My Two Generations: X and Y

‎"A man is like a cat -- chase him and he will run. Sit still and ignore him and he'll come purring at your feet."

I wonder if there is still truth to this statement. Since we are in the 21st century, there has been a paradigm shift in people's perception of what the "norm" should be. Courtship, dating and marriage, included. However, I would like to think of myself as modern conservative. I am aware that I live in a generation where almost everything is done in an instant (thank heavens for modern technology) but I can't just possibly dismiss the things I learned while growing up.

I was raised in two opposing decades, the 80s and the 90s. The former was my childhood and the latter was my adolescence. It was a state of utter confusion. Like any typical Filipino family, I was taught to uphold tradition and discard anything that goes against it. It served me well for it instilled in me an appreciation of my roots -- the very core of my being.

Then came the 90s which arguably was the transition decade -- the bridge that linked the past and the present. It ushered in a whole new generation. Suddenly, people seemed to have a re-awakening of their consciousness. The Western influence had become more widespread. Changes were noted in people's choice of music and fashion. But what was more apparent was the dramatic change in people's ideals and behavior. People had become aware of the concept of individuality and independence. Conformity slowly lost ground. Almost everyone dared to be different. It was the era of self-expression.

Oh well, times are changing. So are we.