The flip side of abundance: millennial anxieties in the face of too many choices

(This article was originally published on YourStory on January 30, 2017. It can be found here.)

“Where there is too much, something is missing.” – Jewish proverb

The millennial generation, also known as Generation Y, has been the subject of much interest for some time now. Born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, urban Indian millennials grew up during a period of revolutionary technological advancements along with the growing abundance triggered by economic liberalisation. Naturally, there is a propensity among older adults to see them as ‘the lucky generation’. Having grown up in a time of relative abundance, it would seem that millennials had missed the tough times. But to view millennials in this light is to do so with rose-tinted glasses.

Embracing The Shell: Why I Choose To Be An Introvert

The other day, a friend of mine who had just taken up a new job was telling me about how he was finding it hard to adjust to his new workplace. Normally quite friendly, he was now finding it difficult to strike a casual conversation with his new colleagues.

“I think I’ve become very antisocial,” he said to me.

“You’re still adjusting to this place. Give it some time,” I replied.

“But I can’t stay like this forever. I don’t want to be such an introvert!” he said indignantly.

“What’s wrong with being an introvert?” I asked.

“Dude! Being an introvert is never a good thing!” he replied, apparently surprised that I managed to even think such a question.

Disfigured

I found myself seated on a reclining chair. It felt quite comfortable, that is until I realised that I couldn’t unseat myself. Indeed, the only sign of detectable muscle movement I was able to feel was the occasional facial twitch. My vision was blocked by a giant of a man who slowly lumbered towards me. Suddenly, there was a grinding noise that brought the image of chainsaws to mind. I shut my eyes tight, paralysed.

Of Meen Curry and Coconut Leaves

To the casual observer, there are three things that make a true mallu: the (in)famous accent that cannot possibly belong to any other community, a natural inclination towards meen curry and rice, the trademark mundu (dhoti), and an uncanny obsession with anything to do with coconuts.

I have none of these.

“Change Please?”

“Sorry boss, no change”.

If one had to enlist the most commonly heard every-day lines, my bet is that this would undoubtedly be first on the list. An average city-dweller probably hears this at least five times a day. And if we’re shit out of luck, we could probably hear it a hundred times.  And so it began on a bustling Monday morning that shook me right out of my Sunday slumber.