Gen Z inspires carefree living and confidence

Pushing into the second half of my fifties can feel like either a renaissance after a lifetime of plodding or a slow slide into becoming a relic condemned to decrepitude. For me, navigating this terrain has taken an unexpected turn. I now find myself looking up to a generation many decades younger, with equal measures of wariness and admiration. Gen Z has me quite jazzed these days. There is something about them that intrigues me, even drawing me to emulate certain aspects of their disposition.

The criticisms laid against them by older generations are plentiful. The cavernous gap that exists between them and us manifests in many ways. There is a mutual ‘sus’ that pervades our interactions, and their presence invariably makes me feel like I lack the ‘rizz’. Like many in my generation, I too have had qualms about the way they conduct the business of life, but I now wonder if their new ways are being misunderstood and dismissed by us rather too quickly.

Gen Z has grown up in a world that demands constant self-presentation on social media, in academics, in job markets, and in every space they inhabit. They don’t have it easy anywhere. Confidence, for them, is not vanity; it is a survival skill. Even when they’re unsure, they must sound sure. Older generations mistake that certitude for arrogance. That very conviction mirrors back the diffidence I carried through my youth, even in a world far less competitive than theirs. I envy the self-assurance they possess. I wish I could borrow a fragment of it now, to keep myself afloat in a world that seems to be in rush hour all day.

There are traits that mark them as products of a modern age to which we are somewhat alien. Yet they get several things right-skills that help them navigate life with striking ease. They do not glorify suffering and are unapologetic about setting boundaries. They keep toxicity at bay and walk away from manipulation without hesitation. You cannot arm-twist them; they know better. I find this deeply admirable. Gen Z has no desire to appear perfect. They are cavalier in their ways and do not take critics too seriously. Their humour and candour often mask a quiet sensitivity to self-worth. They care about how they are treated and cannot tolerate dismissal, even if it sometimes reads as haughtiness. They are less apologetic about who they are and what they want from life. It is an attitude I often wish to emulate, for remaining unbothered when judgement flies in your face is a rare liberation. There is also a breeziness in how they handle personal affairs. Permanent relationships are not assumed. They enter them knowing endings are possible. They invest, but do not chain themselves. They prioritise emotional safety over emotional endurance. They avoid deriving identity solely from relationships and steer clear of over-sentimentality. Their low-intensity connections do not break them when they end; they simply move on, letting bygones be bygones. This is not detachment but self-preservation-a clarity that helps them distinguish between being kind and being merely nice. They are not frivolous; they are cautious and self-loving. Yes, they have traits old-schoolers may disapprove of, but they also possess a knack for making the most of whatever life offers-lemons or laughter. They show me how to live with more ease, openness and a dash of flair. One day, when I am ready, I will take a leaf from the Gen Z scrapbook and learn to be carefree.

The writer is a Dubai-based author, columnist, independent journalist and children’s writing coach; views are personal