IRON MOUNTAIN — Millennials, like it or not, are the future. You can’t live with them, but you also can’t live without them, and every generation says it. “When I was your age,” or “back in my day;” the truth is, we all like to look back on the days gone by with fond reminiscence, and yet at the same time, when we move forward in our lives, we often find ourselves speaking the words, “I want my children to have a better life than I did,” or “I worked hard so that my children would have more opportunities.” What is the reason, behind why we do the things we do? Is it family and friends, self-interest and love, self-preservation and pride? All of the above? No matter your station, and no matter your life, there are motivating factors behind everything you do.

As Simon Sinek said, the four factors that most often “dictate” the decisions and lack of contentment experienced by millennials are failed parenting strategies, technology, impatience, and environment, and the first three were all discussed in last week’s paper, but of the last factor, environment, he says, “We’re taking this amazing, fantastic group of kids, who were dealt a bad hand of the first three factors, through no fault of their own, and we put them in corporate environments who care more about the numbers, than the kids. They care more about the short-term gain than the long-term life of this young human being. So, we’re putting them in corporate environments that aren’t helping them overcome the challenges of the digital world and finding more balance, and they then blame themselves.”

He says that because of instant gratification, young people have not learned the “joys and impact and fulfillment you get from working hard on something you’ve done that cannot be done in a month or even in a year.” He goes on to express how it then becomes the job of the corporations to try and “educate” the millennial of the real world, even though that was never their job, and so it only results in a dissatisfied boss and a broken-down employee who thinks it’s his or her fault as to “why they can’t deal,” but Sinek then makes a bold statement. He says, “It’s not them (millennials); I’m here to tell them, it’s not them. It’s the corporations; it’s the corporate environment, and I wish that society and their parents did a better job, but they didn’t, so we’re getting them in our company’s, and we now have to pick up the slack. We have to find ways to build their confidence and find extra ways to teach them the social skills they’re missing out on.” Was it parenting, and society, that made the millennial they way they are? I’ll be honest — millennials weren’t born with a cell phone in their hand and a participation medal in the other.

Still, though, the question remains: are millennials ever satisfied? Once they achieve their heart’s desires, can they sit still? Here’s the thing — I’m a millennial, and I’ve often said that I don’t feel like I belong to the generation that I was born into, but in a way, I do. Like fellow millennials, I’m a dreamer, and I have a sense and desire to “make an impact,” and to change the world. Also, like millennials, I enjoy my phone, but let’s take a deeper look at the millennials — everything Simon Sinek was saying was true — everything he said was an example of a head nod and uttered “I agree,” but who’s fault was it, that the millennials were and are the way they are? Is it really anyone’s fault, or rather a collective set of occurrences that resulted in the infamous generation? Society changes. It’s a simple fact that it never stays the same, and so the society that millennials were brought up in was one that fueled dissatisfaction. Is it solely parents or solely society or solely technology that created the millennial monster? It’s never just one thing.

My sister is 10 years my junior, and she is more of a “millennial” than I will ever be, because while I was a ’90s baby, born at the precipice of advancement, smart phones weren’t a thing until I was 18; the internet was still new — there was no Snapchat or Instagram — and we still used free minutes after 9 p.m. to make a call. With that said, I’m fully knowledgeable on everything that is considered a “technological advancement” of today’s world, but unlike my sister, I never had those options when I was a child. Rob and I have always said that as long as there is another option, our kids won’t have smartphones until after high school. My mom asked me an important question when I said this, “What are you going to do when all the other kids have smartphones and Snapchat and Instagram, and if they don’t have it, they feel different or get made fun of?” It’s a real question. Was my mom wrong for giving my sister a phone in high school? Absolutely not. The difference between the generations is this: my mother’s generation grew up with no technology rivaling that of today, and they didn’t know how to navigate it or understand it. They had no idea the repercussions of it. In response to her question, I told my mom, “They don’t need a phone to make friends. Snapchat doesn’t get them ‘friends.’ It gets them superficiality.” I’m a millennial. I know the repercussions.

