Christmas Blog Jules Lejeune: old versus new

Christmas Blog Jules Lejeune: old versus new

Just a few days to go and we will raise our glasses to celebrate a successful end of 2019 and welcome a new year full of opportunities and challenges. We enjoy past successes and moments of joy, and lick the wounds of our disappointments and sadness. The ending of the old is the beginning of the new. After the countdown, it all starts to add up again.

This year, the turn of the year also coincides with the transition to a new decade. The 'Twin-ties', 20-20, are just around the corner.

Boomer

I was reminded of this when I heard yesterday that 'Boomer' has been elected 'Word of the Year 2019' in the Netherlands. More than 40% of online voters chose this word over 'Klimaatspijbelaar' (‘Climate Truant’) and 'Klimaatdrammer' (‘Climate Nagger’). The name giver of the competition, Van Dale’s Dictionary, describes 'Boomer' as 'a (mostly older) person with old-fashioned ideas or conservative views'.

A 'new' word that refers back to 'old'.

The news item on one of the Dutch newssites stated that “'Boomer', derived from the word baby boomer, is used as a synonym for fossil. In online discussions, ideas that are considered old-fashioned by young people are dismissed with the slogan 'OK, Boomer'".

In my late fifties, born between 1946 and 1964 and thus falling within the definition, I tend to embrace 'Boomer' as title of honour, although I find the already discarded generational term 'fossil' to go back a bit too far in time. In my view, ‘Fossil' is more a thing associated with numbers 2 and 3 on this year's ranking, both of which in their own way address legitimate concerns about climate change.

The supporting force of associations

Boomers are the supporting force of associations. And associations are the cement of society. Unlike their successors, Boomers do not thrive on the ferocious waves of social media, but are used to regulating the water level in the community like a pumping station, by connecting high and low water levels. It is not the banks of opposites, but the pumping around of extremes into a coherent whole that drives them.

In this time of revival of activism, it is important not to keep shouting over 'the other side', but to meet in the middle, even if this sometimes causes wet feet or a wet suit.

TOGETHER

Boomers, too, were no stranger to activism once in the last century. The term Boomer suggests that generations are alienating from each other, and that their followers, generations X, Y and Z, are on their own. I don't know who will turn up after those generations, because the alphabetical order will be finished. But now, more than ever, is the time to take up cross-generational challenges TOGETHER. Maybe the word of 2020?

It will be roaring twenties, the last decade in which the Boomers will actively participate in society, but their legacy will increase in value as the years go by.

Boomers 4Ever!

On behalf of the employees and management of Lejeune Association Management I wish you a Merry Christmas and a successful 2020!

Jules Lejeune

Managing Director