It seems to be a guarantee in life that as generations move forward, their critique of those that come next becomes louder with each passing year. The Greatest Generation beget Boomers, who beget Generation X, who beget Millennials, who are now watching Gen Z’s come of age and today, we follow the growth of Generation Alpha. Don’t ask me to try and explain the defining characteristics of each generation, but you undoubtedly have heard their references and the broad strokes that come with each of them, including their perceived entitlements, their thoughts on the world around us, and their defense of why they know what is right for the world.
I don’t personally buy into generational groupings, for every individual has seen and interpreted their life experiences in their own way, and yet, there is commonality among us all when we look for it. We all strive to be successful, happy, and live a life we are proud of. I found myself thinking about that recently, as a young father and elected official, thinking about where I came from and where I am today.
Recently I was reintroduced to something that I loved as a kid growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, and today, I have come to love it even more. That is the literary works of famed cartoonist Bill Watterson, and his award-winning comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes. For those unfamiliar, Calvin and Hobbes depicted the life of a 6-year-old precocious and adventurous boy, Calvin, and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, while growing up in Sub.
