little Happy Meeting - v. 3

talkin' 'bout our generations

Author

Rebecca Malatesta
April 15, 2024

Sup, fam? What’s Shakin’?

People with strong, warm social connections are happier and have a greater sense of mental and physical well-being (the effect is profound!). Curious people are also found to be happier. So, let’s get curious and develop relationships with people from a not-so-well-known (to us) and often untapped group — I’m talking about people from other generations. For your convenience, here is an age-by-generation chart.

There are so many benefits of intergenerational relationships — including the very positive impact they have on our happiness and well-being. Other benefits abound. For example:

  • Younger generations keep us young - and can invigorate and energize.

  • Older people help us navigate life and learn to embrace getting older.

  • Younger generations can provide friendship and connection.

  • Older generations can teach us a thing or two about a thing or two.

The first step in developing any good intergenerational relationship is learning the lingo. First, let’s check your inter-gentelligence (or intergenerational slang literacy) I’m sure after, taking this quiz, you’ll agree that the slang terms used by all generations are mad foolish (translation “mad” means extremely—i.e., extremely foolish). But I love every last one of them — how can you not?

For what it’s worth

My Grandmother, Elza (“Elza Babes” to some), taught me some of my most important life lessons. One, there is no substitute for hard work. Two, family comes first and, three, you can eat an entire sleeve of cookies if you balance it with chicken and some fresh green beans.

Happy Task Number 3

Narrowing the Divide.

Talk to young people, they know cool stuff that you don’t. Talk to old people, they know cool stuff that you don’t.

Slang terms and lived experiences may be the biggest intergenerational differences; other differences are superficial (like the presence or absence of those darn wrinkles). When it comes down to it, we aren’t all that different. We all wanna have fun, enjoy rewarding relationships, and have meaning in our lives. This task is meant to bridge the intergenerational gap and help you develop warm relationships with people who may not be immediately obvious sources of friendship. So, grab a young whipper snapper or old timer and ask them some questions — and with all the respect and openness to new ideas, listen.

  1. What do you like best/remember about the place you grew up? 

  2. Describe a time when you got into serious mischief.

  3. What’s the weirdest fad you remember (e.g., swallowing goldfish, eating tide pods)?

  4. How do you like to spend your free time?

  5. What is one significant thing that you have learned?

  6. If you could go back, what would you tell your younger self? OR How do you hope to be spending your later years?

  7. Tell me about your first date.

  8. What does a perfect day look like?

  9. Do you have a mentor? Have you been a mentor?

  10. How many close friends do you think is ideal? Why?

  1. Call or text someone from a generation relatively far removed from your own. Or, strike up a conversation with a stranger from another generation.

  2. Ask a few questions (use the list for inspiration, if you’d like). 

  3. Reflect: Were you able to find an area of commonality and/or make a connection?

Come back next week for another little happy task.

Intergenerational relationships are important for the health and well-being of both younger and older people. The good people of Stanford and Harvard agree (see for yourself by clicking on the Science Bit).

About the author:

Rebecca Malatesta, PhD, is an Industrial and Organizational Psychologist who teaches psychology at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan (Go Grizzlies!). A major source of her happiness is her three adult children (Sam, Isabella, and Joe), her gentleman caller (or the gentleman who called), Matthew, her friends and family, and the queen of her household, Babs.