I Used to Be a Proud Millennial. Then Gen Z Happened
A light identity crisis in three acts.
For most of my twenties, I was a full-core millennial.
We were the fairy-tale generation.
Grew up on fairytales and love stories, MSN Messenger, and the idea that if you worked really hard and were really nice, life would reward you with a “surprise” proposal, a chill office job, and a best friend who never needed boundaries.
I believed in hustle culture, soulmate-level friendships, and burning out quietly while still looking like I had it together.
Basically, if there was a Pinterest board for the “golden retriever millennial dream,” I was probably on it.
But somewhere in the last few years, something changed.
It started small.
I began getting distracted mid-scroll while scrolling.
I stopped watching entire movies because ugh, long.
I started romanticizing soft boundaries, 4-day work weeks, and “this doesn’t spark joy” exits.
And then came the moment that confirmed it:
I wanted flexibility.
Not because it was trendy.
But because I physically couldn’t handle the 9-to-5-no-matter-what rigidity anymore.
Who was I becoming?
Apparently… a millennial with Gen Z traits.
The signs were everywhere:
- I now have the attention span of a YouTube ad on 2x speed
- I’m suspicious of any brand that tries too hard
- I crave practical advice, not Pinterest quotes
- I value emotional availability over aesthetic consistency (in both people and brands)
- I have a savings tracker, a budget spreadsheet, and thoughts about index funds
- And somewhere along the way, I stopped waiting for someone to fulfill my dreams and just started building them myself
Because that’s the shift, isn’t it?
We grew up dreaming about being rescued.
Now we’re reading personal finance blogs at midnight and learning how to rescue ourselves.
Being the hero of your own story doesn’t come with background music.
But it does come with financial literacy, therapy, and the courage to say no without guilt.
What happened to that old-school millennial girl?
She still shows up sometimes.
Usually when I’m watching old rom-coms or wanting a “deep” friendship after one intense conversation.
But mostly, I’ve outgrown the version of me who romanticized overworking, overexplaining, and overextending.
Turns out… You don’t need a dramatic monologue in the rain to grow.
Sometimes you just need sleep. Or a boundary. Or a soft “maybe not.”
So here’s what I’ve learned:
Gen Z didn’t change me.
But being around them reminded me that it’s okay to question the blueprint you inherited.
It’s okay to evolve.
To blend timelines.
To let your dreams change, and let your priorities catch up.
So if you’re a millennial who’s starting to feel like you don’t fully belong in either camp, welcome.
We’re the bridge generation.
Raised on fantasies.
Rewired by reality.
And finally starting to pick what works for us.
With love (and a low battery alert),
A millennial who still believes in storytelling
But now prefers the short-form kind.
