Generational Shifts: What’s Next?

Michael Jackson died this year. So did Farrah Fawcett, Ted Kennedy and Walter Cronkite. Honestly, that's only a small number of people—famous, infamous and unknown—who won't see the ball drop when the first decade of Y2K ends this December. They all impacted our world in a different way. Jackson made us love each other and realize that "it doesn't matter if you are black or white." Fawcett influenced years of trendy hairstyles and became one of the first "strong woman" icons. Ted Kennedy, brother to John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, passed away, ending a political dynasty. These massive generational shifts happen every so often, as one generation's norm is taken over by the next.

Ten years ago I had a cell phone, but only for emergencies. Now, I have an iPhone and I am lost without it. Ten years ago I used AOL and needed to find a dial up connection in order to get online. Now, I simply turn on my computer and have access to the world. Ten years ago the U.S. dollar was worth more than its weight in gold. Today we are lucky if it's even worth the paper it's printed on. These changes all contribute to who you are, who I am and who we will all become.

What will the next ten years bring? Who will be the next "King of Pop?" Who will be the inspirational leaders, the movers and shakers of the new millennium?

Here's a hint. It could be your best friend, the guy who falls asleep in math class or maybe even you. It's really all in your hands. Be ambitious, be courageous and most of all be proud of who you are and proud of what made you who you are. Tragedy, happiness and relationships are all merely "rest stops" on the road of life, so enjoy every minute of it. Take a break every once and a while. Believe they're worth it.