about impulsive yelling or breaking things for show. It’s about the deep, righteous fury that bubbles up when systems are broken and people are hurting. And when that anger gets organized, channeled, and voiced through protest or moral conviction, it has the power to shift public opinion and rewrite the rules. These 11 moments in American history prove that outrage, when grounded in purpose, can be one of the most powerful tools for change.

13 Ridiculous and Funny Excuses Gen Z Is Using to Skip Work

May 6, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Professionalism is optional when you’ve got a perfectly absurd reason to call out.

Every workplace has its share of no-shows and last-minute call-outs, but Gen Z has turned skipping work into something closer to performance art. Their excuses aren’t just funny—they’re layered, creative, and delivered with so much dry sincerity you can’t help but pause and wonder if they’re serious. These aren’t tired cough-and-cold fibs or fake flat tires. They’re dramatic, sometimes philosophical, and usually sprinkled with internet culture, personal trauma, and cosmic events. The result? A whole new generation of out-of-office messages that read more like diary entries than formal requests.

What makes them funny isn’t just how over-the-top they are—it’s that they often reflect something real. A mood swing disguised as an aura shift. Burnout dressed up as Mercury retrograde. Gen Z isn’t just dodging work. They’re signaling that the grind doesn’t always win—and sometimes, the vibe really is off. The best part? They’re usually self-aware about it. It’s not laziness; it’s existential honesty delivered in meme format. These 13 ridiculous and strangely relatable excuses prove that skipping work can be weird, emotional, and occasionally brilliant—all at the same time.

11 Financial Forces Making Gen Z the Brokest Generation Yet

May 6, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Gen Z isn’t just broke by accident—the game has been rigged against them in ways most people don’t even see.

There’s a lot of noise out there about Gen Z being bad with money—too many iced coffees, too many online shopping splurges, too much attention on trends instead of savings. But those easy punchlines completely miss the bigger, scarier picture. This generation isn’t broke because of bad habits. They’re broke because they’re navigating a financial landscape that’s more brutal, unstable, and stacked against them than any generation before them. And the forces working against them aren’t just personal—they’re structural.

Everywhere Gen Z turns, they’re facing higher costs, fewer protections, and bigger risks than their parents ever had to deal with. They’re graduating into massive debt, fighting for scraps in a brutal housing market, and trying to build careers in industries being upended by automation. It’s not just harder to get ahead—it’s harder to stay afloat at all. These 11 financial forces aren’t just hurting Gen Z’s bank accounts. They’re reshaping their futures, their mental health, and their trust in the entire system.

Retire Richer—12 States Where Your Social Security is Not Taxed in 2025

May 2, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Retiring richer starts with knowing where your money stays yours.

Moving into retirement isn’t just about slowing down; it’s about being smart with every dollar you worked so hard to earn. Social Security might not be the windfall you dreamed of, but stretching it further can mean the difference between scraping by and actually enjoying your golden years. One of the easiest ways to keep more of what’s yours? Choosing a state that won’t take a chunk of your benefits.

A lot of people don’t realize that not all states treat Social Security the same. Some are ready to dip into it, while others let you keep every penny. Picking the right home base can protect your finances and leave you breathing a lot easier month to month. If you’re serious about retiring richer, these 12 states deserve a spot at the top of your list.

Gen Z Is Done with the American Dream—14 Reasons It Feels Like a Big Lie

April 25, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

It sounds inspiring until you realize the dream was never designed with you in mind.

The old script says if you work hard, stay in school, and play by the rules, you’ll have a house, a family, and a secure future. But Gen Z grew up watching that dream fall apart. They saw their parents lose jobs despite decades of loyalty, watched rent skyrocket, and realized they might never afford a home—no matter how many side hustles they grind through. That glossy vision of success looks more like a trap now, not a goalpost.

This generation isn’t lazy or entitled—they’re just exhausted by the contradiction between what they were promised and what the world actually delivers. Instead of chasing a dream that was rigged from the start, many are rejecting the whole idea and carving out their own path. They’re less impressed by picket fences and more interested in purpose, flexibility, and mental health. Here are 14 reasons Gen Z is walking away from the so-called American Dream and calling it what it feels like: a big, shiny lie.

Style Meets Values—11 Budget-Friendly Ethical Brands People Love

April 23, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Shopping with a conscience doesn’t mean giving up your vibe—or your wallet.

Gen Z isn’t messing around when it comes to making their dollars count. They want clothes that look good, feel authentic, and align with their values—especially when it comes to sustainability, ethics, and social impact. But for a generation often dealing with student loans, side hustles, and economic uncertainty, affordability matters just as much. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice one for the other.

Ethical fashion has evolved beyond overpriced basics and beige everything. These days, brands are stepping up with bold styles, transparent sourcing, and price points that don’t require a trust fund. Whether you’re into edgy streetwear, minimalist staples, or statement pieces with a purpose, these 11 ethical brands bring serious Gen Z energy without blowing your budget. They don’t just talk about values—they live them, and still manage to drop collections that make your feed (and your conscience) feel good.

Millennial Dads Who Are Good Role Models to Their Young Daughters Never Do These 12 Things

April 22, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Being a strong father figure isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being intentional with what you choose not to do.

Millennial dads are stepping into fatherhood with a different kind of awareness. They’ve seen the effects of emotionally distant parenting, outdated gender roles, and the damage silence can do, and they’re showing up with a deeper commitment to raising strong, self-assured daughters. But being a good role model doesn’t always mean grand gestures—it often comes down to the things a dad refuses to normalize. It’s in the habits he avoids, the language he filters, and the emotional maturity he models in the everyday stuff.

Raising a daughter to be confident, self-respecting, and grounded means paying attention to the subtle messages she picks up at home—especially from the men she trusts. These 12 things might seem small or easy to overlook, but good dads know they matter. They know daughters are always watching, learning not just how to treat others, but how to allow themselves to be treated. If you’re a dad who wants to raise a daughter who doesn’t shrink herself to make others comfortable, these are the lines you simply don’t cross.