Sometimes, I think about how lucky I am to have been born when I was.
Every era has its own advantages and disadvantages, but I feel particularly grateful for the opportunities and conveniences available during my lifetime.
More Freedom to Be Myself
Compared with previous generations, I grew up in a society where traditional Asian values and Confucian expectations have gradually become less restrictive.
Women have more freedom to express their opinions, make their own choices, and decide how they want to live. Young people have more room to explore their personal styles, hobbies, and beliefs without being constrained by as many rigid expectations.
I’m grateful to have grown up during a time when personal freedom was becoming more widely accepted.
The Convenience of Modern Life
The internet, smartphones, online shopping, food delivery, ride-hailing apps, video games, and streaming platforms have made everyday life so much easier and more entertaining.
Knowledge is readily available. Learning foreign languages, exploring other cultures, and traveling internationally are more accessible than ever. Healthcare has also advanced, making treatments such as laser eye surgery and orthodontics more widely available.
Vietnam has developed tremendously compared with earlier periods of war and economic isolation. We now have more choices in food, shopping, entertainment, education, and leisure. Many products and services that make life comfortable are widely available, and families have more opportunities to provide for their children.
Growing Up in Between
When I look at the generations before me, I’m grateful that I didn’t have to grow up with the same limitations in personal freedom, technology, and access to modern conveniences.
When I look at younger generations, I recognize that they face a different kind of pressure. Competition in education and employment is intense, living costs are high, and technology continues to evolve at a pace that demands constant adaptation.
Today’s standards for what constitutes a comfortable, successful life also seem much higher. Having enough food, decent clothes, and a comfortable home no longer seems sufficient when the standard has shifted toward eating well, dressing well, traveling internationally, and maintaining an attractive appearance. Cosmetic procedures, fashionable lifestyles, impressive academic credentials, and prestigious careers have become increasingly visible and seemingly commonplace.
Social media amplifies these expectations. When everyone appears to be traveling, looking beautiful, achieving impressive things, and living comfortably, those who cannot afford or access the same experiences may feel left behind. Children and young adults face pressure to measure up not only academically and professionally, but also in appearance, possessions, and social status.
I’m grateful that I experienced a period when technology was already making life more convenient, without growing up entirely immersed in today’s fast-paced digital environment and heightened social expectations.
I’m genuinely grateful for the era I was born into, the freedoms I enjoy, the technology I have access to, and the opportunities that have shaped my life.
Sometimes, when I encounter difficulties in my own life, I can become so focused on what is challenging that I forget to appreciate the advantages of the generation I belong to. Remembering how much has changed since previous generations helps me recognize just how fortunate I am to have been born when I was.
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