Different generations do things differently, and Boomers don’t owe anyone an apology just because some of their habits and values seem dated.
The personal touch
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to call or see someone instead of exchanging dozens of texts. Texting is great and all, but sometimes tone and intent can be difficult to read through a screen.
Many Boomers learned how to resolve arguments, share information, and be friends through in-person conversation. New tech doesn’t erase that, and no one should feel ashamed for wanting to hear someone’s voice every now and then.
If it still works
Just because there is something new doesn’t mean you always have to replace the old. That 15- year-old fridge, outdated car, or sturdy chair might not be trendy, but throwing it out just to replace it wastes money and creates garbage.
Many Boomers grew up learning how to fix something before tossing it. With so many disposable products and upgrades, squeezing every bit of usefulness out of something can be good financial sense.
The old-fashioned way
Digital wallets and contactless payments are useful. However, cash does not suddenly become something people are embarrassed to use. Some people prefer physical money when budgeting because they can see what they spend. Cash also won’t let you down if your phone’s not charged or you don’t have the app/don’t understand another payment service.
Pen and paper
A paper calendar, hand-written shopping list, or notebook is just as useful as an app. Many people might even remember things better if they write it down physically. Boomers don’t have to put every aspect of their lives on a smartphone just because they can.
If your notebook has helped you keep appointments, passwords, recipes, or household plans organized for years, then there is little need to switch just to look cool.
Not everyone needs to know
There’s no need to share what you’re doing on vacation, your birthday dinner, your political beliefs, your fights with your family members, or what you’re eating for breakfast with total strangers on the internet.
Many Boomers were raised with the expectation that certain aspects of your life stayed private. Facebook and Twitter may have shifted that assumption, but you don’t have to participate.
Dressing well
Some Boomers like wearing nice clothes to dinner, church, airplanes, movies, parties, or whatever else they deem special. Times have gotten a lot more casual, but there is nothing wrong with pampering yourself by dressing up a little. Clothes are personal, and just because you choose to wear something dressier doesn’t mean you are condemning someone else for wearing sneakers and pants.
A little courtesy
Using please and thank you, opening a door and acknowledging someone who holds it for you, and getting there just a few minutes after the time you agreed are not old-fashioned concepts. Manners do evolve from generation to generation and culture to culture, but common courtesy still makes daily life nicer.
Boomers should not apologize for caring about politeness as long as they understand that millennials may show respect a little differently.
Enjoying older entertainment
Just because young people like something different than you doesn’t mean you have to stop listening to the Beatles, watching Motown movies or classic westerns, and sitcoms your family watched growing up.
Memory plays a big part in entertainment. There are certain songs or movies that can transport you right back to a certain time of your life. But at the same time, just because you like something older doesn’t mean that you can’t allow someone to introduce you to something new.
Taking retirement seriously
You didn’t become lazy after working for many years. Retirement means taking trips, tending a garden, volunteering, spoiling grandchildren, pursuing hobbies, or sleeping in on Saturdays.
Our society glorifies busyness, like everyone should be working around the clock. Retirees who’ve worked and planned for retirement don’t owe anyone an explanation.
Boundaries with technology
Being reachable doesn’t equal being available 24/7. Smartphones have conditioned us to think we should reply to a message right away, even when there’s nothing pressing.
It’s okay to put your phone away at dinner, let a voicemail go unanswered until tomorrow, or take an entire afternoon offline. Technology is meant to simplify lives, not turn us all into glorified customer service representatives.
Family traditions
Preparing a special meal at Christmas time, hanging old pictures on the wall, observing your anniversary, or upholding traditions that have been passed down through the family tree can offer important continuity.
Just because something is traditional doesn’t mean it should be kept around. But if it’s harmless, traditions can help remember family history. You may even teach your young nieces and nephews to appreciate them as they grow older.
Watching every dollar
Living on a budget, price shopping, steering clear of debt when you don’t need it, and saving for a rainy day are not behaviors to apologize for. Boomer generations may have dealt with recessions, high inflation, and uncertain economies throughout their lives, which influenced their relationship with money.
Millennials and younger generations experience different financial stressors. You shouldn’t use one generation’s behavior to admonish another.
Keeping up
You don’t have to know every new app, abbreviation, celebrity, meme, fashion, or slang. Culture moves at lightning speed nowadays, and even kids have a hard time keeping up with what’s going on online.
Asking what something means is better than acting as if you know. It’s more important to care about staying curious than knowing every trend right when it happens.
Remembering your roots
Each generation is born into the successes and failures of the generations that came before them. Baby Boomers aren’t uniquely doomed to shoulder the sins of their fathers. You can understand the problems of past generations without feeling personally guilty for everything that happened during the years you grew up.
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