Jackie and I were chatting with friends the other day and it was suggested that we each take a turn talking through 1. a win 2. a worry and 3. a wish. It was an intimate and clarifying time of listening and understanding each other. There are countless things to worry over and wish for, but the win can be more elusive. Many have found solace in the Fred Rogers quote: When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” And indeed we don’t have to look far to find the helpers. What might be missed is that the much maligned *millennial generation is leading the charge. *Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 (ages 23 to 38 in 2019).

One of the words to make its entry into the 2016 Collins English dictionary is the term snowflake. “…the term ‘snowflake’ is often used as a derogatory shorthand to refer to millennials, a generation said to be easily offended, attention-seeking and lacking resilience.”  

My daughters are millennials, their friends are millennials, my co-workers are millennials, the people I go to the gym with are millennials, the doctors, nurses, first responders, and healthcare workers on the front line fighting this virus are in large part, millennials. My at-risk pharmacist son-in-law is a millennial. I’ve been so very proud of my girls (my win) who represent this group by their selfless giving of themselves while they navigate the slippery slopes of running an events company when there are no events allowed – or meal prep and lesson planning for an active toddler while nursing a 3 month old infant. In spite of, or maybe because of circumstances, they are looking for daily ways to show gratitude and compassion to a community grasping for hope.  Amanda texted us the other day and said: The best part is, it doesn’t even have to be money! So many people just need a virtual 🙌🏼.  I’ve been trying to alternate between fun gifts and sending text/ emails. In turn, millennial brides who have had to postpone their weddings have offered to stay true to their original payment timelines in order to soften the economic blow. My millennial hair stylist posted that she was thankful for her clients who were willing to pay for their cancelled appointments but directed people to contribute instead to the local food bank… Stories like this are not the exception, these routine acts of kindness are becoming a generational pandemic of good. Sowing and Reaping – The Law of Attraction – Like begets Like. These are our snowflakes – not because they are fragile, but because they are beautiful in their individuality and ability to unite into a force to be reckoned with.