Is That All?

There's an old song from the time when songs actually said something, called "Is That All There Is?" The other day while having dinner in a restaurant with a fascinating ambience, a collection of arts and decor that intrigued, I saw, at a table nearby, a group of four people in their twenties, who entered dourly, sat down with hoodies, tattoos and hats in place, ordered their food and drink but said not a word to each other. In their hands, were the usual devices. Their eyes were constantly on them with thumbs flying. Our table conversation got around to young adults and their overwhelming desire to "have it all". The table next door folk, appeared to be one of the set who had succeeded in having it "all". Their clothes were high style, their meals, obviously from the upper price page of the menu and drinks followed suit. None of these attractive, healthy, rich-looking types conversed or smiled with, or at, each other. Their full attention was on their phones. And while we discussed what young people wanted these days, that table was, in fact, giving us the answer. To some, they may appeared to have it all. Later, I thought about "having it all". To many, it means having a personal style that fits the latest trends,  having a place to live in that looks like something out of a magazine and is located in the "best" parts of town. It means going to all of the hot clubs to imbibe in trendy substances, legal or otherwise, and partying the night away. It means driving the sports car of the moment, and I don't mean the bargain model. It means having endless amounts money, either one's own or that of  indulgent parents. It means something that most young adults simply can't have. The facts are harsh. The average young person may dream all-of-the-above, and complain that the reason they don't have it "all", is because only the rich can afford it and it-was-easy-in-your-day-Dad. They are perfectly correct. Getting rich is how it works. Getting a good education, not necessarily just academic, is how it works. And that takes a lot of work - and money. To get an education in this country is out of reach without a huge loan. To have all the rest of it, you need opportunity and luck. It doesn't just happen. Those are the facts, and Hollywood, and other media hype that puts out visions of "having it all" being easily reachable, are mere fairy tales. Having it all, may not entirely be possible, but aiming for it "all" is a reality. It takes determination and long, hard work. It always did. Even in Mom and Dad's day.