Prodigal Children: Millennials Are Persuading Parents to Revive Their Dream Projects

Dreams and aspirations aren’t just words — they are sentiments that complete a person. It’s hard to believe that anyone would voluntarily shun all the dreams of their younger years just because they took on bigger responsibilities. Yet it happens all the time. While we’re growing up, we too tend to forget the kind of sacrifices our parents and guardians are making to ensure that we’re on the path to fulfill our dreams. But what about their dreams, what about their aspirations?It’s up to us
Times are changing and as Millennials, we’ve come to a realization that the dreams of our parents are just as important as our own. For most of us, we wouldn’t be living our dream lives if it weren’t for them having given up theirs.Our parents have brought us up, ensured our physical, mental, and economical stability, and now it’s time for us to help them pursue their own aspirations.
Finding out their unfulfilled dreamsIf you look closely enough there’s always a clue – a half-written book, broken pieces of earthen pottery, a dusty camera, an old violin or even a pair of bell-studded anklets sitting in a drawer somewhere; all these chattels speak of unfulfilled dreams. For many, finding out about our parents’ lives and aspirations or interests could be as simple as checking their Facebook page, if they are on social media. For others, it would involve a few subtle or direct questions perhaps. We tend to be a rather ‘direct’ generation anyway, and that approach has worked for me.       It’s not about the moneyLike any other Millennial, with her own life and goals, I understand that the previous generation has given up a lot for my betterment. I want to do my bit, and help those who have helped me always. While I may not able to provide financial support, I can use other resources that I have at my disposal, such as my writing, and help set them on their way to fulfilling their personal dreams. Learning from the past for a better futureMillennials truly have the luxury of knowledge at our fingertips. We can use it to comprehend how our elders can #LiveNonstop, more so than the generation before them. History doesn’t have to repeat itself and older norms need not apply. Each generation has to set an example for the next. We have to set an example for our kids by showing them how we take care of our elders, helping them realize that age is not a barrier when it comes to living their dreams. Encouragement is always the first stepI try to motivate my parents to do the things they love, find hobbies and activities that pique their interests and pursue them with vigour. I’ve seen others do the same for their elders by finding out their dreams first and then encouraging them to move ahead. We’re a patient bunch, so we know there’s no rush. Baby steps are what it takes to help our parents find and follow their pursuits without being under any stress. Finding the best way to helpLike the way they held our hands on the first day of school, it’s our turn to support our parents as they begin pursuing their unfulfilled dreams. We have the world at our fingertips, literally. We can utilize technology to help our elders chart the best course of action and #LiveNonstop. From finding local dance or photography classes to websites where they can publish their writing, we have all the right resources to help make certain things very easy for them. There are many inspiring stories out there about people who are living non-stop, not letting their age be a deterrent at all. Check out some of their tales here. Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd, but the views shared in this article are personal.
Disclaimer: Any facts used in this post are meant for education purpose only.
By Ishleen