Something good about Millennials!

So a lot of people like to bash millennials and in many ways they’ve earned that badge of honor.  Recently I saw a post on a coach who referenced that children haven’t changed it is the adults who aren’t preparing children for the trials of life.  That really got me thinking as to the criticism brought onto millennials.  Through my course of thought, as I’m walking down beautiful downtown Missoula, Montana, I walked by a quaint establishment.

I had been hungry for sometime but had been putting it off, mostly out of laziness.  I saw two college age women sitting at a sidewalk table eating out of bowls with some mix mash of food.  Food that smelled extraordinary.  After a quick chat about what they were eating I decided to go in.

What I was a amazed with inside “Five on Black” was how limited the meal combinations were but how incredible the restaurant smelled.  The simplistic Brazilian menu was amazing.  In just a few seconds I ordered a bowl of brown rice, chicken, sweet potato, and spicy coconut sauce.  I added a lime and gluten free cheese roll at checkout and began to devour such a simple yet amazing meal.

While I was eating I began thinking about the changes going on in the world.  I had recently read a financial bulletin on the crash of retail and another article on the consumer anger over massive markups over the past decades.  Photos of demolished mall sites and other big retail stores that looked like scenes from “The Walking Dead” filled my mind.  My thought process led to millennials who seem to have a flair for keeping things simple.  For decades consumers have been dealing with 1000% markups on clothing, food, vehicles, etc.  We are entering an age of simplicity where companies like Amazon are reining king.  People are drawn to things they know are a “good deal”.  People now can figure out the value of something and decide if the markup is fair and if the purchase is sound advise or not.

As I travel I see more and more of these restaurants in the same style as “Five on Black”.  The menus are simple.  There is opportunity to mix and match and make the product your own.  They aren’t fast food but they aren’t fine dining.  They aren’t cafeteria style place but almost nostalgic in nature.   The plethora of over priced foods and items that get forced down a consumers neck just seem to be waining.  The consumer wants to eat well but not break the bank and do it in a nice place.

In all cultures food is a big deal.  Somehow here in America we got run over by big box establishments that tell us how to eat.  Make us think that anywhere but there themed cookie cutter places is just a waste of time or not cool.  What the millennials have done is brought it back down to earth for us, simplified the menu, and demanded less not more.

I think this is all a good point since food is so important to families and cultures.  The Bible mentions food many, many times.  I like running into places like this that seem to humanize our eating trends again.

I made an acquaintance with a guy sitting at a community style raised table facing the street through the large glass window.  The conversation was great and the meal was even better.  As I walked out I noticed an award on the wall for “Five on Black” ranking it the best place in Missoula to eat alone along side another award for best place to meet a new friend.  With a smile on my face and a full belly I continued my walk in downtown.

John 6:35 – Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall not thirst”.