The Milleniall's Malaise

by Heidi Kaye 

Commuting from inner city to central, strong soy caps in hand.

Fresh salaries filtered through banks.

Inevitably addicted to social media, it helps one stay connected.

In touch. 
Aware and awake.

Scraping for rent in a concrete jungle.

Sometimes distracted by animated bursts of gratitude: Entertained, appeased, inspired.

Liking pages such as “end colonial mentality”, “Our Planet” “Embodied Philosophy” “Healthy Crate” “Magic Nature” “Humanitarian Institute” “Warrior Essence” “Enlightened Society”.

We are grateful Our newsfeeds are inundated with calls for social change, to answer personal calls beyond that of our smart phones, tuning into frequencies other then those omitted from television.

Quotes and images. Articles and videos. Protests to attend. Outcries updated via status.

So much earth on our screens its beautiful.

This newsfeed tastes like a healthy on-the-go snack bar,

flavoured and packaged to be consumed at our convenience.

Temporarily hitting that spot as we satisfy a hunger to connect to something larger then ourselves.

To hear the echo chamber singing ‘good morning you beautiful individual.

You are a conscious consumer.

You are doing the right thing.

You are a compassionate social activist.

You hold the power for change.

You spread light’.

Naturally, such a psychological response is addictive.

Our greatest achievement and irony is our addiction to these snack bars and the righteously sweet taste of alignment of ethics to practice.

Our greatest achievement and irony is our addiction to these snack bars and the righteously sweet taste of alignment of ethics to practice.

Somehow it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and I do not feel satisfied.

It is truly a significant time to bear witness.

The irony, hypocrisies, double standards of our leaders, parents and teachers is louder then ever.

Somehow it feels easier then ever to feel unsatisfied with ourselves as we make informed choices, still reluctantly following their lead. 

As we come of age, commuting to work, values of individualism embedded in our privileged upbringing are starting to beg the question:

Is this ethical?

Can I justify my footprint?

How can social media be a past time and social change my way of life?