Where is the parent to society? Where is the monitor that shuts down the system when too much “progress” has been made? There isn’t one. Parents are often blamed, but parents can’t control society any more than society can control the millennial. All you can do, is acknowledge why things are the way they are, and try to move forward in a way that will make a difference. Make a rule — no cell phones at the dinner table; deactivate your Instagram account for a week, or even two; keep score at T-ball game; plug your phone in at night in the next room, and don’t tell me it’s your alarm clock, because in the words of Sinek, “buy an alarm clock. They’re $8;” tell your kid they’re amazing, and smart and good, but show them their flaws so they know how to tackle them; flaws make us better. So, don’t blame the millennial for the world not being the way you want it to be. Instead, act. If you’re unhappy with the way a millennial is, don’t scoff and mutter “in the good old days” — act. If you find the millennial to be lazy and impatient, take them fishing without a phone, but know that Rome wasn’t built in a day. An old dog can learn new tricks, and so can a millennial, but first, you have to teach them.

——

Freeman

Kingsford

Scenes and sounds, 11:45 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Sunday: Uno, 1 p.m.; dunking donuts, 2 p.m.; church, 2:15 p.m.

Monday: Pretty nails, 10 a.m.; brouhaha, 11 a.m.; library cart, 1:30 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; ice cream social, 3 p.m.

Tuesday: Reminisce, 11 a.m.; Kentucky Derby, 2 p.m.; craft, 3 p.m.; laundry day, 4 p.m.; dinner theater, 5 p.m.

Wednesday: Room visits, 10 a.m.; Golden Throats, 2 p.m.; movie and popcorn, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Reading buddy, 10 a.m.; puppy visits, 11 a.m.; pokereno, 2 p.m.

Friday: What’s cooking, 11 a.m.; bunko, 1:15 p.m.; jigsaw brain teaser, 2 p.m.; happy hour, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Meet and greet, 10:30 a.m.; Daily News, 11 a.m.; spinning records, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Iron County Medical Facility

Crystal Falls

Room visits, 1 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Exercise, 11 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Sunday: One-to-one church visitor, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; storytelling, 10 a.m.; bingorama, 2 p.m.; Church of Christ, 3 p.m.

Monday: Crafts, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; Sunshine Club, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday: CF library, 9:30 a.m.; book club, 10 a.m.; prayer, 10 a.m.; Christmas galleria IC Museum, noon; current events, 2 p.m.; musical movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Coffee social, 10 a.m.; spelling bball, 10 a.m.; Apostolic Lutheran, 1:15 p.m.; getting pretty, 1:30 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; family tradition reminisce, 10 a.m.; travel film, 1:30 p.m.; happy hour, 2:30 p.m.

Friday: Crafts, 9 to 10:30 a.m.; Wii fun, 2 p.m.; web browsing, 2:30 p.m.; comedy movie, 6 p.m.

Saturday: ICMCF word search, 10 a.m.; you be the judge, 10 a.m.; geri gym, 11 a.m.; intergenerational social hour, 2 p.m.

ManorCare

Kingsford

Wet your whistle, 9:30 a.m. daily.

Movie, 10:45 a.m. daily, and 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Gathering place, 11:40 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 11:40 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Popcorn Day Fridays.

Protestant Church service, 3 p.m. Sunday.

Exercises, 10 a.m. daily.

Sunday: Just jokes, 10:15 a.m.; morsels and more, 1:30 p.m.; Protestant church, 3 p.m.

Monday: Who, what, when, 10:15 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; pokeno, 5:45 p.m.

Tuesday: Who am I?, 10:15 a.m.; resident council/food committee, 2 p.m.; movie and a manicure, 5:45 p.m.

Wednesday: Remembering when, 10:15 a.m.; Thanksgiving birthday party, 2 p.m.; flip five, 5:45 p.m.

Thursday: Thanksgiving Day social, 9:30 a.m.; Thanksgiving bingo, 2 p.m.; movie, 3:15 p.m.

Friday: Trivia, 10:15 a.m.; pokeno, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Current events, 10:15 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; movie, 3:15 p.m.

Maryhill Manor

Niagara, Wis.

Rosary, 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Parachute, 1:30 p.m. daily.

Monthly support group for grief and loss, 2 p.m. second Monday of the month.

Weekend pet visits.

Sunday: Rosary, 8:30 a.m.; Mass, 9 a.m.; music bingo, 10:15 a.m.; Protestant service, 2:30 p.m.; Christian fellowship, 5:30 p.m.

Monday: Protestant church, 9 a.m.; Travel Club, 10:15 a.m.; help your neighbor, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Bingo, 10:15 a.m.; current events, 2 p.m.; Yahtzee, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: You be the judge, 10:15 a.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.; bunco, 6:15 p.m.

Thursday: Mass, 9 a.m.; Scattergories, 10:15 a.m.; turkey bingo, 2 p.m.; whammo, 6:15 p.m.

