Defining Millennial Joy
- Julia Flaherty
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
Millennial joy is Cupquake by Victoria's Secret. It's washing your hands in the sinks at Bath & Body Works with White Citrus.
Millennial joy is begging your mom to go to the pool on a summer day, giving her a break, and then begging her for an ice cream drumstick at the snack counter. Millennial joy is ordering popcorn with nacho cheese anyway. Millennial joy is finding a way to get the drumstick, too, and savoring it until you reach the bottom, treating the crunchy chocolatey mini cone as its own delicious delight.
Millennial joy is swimming lessons with your siblings. Millennial joy is watching all of the "Harry Potter" movies in theatres. It's waiting for the next Hilary Duff, Amanda Bynes, or Lindsay Lohan thing to come out. It's wanting to be them and steal their wardrobes (or boyfriends) in anything they were ever in. Millennial joy is Tumblr.
Millennial joy is singing "High School Musical" at the top of your lungs, thinking it could happen to you, too. Millennial joy is DCOMs (Disney Channel Original Movies). It's loving the cringe.
Millennial joy is playing night games with your cousins at your aunt's house and hiding from your parents when they say it is time to come home. It's pretending you're stuck to them with duct tape so you can't leave. It's making a ton of sh*t out of duct tape and securing broken sandals with it.
Millennial joy is running over to your neighbor's house to play SIMs and drink Walmart White Grape sparkling water. It's putting SCORE bars in the freezer and waiting for optimal freeze time to devour them. It's buying $10 t-shirts at Target that you thought would make you cool with the older kids.
Millennial joy is VHS tapes and CDs. It's listening to Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson on repeat, thinking it makes you edgy. It's wearing camo after watching Cadet Kelly and feeding your delulu, thinking you're Hilary Duff's best friend. It's being embarrassed about the rock 'n roll your dad is blasting on the radio and the '80s your mom is listening to.
Millennial joy is wearing chevron, low-cut jeans, and tying your t-shirt with a hair tie in the back. It's putting your bangs back and pushing them up in a poof, securing them with a little clip, imagining you were in Girl's Life magazine. It's getting your ears pierced at Claire's. It's Limited Too and the DEB shop and trying on dresses with your best friend in the mall until closing time with no intention of buying them. It's wearing UGGs no matter what or where you are.
Millennial joy is begging your dad to buy Lunchables and snack pudding at the grocery store. It's begging your parents for extra money for the hot lunch line so you can get the special meal. Millennial joy is pouring milk into your ice cream cup at lunchtime to make it creamier.
Millennial joy is logging into AIM (AOL Instant Messenger), waiting for your friends to come on, and trading quips until the library computers kick you off. Millennial joy is creativity devoid of overstimulating social media.
Millennial joy is remembering the OG Instagram, posting selfies and pictures of your adventures to claim hundreds of likes, joining in your celebration of simple pleasures or Covergirl's newest product. Millennial joy is reading magazines for the latest and greatest Hollywood gossip. It's the summer library program.
Millennial joy is Nick at Nite. It's Full House, Family Matters, and Saved by the Bell. It's Maroon 5 videos you weren't supposed to watch before school on VH1 or MTV. Millennial joy is being scared to join Facebook and excited to grow your MySpace. Millennial joy is being obsessed with Pinterest.
Millennial joy is Zac Efron, NYSNC, Backstreet Boys, or Jonas Brothers posters on your bedroom walls and Great Illustrated Classics on your bookshelf. Millennial joy is trying to sing like Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears at your school talent show.
Millennial joy is never that far away, no matter how bad things get. Millennial joy is knowing we all have each other now that we're angsty adults trying to ensure our employees feel supported, parents are taken care of, and people are pleased with us 24/7. Millennial joy is honing it in angst, anger, sadness, and grief.
