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Over the last decades new terms have been coined to describe groups of people according to their birth years: baby boomers (1946-1964, millennials (1981-1986) , gen X (1965-1980), gen z (1997-2012).
Now there is a new term – perennials – which places people into a group not based upon birth years but upon continuing engagement with life in a wide variety of ways and patterns. The term “perennials” was introduced in 2016 by writer and entrepreneur Gina Pell who coined it as a response to “to Millennial-bashing in the media: Millennials were called lazy, entitled, non-committal, unrealistic, selfie-obsessed posers.”
Rejecting the simplistic notion of stereotyping women and men into tight age categories she writes: “being a millennial doesn’t have to mean living in your parents’ basement, growing an artisan beard, and drinking craft beer. Midlife doesn’t have to be a crisis. And you don’t have to be a number anymore. You’re relevant. You’re ever blooming. You’re perennial.” Pell considered this issue more deeply and came to the conclusion that, in the 21st century, age is not the defining way of viewing and understanding others.
As a corrective to placing people into an age box, Pell describes perennials as “ever-blooming, relevant people of all ages who live in the present time, know what’s happening in the world, stay current with technology, and have friends of all ages. Perennials get involved, stay curious, mentor others, and are passionate, compassionate, creative, confident, collaborative, global-minded risk takers, and who know how to hustle. Perennials comprise an inclusive, enduring mind-set, not a diverse demographic.”
And, she adds that people perennials transcend age, race, gender, religion, socioeconomic group, and other categories that tend to separate, silo, and divide us.”
Interestingly, the word perennial now appears in some dictionaries with this definition: “an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes.” Pell, however, believes that a perennial can be a person of any age and not only one who is “older”.
Some prominent examples of perennials, past and present, include:
• Tony Bennett collaborating with Lady Gaga by recording music together;
• Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone continuing to make movies in their 70s;
• Ringo Star and Paul McCartney still performing in their 80s;
• Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski (1812-1887) who wrote his first book in 1830, when he was a teenager and published 600 books during his lifetime;
• Buddha who died in his 80th year but had taught continuously for 45 years offering a final teaching from his death bed.
Perennials appear in all ages, interests, races, and genders but what they have in common is curiosity, creativity, and commitment to remain engaged with their world. In short, perennial people are ever blooming. They are the ageless generation.
Now there is a new term – perennials – which places people into a group not based upon birth years but upon continuing engagement with life in a wide variety of ways and patterns. The term “perennials” was introduced in 2016 by writer and entrepreneur Gina Pell who coined it as a response to “to Millennial-bashing in the media: Millennials were called lazy, entitled, non-committal, unrealistic, selfie-obsessed posers.”
Rejecting the simplistic notion of stereotyping women and men into tight age categories she writes: “being a millennial doesn’t have to mean living in your parents’ basement, growing an artisan beard, and drinking craft beer. Midlife doesn’t have to be a crisis. And you don’t have to be a number anymore. You’re relevant. You’re ever blooming. You’re perennial.” Pell considered this issue more deeply and came to the conclusion that, in the 21st century, age is not the defining way of viewing and understanding others.
As a corrective to placing people into an age box, Pell describes perennials as “ever-blooming, relevant people of all ages who live in the present time, know what’s happening in the world, stay current with technology, and have friends of all ages. Perennials get involved, stay curious, mentor others, and are passionate, compassionate, creative, confident, collaborative, global-minded risk takers, and who know how to hustle. Perennials comprise an inclusive, enduring mind-set, not a diverse demographic.”
And, she adds that people perennials transcend age, race, gender, religion, socioeconomic group, and other categories that tend to separate, silo, and divide us.”
Interestingly, the word perennial now appears in some dictionaries with this definition: “an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes.” Pell, however, believes that a perennial can be a person of any age and not only one who is “older”.
Some prominent examples of perennials, past and present, include:
• Tony Bennett collaborating with Lady Gaga by recording music together;
• Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone continuing to make movies in their 70s;
• Ringo Star and Paul McCartney still performing in their 80s;
• Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski (1812-1887) who wrote his first book in 1830, when he was a teenager and published 600 books during his lifetime;
• Buddha who died in his 80th year but had taught continuously for 45 years offering a final teaching from his death bed.
Perennials appear in all ages, interests, races, and genders but what they have in common is curiosity, creativity, and commitment to remain engaged with their world. In short, perennial people are ever blooming. They are the ageless generation.
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