Friday: Yoga, 9 a.m.; happy hour, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Jokereno, 10:15 a.m.; pamper and polish, 2 p.m.; movie and popcorn, 5:45 p.m.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

Exercise, 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Coffee clutch, 9:30 a.m. daily

Shopping days: 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, must sign up.

Sunday: Bible study, 1:30 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Monday: Bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Tuesday: Music with Pastor Jim, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Communion, 10 a.m.; birthday party, 2 p.m.

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving.

Friday: Bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Movie and popcorn, 2 p.m.

Florence Health Services

Florence, Wis.

Morning news, 6 a.m. daily.

Sunday: Pastor Miller, 9:30 a.m.; flippo, 2 p.m.

Monday: Bingo with Bette, 10 a.m.; trivia, 2:30 p.m.; one on one time, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Pasto Doug, 10 a.m.; music with Tom Palmer, 2 p.m.; social hour, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Horse races, 10 a.m.; music with Larry J, 2 p.m.; gingerbread cookie party, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Pastor Jason, 10 a.m.; music with Jan and Gino, 2 p.m.

Friday: Catholic church service, 10 a.m.; Pictionary, 2 p.m.; happy hour, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Bingo, 10 a.m.; Uno, 2 p.m.

Pinecrest Medical Care Facility

Powers

Life connections, 9:45 a.m. every Monday.

Busy bee, 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Rosary 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Sunday: Grace church, 10:15 a.m.; Uno, 10:30 a.m.; life stories, 2 p.m.; ball toss, 3:30 p.m.

Monday: Beauty shop, 10:30 a.m.; rosary, 2:30 p.m.; ball toss, 3:30 p.m.; mind joggers, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Buck hunt, 10:30 a.m.; social circle, 3:30 p.m.; word puzzles, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Casino outing, 10:30 a.m.; birthday party, 2 p.m.; one-on-one visits, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday: Exercise, 10 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; cards, 3:30 p.m.

Friday: Mass, 10:30 a.m.; Jerry Beauchamp, 2 p.m.; Sorry game, 3:30 p.m.; one-on-one visits, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Hand massage, 10 a.m.; life stories, 10:30 a.m.; manicures, 2 p.m.; sensory, 3:30 p.m.

SENIOR CENTERS

Note: All centers ask for 24-hour advanced reservations for lunch. If you have meals delivered and will not be home, notify the center.

Alpha-Mastodon Center

906-875-3315

Meal noon every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Lunch at noon.

Bingo on Tuesdays.

Free meal drawing on Thursdays.

Breen Center

906-774-5110

Meals Monday through Friday.

Pasty sale every third Saturday of the month.

Cards and games available 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m.

Hostess on duty Monday through Friday.

Treats and coffee, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Center retail store is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday; volunteers and donations are welcome.

Birthdays acknowledged every day.

Evening meals are on the first and third Thursday of the month. Salad bar opens at 4 p.m., with dinner at 5 p.m. Donations are $4 for those 60 and older and $5 for 60 and younger.

Crystal Falls Center

Head cook: Lucy Korhonen

906-875-6709

Meals will be served on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5 p.m., with the salad bar opening at 4:30 p.m. The dinner donation is $5 for those age 60 and older and $6 for those younger than 60. There is a $1 charge for take-out containers. All are invited.

Cribbage will be played at 1 p.m. Wednesdays and be concluded in time for dinner.

Monday: Soup, salad, chicken parmesan, noodles, vegetables and homemade dessert.

Tuesday: Soup, salad, scalloped potatoes, ham, vegetables and homemade dessert.

Wednesday: Thanksgiving dinner.

The center is closed Thursday through Sunday.

A blood pressure reading can be taken by request at any time while the center is open.

Crystal Lake Center

906-774-5888

The center is closed on weekends.

Monday: Woodcarvers, 10 a.m.; mahjong in dining hall, noon; Les Artistes Art Club, noon; Bridge Club, 12:15 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday: Pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: Billiards, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday: Spinning Spools Quilters Guild, 1 p.m., crafters, scrapbookers and others also welcome; knitting and crocheting class, 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday: Smear, 12:30 p.m.

Last Saturday of the month: Music jam starting at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Dances take place from 7 to 10 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Admission is $6; coffee is free.

The Photo Club meets 1 to 3 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.

Evening meals are usually on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Salad bar opens at 4 p.m., with the meal served at 4:30 p.m. A donation of $4 is accepted for seniors age 60 and older, but not required.

Home-delivered meals are for seniors 60 and older can be delivered seven days a week. Christine McMahon has information for all meals and can be reached at 906-774-2256, ext. 235. For transportation, call Buzzin’ Around Town at 906-282-0492. Rides are $3 for age 60 and older, and $3.50 for younger than 60.

Transportation is available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Meals served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.

Bingo after lunch on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

A congregate jigsaw puzzle is done daily.

Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County

715-528-4890

Director: Tiffany White

Suggested donation for seniors older than 60 is $4 per meal. Residents younger than 60 must pay $7. Reservations and cancellations needed 48 hours in advance.

The ADRC can assist area seniors and those with disabilities with transportation Monday through Friday. Transportation reservation should be made with meal reservation.

Four senior dining locations are listed below:

Fence Center/Town Hall

715-336-2980

Meal at noon Wednesdays only. Reservations are requested. Cribbage and cards are available.

Florence Community Center/Town Hall

715-528-4261

Meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Jigsaw puzzles, cards, cribbage and board games are available. The coffee is always on as well.

Tipler Town Hall

715-674-2320

Serving lunch at noon on the second Thursday of the month.

Hillcrest Senior Dining Center, Aurora

715-589-4491

Meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Jigsaw puzzles, cribbage, cards and board games are available. The coffee is always on as well.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Pam Haluska

906-498-7735

Meal is at noon Monday through Friday. Suggested donation is $3 for age 60 and older and $7 for those younger than 60.

Morning coffee is available daily.

Fifteen games of “fun bingo” are played each Tuesday and Friday, along with a 50-50 drawing.

Tuesday: Bingo, 12:45 p.m.

Wednesday: Cards played in the afternoon. Call ahead to see if a game will be going on.

Friday: Bingo, 12:45 p.m.

Monday through Friday: Walking in the gym, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A treadmill also is available.

Friendly interaction with other crafters.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Meals served 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; a $4 donation is encouraged from those 60 and older, and a $5 payment is required from those younger than 60.

Thursday meal, 4 p.m. salad bar, with dinner at 4:30 p.m.

Christine McMahon has information for all meals and can be reached at 906-774-2256 ext. 235. For transportation rides call Buzzin’ Around Town at 906-282-0492. Rides are $3 for age 60 and older, and $3.50 for younger than 60.

Niagara Northwoods Senior Cafe and Center

Meal site manager: Corrie Maule, 715-251-1603

Senior center director: Jill Anderson, 715-251- 4154

Noon meals served Monday through Thursday.

Transportation to the meal site from the Niagara, Wis., area is offered.

They welcome any senior groups that would like to use the meal site as a meeting place — join them for lunch and then stay for a meeting or social time.

Wii games, cards, puzzles and board games are available to play.

Other activities are in the works — suggestions are always welcome.

Those who have not been at the meal site/senior center are invited to give it a try. Those who haven’t been here in a while are encouraged to come back.

Norway Center

Director: Susie Slining

906-563-8716

Monday through Thursday: Meals served at noon, with salad bar. Soup also is available at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Milk, juice, bread, fruit, tea, and coffee served daily. Meal donation is $5. Reservation for the meal should be made in advance.

Two special-themed meals take place each month, with bingo, prizes and a 50-50 drawing.

Two evening meals offered at 5 p.m. on the first Monday and third Wednesday of the month, with bingo, prizes and a 50-50.

If Norway-Vulcan are schools are closed due to snow days, so is the senior center. If the schools are on a two-hour delay, the center remains open.

Cards are played daily after the noon meal.

Craft and exercise classes: Mondays and Thursdays.

Ceramic and art classes: Wednesdays.

Puzzles always in the works.

A senior coloring class meets daily. All are welcome. Some materials will be provided.

Tuesday — Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberries, juice, soup, salad bar, and pumpkin pie. Bingo and prizes with 50-50 available; sign up early.

Wednesday — Blood pressure clinic, 11 a.m. to noon.

Wednesday — Noon meal with chicken divan over egg noodles, winter blend vegetables, fruit, juice, salad bar, dessert.

Thursday — Happy Thanksgiving. The center will be closed.

Note: A CSFP food card (green card) is available to income-eligible seniors. Make an appointment to get signed up. File of Life packets available at the center.

Note: Ask about the Medicare Savings Program. This program helps people pay their Medicare part B premium. You may be eligible. The local MMAP counselor can be reached at 1-800-803-7174, or dial 211.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Meals: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11:45 a.m.

Cards: Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday.

Commodities every other month and quarterly commodities are every three months.

A puzzle table is available to enjoy.